How to Add Your Business to Google Maps in 2026 – Updated Guide

Google Maps has become the digital storefront for local businesses. When potential customers search for products or services in your area, they’re often checking Google Maps first. By establishing a strong presence on this platform, you gain credibility, foster customer trust, and make it significantly easier for people to discover your business. Plus, it drives foot traffic and boosts your online visibility—essentially giving your business free advertising where customers are already looking.

Whether you’re just launching your business or strengthening your digital footprint, getting listed on Google Maps is one of the smartest moves you can make. Here’s the latest, verified step-by-step guide for 2026.

Step 1: Create or Claim Your Google Business Profile

Before your business can appear on Google Maps, you need a Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business)—Google’s free listing service that puts you in front of local search results.

What you need to do:

1. Visit business.google.com (or google.com/business)
2. Click Get Started or Manage now in the top right
3. Sign in with your Google account (create one if you don’t have one—preferably using your business email)
4. Type your business name in the search box
5. If your business already appears in the dropdown, click Claim this business instead of creating new. This prevents duplicate listings.
6. If your business doesn’t appear, click Add your business to Google at the bottom
7. Select your business type:
   • Local store or physical location (customers visit you)
   • Service area business (you travel to customers, like plumbing or cleaning)
   • Online retail (no physical location, you sell online)
8. Choose your primary business category (this is crucial—pick what customers would search for, like “Coffee Shop,” “Hair Salon,” or “Plumbing Services”)
9. Enter your full business address (if applicable to your business type)
10. Add your phone number (you can make this private if you prefer)
11. Add your website URL if you have one (highly recommended, though optional)
12. Set your business hours
13. Review the Terms of Service and click Continue to proceed to verification

Pro tip: If your business already has a listing on Google Maps (maybe from customer reviews), don’t create a duplicate. Click Claim this business instead.

Real-world example: If you run an independent coffee shop, you’d select “Local store or physical location,” choose “Coffee Shop” as your category, enter your exact address and phone number, and add your website.

Step 2: Verify Ownership of Your Business [Updated for 2026]

Google now requires verification to prove you own the business. This is a significant change—verification is now mandatory and more thorough than before. Here are your verification options, listed from fastest to slowest:

Option A: Video Verification (Fastest & Most Reliable)

This is Google’s preferred method in 2026. You’ll record a short video on your phone showing your business.

Important: You must use the Google Maps mobile app, not the desktop website.

What to record:

1. Outside your business: Show the street address, building exterior, and nearby landmarks or street signs
2. Business signage: Show your business name on a permanent sign (window, wall, storefront sign). The name in your video must match your profile exactly
3. Inside your business: Walk inside and show operational proof—employees, products, workspace, point-of-sale system, or work being done
4. Proof of management: Show access to restricted areas (unlock the door, a staff room, storage area), or show employee uniforms, branded vehicles, equipment, or business documents

How long: 30-90 seconds total (keep it natural and unedited)

Steps to submit video:

1. Open Google Maps app on your phone
2. Search for your business
3. Tap About → Claim this business → Manage now
4. Select Video verification when prompted
5. Allow camera, microphone, and location access
6. Record your video following the guidelines above
7. Submit and wait for approval (usually 1-3 days)

Option B: Phone or SMS Verification (15 minutes)

If video verification isn’t available or you prefer not to record:

1. In your verification screen, select Phone or Text
2. Confirm the business phone number listed is correct and reachable
3. Google sends a verification code via call or SMS
4. Enter the code immediately (this is critical—delays can cause issues)
5. Your profile is verified within minutes

Option C: Email Verification (hours)

If available, this is quicker than postcard but slower than phone:

1. Select Email on your verification screen
2. Google sends a verification code to the email on your profile
3. Click the link or enter the code right away
4. Verification completes within hours

Option D: Postcard Verification (1-2 weeks)

The traditional method—slower but still reliable:

1. Select Postcard on your verification screen
2. Google mails a postcard to your business address
3. Wait 1-2 weeks for delivery
4. When it arrives, open it and find the 5-digit verification code
5. Log into your Google Business Profile
6. Click Verify now next to your listing
7. Enter the code and click Submit

Important: Don’t request a new postcard too quickly—it cancels your previous code. If your first postcard is lost, wait the full 2 weeks before requesting another.

Option E: Google Search Console Instant Verification (Minutes)

If you already own your website and have Google Search Console access:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile verification screen
2. Select Google Search Console
3. Follow the prompts to link your profile
4. Verification is often instant

Why verification matters: Without it, your profile is read-only. You can’t edit hours, add photos, respond to reviews, or add descriptions. Verified profiles get better visibility in search results and local pack rankings.

Step 3: Complete Your Profile with Comprehensive Details

A sparse profile gets ignored. A complete, detailed profile converts browsers into customers.

Fill in all basic information:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard
2. Click Edit profile or Manage profile
3. Verify your address is 100% accurate and matches your storefront signage
4. Confirm your phone number is current and monitored
5. Update your business hours (include weekend hours, holidays, and seasonal changes)
6. Write a short business description (160 characters max) explaining what you do
7. Add your website link
8. Add your social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
9. Add an Opening date under the About section (this helps Google’s Knowledge Graph and shows “years in business” for local searches)

Add visual content:

1. Click Photos in your dashboard
2. Upload a professional cover photo (ideally 1200 x 628 pixels, JPG or PNG)
3. Upload 5-10 high-quality photos showing:
   • Your storefront/entrance
   • Your products or services in action
   • Your team/staff
   • Inside your business space
   • Parking or location details
4. Upload your business logo
5. Add a short video (under 30 seconds, 720p resolution or higher, under 100MB) showing your business in action

Think strategically about visuals:

• If you’re a restaurant: showcase your best dishes and dining atmosphere
• If you’re a salon: show before-and-after transformations
• If you’re retail: feature your most popular products
• If you’re a service business: show your team and completed work

Real-world example: Two boutique clothing stores both have Google Maps listings. Store A has just a name, address, and hours. On the other side, Store B has professional photos of the storefront, images of trending styles, a description mentioning sustainable fashion, staff photos, and a 20-second video tour. Store B clearly gets more attention and foot traffic.

Step 4: Optimize Your Profile for Maximum Visibility

Your profile is live—now make it work harder for you.

Add special attributes:

1. Go to Business Information or Edit profile
2. Scroll to Attributes
3. Select relevant options for your business, such as:
   • Wheelchair accessible
   • Pet-friendly
   • LGBTQ-friendly
   • Offers free Wi-Fi
   • Has outdoor seating
   • Offers delivery
   • Accepts reservations
   • Has a loyalty program
   • Offers curbside pickup

Manage customer reviews:

1. Check your Reviews section regularly
2. Respond to every review within 48 hours with:
   • A thank you for positive reviews
   • A sincere apology and solution offer for negative reviews
   • Specific details showing you read the review carefully
3. This signals to potential customers that you care and are engaged

Encourage more reviews:

1. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews in person and via email
2. Include a link to your Google review page on your website
3. Add the review link to your social media profiles
4. Include it in email signatures

Post regular updates (2026 feature):

1. Click Posts in your dashboard
2. Create posts about:
   • Special offers or discounts
   • New products or services
   • Events you’re hosting
   • What’s new at your business
3. New for 2026: You can now schedule posts in advance. Click Schedule instead of Publish to pick a date and time
4. Include a call-to-action button (Book Now, Call Now, Learn More, etc.)

Keep information updated:

1. Update hours seasonally and for holidays
2. Refresh photos monthly
3. Add new services or products as they launch
4. Remove outdated information immediately

Bonus Tips for Maximum Success

Consistency is key: Make sure your business name, address, and phone number match exactly across Google Maps, your website, Facebook, and any other online directories.

Use all available fields: The more complete your profile, the better your visibility in search results.

Request a review from your Google Business Profile: New for 2026—you can send review requests directly through your profile dashboard to customers.

Monitor insights: Google Business Profile shows you:

• How customers found you (Search vs. Maps)
• What they searched for
• How many times they called
• How many times they visited your website
• How many times they requested driving directions

Get backlinks: Link to your Google Maps listing from your website, emails, and social media to boost visibility.

Bottom Line

Adding your business to Google Maps in 2026 is easier than ever, but verification is now mandatory and more rigorous. The video verification method is fastest and most reliable when done correctly. By creating a complete, optimized profile with photos, accurate details, regular posts, and active review management, you position your business to compete effectively in local search. The time you invest now in a thorough profile pays dividends in foot traffic, online visibility, and customer trust. Your business deserves to be discoverable—Google Maps is the free, essential tool to make that happen.