Guidelines for representing your business on Google

If your business either has a physical location that customers can visit, or travels to customers where they are, you can create a Business Profile on Google. To create a successful Business Profile that won’t be suspended requires that you:

Understand basic guidelines

To maintain high quality information on Google, follow this list of guidelines for local businesses. These guidelines can help you avoid common problems, including changes to your information or, in some cases, removal of your business information from Google.

For the best results managing your Business Profile:

  • Represent your business as it’s consistently represented and recognised in the real world across signage, stationery and other branding.
  • Make sure that your address and/or service area is accurate and precise.
  • Choose the fewest number of categories that it takes to describe your overall core business.
  • There should only be one profile per business, as this can cause problems with how your information displays on Google Maps and Search.

Tips:

Learn content guidelines for Business Profiles

Published content should highlight what makes your business unique. For more information, go to the overview of Google Business Profile policies.

As outlined in our prohibited and restricted content policies, we do not allow content or solicitation of content that contains private or confidential information such as personal financial information, government-issued IDs, contact information linked or associated with a name, sensitive records, images, transcripts or links that contain personal information.

Merchants are permitted to post contact information (social media handles, email, phone number) for their own business on their own business profile or in response to reviews, Q&A, etc. However, we do not allow solicitation of personal or confidential information.

Tip: If your profile edit or post is rejected, Learn about the several reasons why submitted content may be rejected.

Guidelines for chains, departments & individual practitioners

Marketing, promotions or other contests

Any promotion, marketing, contests or other giveaways should clearly link to the terms of the activity and provide clear guidelines and qualifications. All such promises, given or implied, should be adhered to.

Important: Google reserves the right to suspend access to Business Profiles on Google or other Google Services to individuals or businesses that violate these guidelines and may work with law enforcement in the event that the violation is unlawful.

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