How to verify your business on Google

To update your business name and other info on Google, you must first verify your business. When you verify your business, check that your info is correct and that you’re the only one who can edit it.

To avoid delays, make sure your address meets our guidelines. Learn about address entry guidelines.

 

Get started

Check your verification status

Verify for the first time

1. Add or claim your Business Profile on Google. Learn how to claim your profile.
2. When you add or claim your profile, you can verify it through phone, text, email, or video.
   • You may need to verify with more than one method.
   • Available methods depend on things like business category, public info, region, support hours, and volumes.
3. Pick a type of verification. Learn how to verify by your selected method.
4. Often, we need to review verifications. These reviews help maintain the integrity of all profiles. They can take up to seven business days.
   • When you’re verified, you get a notification.
   • If we can’t verify your business with the first method, the “Get verified” button shows up again. If this happens, try a different verification method.
5. After you verify:
   • It can take a few weeks for your updated business info to show across Google.
   • You can update and add to your info at any time. Learn how to edit your profile.
   • You can connect with your customers through your profile. Learn about posts, reviews, and messaging.

Find your profile

• On Google Search, search for my business.
• On Google Search or Maps, search for your business name and city.
• In your Google Maps app, at the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial Your Business Profile.

Tip: Search results can vary for many reasons. Your results can differ from someone else’s. Learn how Google ranks local results.

Re-verify after info changes

To maintain quality business info, Google may ask a verified business to verify again. If you change some info about your business, you may need to re-verify. We might also ask you to update your business info or give more details about your business.

To re-verify, go to your verified Business Profile and follow the steps.

Standard verification methods

Phone or text

Important: To get your verification code, make sure you can directly answer your business phone number or receive texts. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems will not get the code.

1. Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. Click Get verified Phone or SMS.
3. Answer the call or open the text with the code.
4. Enter the code into your profile.

Email

Important: Make sure you can use the email address in the verification screen.

1. Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. Click Get verified Email.
3. Follow the steps in the email.

Video recording

Important: You can delete your video at any time. If you cancel a video upload, neither you nor Google will have access to the video. Learn how to delete your video.

Step 1: Upload your video

1. Plan your video. In one continuous recording, include:
   • Your current location. To show your Google Maps location, capture outside signs, like your street’s name, nearby businesses, or the area around your business.
   • Business or equipment. To show that your business is at this Google Maps location, capture your operations. This can include things like stock for sale, branded equipment, marketing materials, and tools you use to serve your customers.
   • Proof of management. To show that you’re authorized to represent your business, capture your access to employee-only items or areas. This includes things like a cash register, kitchen, storage room, or non-sensitive business documents. You can also use your keys to open your facility.

2. On your mobile device, go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.

   • Tip: If you start verification on a computer, to continue on your mobile device, you can scan a QR code.
3. Tap Get verified Capture video.
4. Tap Start recording. Follow the steps and record your video.
5. Tap Stop recording  Upload video.

Step 2: Wait for review

After you upload your video, we review it. Reviews can take up to 5 business days.

• If you’re verified, you get a notification.
• If the video method doesn't work, the  “Get verified” button will show up. You can try a different verification option.

Step 3: Delete your video

1. On Google Search, go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. At the top right, click More   Advanced settings Video uploads Delete videos.

Live video call

Step 1: Get ready for the call

• Make sure your mobile device can join a live video call. Our support representative helps you join the call.
• Confirm that you’re at your business. Make sure you can demonstrate your location and ownership on the video call. For example:
  • Your current location: Show outside signs, like your street’s name, nearby businesses, or the area around your business.
  • Business or equipment: Capture your operations. This includes things like stock for sale, branded equipment, marketing materials, or tools you use to serve your customers.
  • Proof of management: Show your access to employee-only items or areas.This includes things like a cash register, kitchen, storage room, or non-sensitive business documents.You can also use your keys to open your facility.

Tip: If you enter a queue, you can choose to contact our Help Center. We usually take 24 hours to respond and we may ask you for more info.

Step 2: Start a text chat with support on any device

1. Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. Click Get verified Video call Next.
3. Pick your language.
4. To start a text chat with the next available support representative, click Start call.

Step 3: Show your business via video call via a mobile device

1. When you’re ready, a representative helps you join a video call on your mobile device.
2. Use the camera on your device to show your business location and ownership.

Postcard

If you verify by mail, we send you a postcard with a verification code. To confirm that your business is at the listed address, you must enter your unique code.

While you wait for your postcard:

• Do not edit your business name, address, or category.
• Do not request a new code.

If you edit your info or request a new code, we cancel the code on the postcard in the mail and send a new one. This protects the integrity of your profile.

Each verification code is unique to your business and the location you provided. If you update your business address, only the code requested for your current address works. Verification codes expire after 30 days.

Step 1: Request your postcard

Most postcards arrive within 14 days. Due to COVID-19, you may experience delays.

1. Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. Click Get verified Postcard.
3. Make sure the address is correct.
4. Request the postcard.

Step 2: Enter your verification code

Important:

• Keep your code secure.
• Google won't call you to ask for a verification code.
• Don't share your verification code with anyone. This includes third parties that help manage your business on Google.
• Your code is unique to your business. You should be the only one who uses it.

After you get your postcard:

1. Go to your Business Profile. Learn how to find your profile.
2. In the “Code” field, enter the 5-digit verification code from your postcard.
3. Click Submit.

If you share management of your profile with a trusted third party, you can add them after you personally enter your code.

• After you verify, you can add owners and managers for your profile. Learn how to add and remove profile owners and managers.
• After you add the owners and managers you want, you can transfer primary ownership of your profile to the third party. Learn how to transfer profile ownership.

Instant verification methods

Rarely, we can immediately confirm that a specific Google Account owns a specific Business Profile. 

For example:

• If you verify your website with Google Search Console, your profile might get instant verification. Learn how to add a website property in Search Console.
  • Existing Search Console user: If you verify your matching website before you add or claim your profile, no “Get verified” prompt shows. You can immediately edit your profile and connect with customers.
  • New Search Console user: If you verify your matching website after you add or claim your profile, click Get verified. Then, you can instantly edit your profile and connect with customers.
• If an eligible business manages 10 or more profiles for locations of the same business, that business might be able to use bulk verification. Learn how to verify 10 or more locations in bulk.

Tip: For more help with verification, ask a question in our community forum or contact our support team.

The methods of verification are automatically determined and can’t be changed. If you choose to contact our support team, we’ll try to verify your business based on the information provided. We may suggest a live video call to confirm your place of work, tools, and proof of management.

Related resources

• Add or edit your business address
• Request ownership if someone else verified your Business Profile
• Report a third-party that violates Google’s policies