How to choose a category for your Business Profile

Manage your business

Categories describe your business. They connect you to customers who search for your products or services.

For example, if your primary category is “Pizza restaurant,” Google may show your business in someone’s local search results when they search for Restaurants, Italian Restaurants, or Pizza. Your category is one of many factors that affects your local ranking on Google. Learn more about local ranking.

Based on the type of business you operate, your category may also be used to assign a place label to your business.

Important: As a COVID-19 precaution, we're operating with a limited team. It may take longer than usual to connect with us. We recommend our Help Community and YouTube Channel.

Choose your category

Choose a primary category that describes your business as a whole, and be specific. When you start to enter your category, choose a category from a dropdown that shows up.

• For example, instead of "Salon," choose “Nail salon.”

If the category you want isn't available, choose a more general category that still accurately describes your business. You can’t create your own category.

Department categories

To let customers know more about special departments or services, select additional categories. However, don’t add a category for every product or service. Use as few categories as possible to describe your overall core business from the provided list.

• For example, if you manage a grocery store that includes a pharmacy and deli, choose “Grocery store” as your primary category, then add “Pharmacy” and “Deli” as additional categories. Learn more about how to choose categories.

If your business includes public departments that are independent from you, they should have their own profiles. Do not add their category to the main profile.

• For example, if your business is a health club that has an independently-operated cafe, do not add the category “Cafe.” Instead, the operator of the cafe can create their own business profile with “Cafe” as their primary category. Learn more about departments.

Category-specific features

Depending on your business category, you may notice special features available for your Business Profile. For example:

• Hotels: Can show class ratings and list the amenities offered by the hotel.

• Food and drink businesses: Can add URLs to their profiles for online orders, reservations, and their menu. They can also add menu items directly.
• Health and beauty businesses: Can add a booking button to their profiles and update their menu of services.

Important: If you add or edit one of your existing categories, you may be asked to verify your business again. This helps Google confirm that your business information is accurate.

Add or edit categories on Search

1. On your computer, sign in to your Google Account.
   • Make sure you sign in to the same account you use to manage your Business Profile.
2. To find your Business Profile, do a Google search for your exact business name. 
   • You can also search for my business.
3. To open your Business Profile, near the top, click Edit profile  Business information.
4. Under “About,” click Business category.
   • To add or edit your primary category: In the “Primary category” box, enter and select the category from the options that show up.
   • To add an additional category: Click Add another category. Then, in the “Additional category” box, enter and select the category you want to add.
5. Click Save.