Google Business Profile checklist

For contractors. Check your Google Business Profile against Google's own published guidelines. Nothing is sent to Google and nothing here changes your score on this site.

Google says there's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. This checklist doesn't promise rankings; it only checks your profile against Google's published guidelines.

Completing items does not change our score until the underlying public Google data changes.

Print this page from your browser to keep the checklist. This preview does not make a PDF.

Claim and plans

Claim this listing free on NoVA Home Service Report so checklist progress can be tied to the profile later. Claiming does not buy a score.

Pro can include a monthly report and monitoring of public inputs already stored for the listing. Upgrading does not change your organic score or rank.

Why each item matters

• Profile is verified: Google says verifying tells it you're authorized to represent the business, so it's more likely to show in results.
• Only one profile for the business (no duplicates): Google allows one profile per business; duplicates can cause display problems on Maps and Search.
• Name matches your truck, signage, and invoices, with no keywords, city names, or phone numbers added: Google says extra words in the name aren't permitted and could get the profile suspended.
• Service-area business: home address hidden and a service area set: Google's own example: a plumber working from a home address should clear the address and set a service area.
• Service area stays within roughly 2 hours' drive of where you're based: Google says a service area generally shouldn't extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time.
• No virtual office or unstaffed mailbox address: Google says rented mailing addresses and virtual offices aren't eligible.
• Local phone number you control (not a call-center or referral line): Google asks for a number under the business's direct control and no numbers that redirect to someone else.
• Website link goes to your own site, not a lead-gen or referral page: Google doesn't allow URLs that send people to pages other than the actual business.
• Customer-facing hours set, plus holiday or special hours: Google lists hours, including special hours, as part of a complete profile.
• Fewest, most specific categories ("this business IS a" plumber, HVAC contractor, and so on): Google says to use as few categories as possible and not to use them as keywords.
• Description explains services and history, with no prices, sales, or links: Google doesn't allow links in the description or a focus on promotions and prices.
• Real photos of your work, team, and vehicles added: Google recommends photos and videos to show customers what you offer.
• You reply to reviews, good and bad: Google says replying shows you value feedback and helpful replies help a business stand out.
• No discounts, gifts, or payment offered for reviews, and no reviews posted by staff or family: Google removes paid or incentivized reviews and content not based on a real experience.

Sources

• Guidelines for representing your business on Google, Google Business Profile Help: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en (accessed 2026-10-06)
• Tips to improve your local ranking on Google, Google Business Profile Help: https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en (accessed 2026-10-06)
• Prohibited & restricted content (Maps user-generated content policy), Google Business Profile Help: https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en (accessed 2026-10-06)

This site isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Google. Google Business Profile is a Google product; check the linked Google help pages for the current rules.

Score firewall

Upgrading does not change your organic score or rank.