GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE GUIDE
You've searched for your business on Google, but you can't seem to find it. Does that mean something is wrong with your listing?
Not necessarily. There are several reasons your business might not appear where you expect it to. Here's what to check before you start making changes.
START HERE
There's a difference between searching for your exact business name and searching for a general service.
For example, searching for "ABC Painting Brisbane" is different from searching for "painters Brisbane".
If your business appears when you search its exact name but not when you search a general service, your profile may already be visible. It just might not appear for that particular search.
Google's local results can vary based on factors including relevance, distance and prominence.
Try searching for your exact business name first, then check whether the information displayed is accurate.
COMMON REASONS
If your business doesn't have a Google Business Profile, you may need to create one before you can manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps.
Some businesses already have an automatically generated listing, so it's worth searching before creating a new profile.
Google may require you to verify that you're authorised to represent the business.
Verification helps confirm that the profile belongs to a legitimate business. An unverified profile may have limited visibility or management options.
Google may restrict or suspend profiles that don't meet its guidelines or require further review.
If you see a suspension or restriction notice, review the reason and Google's appeal process before making changes.
Missing, inaccurate or inconsistent information can make it harder for Google and customers to understand your business.
Check your business name, category, services, contact details and service areas.
Newly created profiles and recent edits may take time to be reviewed or reflected across Google's services.
If you've only just completed verification or made changes, check your profile status before assuming something is wrong.
Your profile might be active but not showing prominently for a competitive search.
Google considers factors such as relevance, distance and prominence when displaying local results. No business is guaranteed a particular position.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Before paying for help or creating another listing, work through these checks:
You can manage your Business Profile through Google's official tools. Start at Google Business Profile .
FOR TRADIES & MOBILE BUSINESSES
Many tradies, cleaners and property maintenance businesses travel to customers instead of operating from a public shop.
Eligible businesses can use a service-area Google Business Profile without publicly displaying their home address.
If you don't serve customers at your business address, Google's guidelines generally require you to hide that address.
You can still describe the areas your business serves, but adding more suburbs doesn't guarantee you'll appear in searches throughout those areas.
A painter who works from home and visits customers around Brisbane may be eligible for a service-area profile.
Their profile can explain the services they provide and the areas they cover, without publicly displaying their residential address.
Google's eligibility and verification requirements still apply.
QUICK ANSWERS
There isn't one guaranteed timeframe. Verification, review and processing times can vary. Check your profile status and Google's current guidance for any outstanding steps.
Your profile may be active but not ranking prominently for that particular search. Local results depend on factors including relevance, distance and prominence.
Not simply because your existing profile isn't appearing where you expect. Duplicate profiles can cause problems. Check whether your business already has a listing before creating another one.
No. Creating and managing an eligible Google Business Profile is free. You may choose to pay a service provider for assistance, but Google doesn't charge for the Business Profile itself.
RELATED SERVICES
Help creating and preparing an eligible Google Business Profile for your business.
Learn About Setup →Ongoing support with profile information, updates and maintaining your Google presence.
Learn About Management →Practical improvements to support your website and wider local online presence.
Learn About Local SEO →If you've worked through the basics and you're still unsure, tell us what you're seeing. We can discuss whether there's something we can help you with.
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