SC
Steady Craft Solutions
Google Business Profile

Let's get your business on Google

When someone nearby searches for what you do, this is what puts you on Google and the map. It takes about 15 minutes. We'll walk you through it no matter where you're starting from.

About 15 minutes One step at a time We do the rest

First, tell us what you're using. The pictures below will match your screen.

Before you start, grab these

Five minutes of getting ready saves you a do-over.

🔐
Do this first

Sign in to the right Google account

Before anything else, you need to be signed in to the right Google account. Getting this wrong is the single most common way people lock themselves out of their own listing, so let's take it slow.

💡
There is no special "business" login.A Google Business Profile is run from a normal Google account, the same kind you use for Gmail. When we say "your business account," we just mean the one Google account you choose to use for the business. It is not a separate password or a different website. It's a regular Google login, just the one you keep for the business.

Which account should that be? Pick one that will stay with the business for good:

  • Best: an email on your own web address, like [email protected] (only if you already have Google Workspace).
  • Just as good for most people: a free Gmail made just for the business, like [email protected].
  • Try to avoid: your personal Gmail, or an employee's or contractor's account. If that person leaves, your listing can walk out the door with them.
⚠️
No business email yet?Make a free Gmail just for the business first (it takes about two minutes at accounts.google.com/signup), or tell us and we'll help you set one up. Then come back here.

You'll actually sign in on the next step, when you open Google. Right now, just learn how to check and switch which account you're in, because you'll glance at this every time you open a Google page:

  1. On any Google page (Google search, or business.google.com), look at the very top-right corner. You'll see a round circle with a letter or a little photo. That is the account you're in right now.
  2. Tap or click that circle. It shows the email you're signed in as, and lets you switch.
  3. If it shows your business email, you're all set.
  4. If it shows the wrong email (like your personal one), tap Add another account and sign in with your business email and password.
google.com
B

Tap this circle to see which account you're in

B
Your Business
[email protected]
✓ Use this
P
You (personal)
[email protected]
Not this
⛔
The #1 mistake is using the wrong account.If you set your business up under a personal account by accident, or switch accounts partway through, you can get locked out of your own profile. Pick the account now that you'll always use for the business, and use that same one every single time you come back.

Quick question: which one are you?

This changes a couple of small things later. Remember your letter, A or B.

YOU ARE A
🏪

Customers come to you

You have a shop, store, or office that people can walk into. (Gift shop, salon, barbershop, studio.)

YOU ARE B
🚛

You go to customers

You travel to your customers and don't have a store they visit. (Plumber, electrician, cleaner, landscaper.)

💡
Not sure, or you do both?If people can walk into a real location of yours, you are A. If your home address is the only address and you don't want customers showing up there, you are B. Still unsure? Text us before you start.
Start here

Do you already have one?

A lot of businesses already have a Google listing they never set up. Google makes them automatically. So before you create anything, let's check what you've got. It takes 30 seconds.

🔍 The 30-second check

  1. Make sure you're signed in to the right account (you just did this in the step above).
  2. On your computer, open google.com and search your exact business name.
  3. On your phone, open google.com and search your exact business name.
  4. Look at what shows up, then pick the matching box below.

What did you see? Tap the one that matches:

Not sure which one you're seeing? Take a screenshot and text it to us. We'll tell you exactly which box you're in. [email protected]

Pick your situation above to see your steps

🔒
Your situation

Someone else controls your listing

↩ Start over

This happens a lot. A past employee, an old marketing company, or even Google itself may "own" the listing. The good news: you can get it back, and we'll do this part for you so you don't have to wrestle with Google support.

💬
Send us two things and we'll take it from here:1) A screenshot of what you see when you search your business name. 2) The email address you want to be the owner. Send to [email protected] and we'll file the access request with Google and walk it through.

While we sort out access, your website still works and still brings in customers. The Google listing is a bonus on top, not the only thing keeping you visible.

🆕
Your path

Create a brand new profile

↩ Start over
1
Get started

Open the "add your business" page

On your phone, tap this blue button. It opens Google's page for adding a business.

On your computer, click this blue button. It opens Google's page for adding a business in a new tab.

business.google.com/add ↗

Tip: tap or click the button above so you don't mistype the address.

  1. If it asks you to sign in, use your business Google account (the one from the first step). Check the circle in the top-right is the right account.
  2. Click the button that says Add your business to Google.
business.google.com/add

Add your business to Google

Put your business on Google for free and reach more customers.

💡
If your business name pops up as you type itGoogle may already have a listing for you. If you see your exact business appear, stop, go back to the "Do you already have one?" check above, you likely need to claim it instead of making a new one.
2
Your name

Type your business name

Type your business name exactly the way it is on your sign, truck, or receipts.

business.google.com

What's the name of your business?

Business name
Your Business Name
⛔
Don't add extra words.Just your real name. Do NOT add your town or your trade, like "Smith Gifts Embroidery Weedville." Google can shut down profiles that do this. There's a separate spot for your category, coming up.
3
Your category

Pick what kind of business you are

Start typing what you do and pick the closest match. For example: Gift shop, Embroidery shop, Electrician, or Plumber.

business.google.com

What kind of business is this?

Business category
Gift shop
✅
Just pick one for now.Pick the closest match. We add more categories and fine-tune this for you later. You can't get this "wrong" enough to break anything.
4
Important: A or B

Tell Google how customers reach you

Next, Google asks if customers come to a place you have, like a store or office. Answer with your letter:

🏪
If you are A (customers come to you)Choose Yes. Next you'll type your shop address. That address shows on the map so people can find you.
🚛
If you are B (you go to customers)Choose No, or turn OFF "show my address." This keeps your home address private. You'll list the towns you serve instead.
business.google.com

Do customers visit your business?

Like a store or office they can walk into.

🏪 Yes, customers come to my location
🚛 No, I go to my customers

Pick the top one if you're A, the bottom one if you're B

⚠️
The exact words may look a little different.Google may word this as "Do you want to add a location customers can visit?" with a separate "Show business address to customers" switch. Just answer based on whether people can walk into a real place of yours. If the screen looks confusing, take a photo and text us before tapping.
5
Important: A or B

Add your address, or the towns you serve

🏪
If you are A (customers come to you)Type your shop's street address. This is the pin people tap to drive to you.
business.google.com

Where's your business located?

Street address
123 Main St
City, State, ZIP
Your Town, ST 00000
🚛
If you are B (you go to customers)Instead of one address, you add the towns you serve. Type the real ones you actually cover, not "everywhere."
business.google.com

Where do you serve customers?

Add a city or town
Start typing a town...
Your town ×Next town over ×Nearby city ×
💡
Keep it real, about 10 towns.Adding 50 towns does not help you show up farther away. Google ranks you near where you are. Just list the places you truly serve.
6
Contact info

Add your phone and website

Type your business phone number and your website address. That's it for the basics. We fill in your hours, services, description, and photos for you afterward.

business.google.com

Add your contact info

Phone number
(000) 000-0000
Website
yourbusiness.com
✅
Basics done.Now keep going to the video step below to prove your business is real.
🔑
Your path

Claim the listing that already exists

↩ Start over
1
Open it

Find your business and tap "Claim"

Good news: half the work is already done. Your listing exists. You just need to tell Google it's yours.

  1. Make sure you're signed in to your business Google account (check the top-right circle).
  2. On google.com or Google Maps, search your exact business name again.
  3. On your business, tap Own this business? (on Google search) or Claim this business (on Google Maps).
  4. Then tap Manage now and follow the prompts to verify.
📱
Using the Google Maps app?Search your business, tap its name, tap About, then Claim this business → Manage now.
google.com
Your Business Name
Your Town, ST · Your category
🏢 Own this business?  ·  Claim this business

Tap that link to start your claim

2
Check + fill gaps

Make sure the details are right

Google shows you what it already has and may ask a few questions to fill the gaps. Just confirm or fix these:

  • Business name spelled correctly (no extra town/trade words).
  • Category (like Gift shop or Plumber). Pick the closest.
  • Address or service area based on your letter:
🏪
If you are AConfirm your real shop address is shown.
🚛
If you are BHide the address and list the towns you serve instead. (If you see your home address showing publicly, that's the setting to fix.)
✅
Don't sweat the details.Get the name, category, and address close. We polish hours, services, description, and photos for you once we're added at the last step.
🎥
Almost there

Record your "proof" video

Google needs to see your business is real before it goes live. The usual way is a short video you record on your phone, right inside the Google screen. It's easier than it sounds. You don't have to be perfect.

business.google.com/verify

Verify with video

Record one video, no stopping, showing your business is real.

Film one slow walk-through, about 30 to 60 seconds. Don't stop and restart. Here's what to show, based on your letter:

FOR A · CUSTOMERS COME TO YOU

Show your shop

Walk it like you're giving a quick tour.

  1. The outside and your signStand out front. Show your sign and the front door.
  2. Walk insideFilm yourself walking in, so it's clearly the same place.
  3. Your products and counterPan across your shelves, products, and the checkout area.
  4. Proof you run itShow a staff-only spot: open the cash register, step into the back room or stockroom, or use your checkout system. This proves you actually run the place.
FOR B · YOU GO TO CUSTOMERS

Show your work setup

Walk it like you're giving a quick tour.

  1. Your work truck or vanShow it, with your business name or logo on it if you have it.
  2. Your tools and gearPan across the equipment you use. This proves it's real.
  3. Your areaA quick shot outside. A street sign or known spot nearby helps.
  4. Proof you run itShow you control the operation: open your locked van or storage, or show invoices or paperwork with your business name on them.
🎥
Tips for a good first tryFilm in daylight or good light. Hold the phone steady and move slowly. Just say what you see out loud ("This is my shop, here's the front, here are my products"). If it gets turned down, you can record it again. It is not one and done.
⚠️
Google decides how you'll verify.Most of the time it's a video like this. Sometimes Google offers a phone call, a text, an email, or a postcard in the mail instead, and you usually get whichever one it picks rather than choosing. Just follow whatever it shows you. If it asks for something odd, screenshot it and text us.

After you submit, Google reviews it, usually within a few days (up to about 5 business days). You'll get an email telling you if it was successful. Once you're approved, do the last step below.

✅
Your path

You already manage it. Just add us.

↩ Start over

Perfect, you've done the hard part already. Your profile exists and you control it. There's only one thing left: add us as a Manager so we can fill it out and keep it optimized. That's the step right below.

🔑
Last step

Add us so we can finish your profile

This is the step that lets us take over the hard part. You add us as a Manager. You stay the Owner and keep full control. Manager just lets us add your services, hours, description, and photos for you.

🚨
READ THIS FIRST. This is where almost everyone gets lost.You are looking for your BUSINESS profile's "People and access." You are NOT looking in your personal Google Account's "People & sharing." They sound the same. They are not. See the two pictures below.
❌ WRONG PLACE
Google Account
Home
Personal info
People & sharing
Data & privacy
This is your personal account (Contacts, Location sharing). It says "People & sharing." Your business is NOT in here. Back out.
✅ RIGHT PLACE
Business Profile settings
Profile
People and access
Advanced settings
Remove profile
This is your business profile. It says "People and access" and the header says Business Profile settings. This is the one.

Here's how to get to the right place:

  1. Click this link to open your profile: business.google.com (sign in if it asks).
  2. Your business opens. Click More, then Business Profile settings.
  3. Click People and access.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Type our email exactly: [email protected]
  6. Set access to Manager, then click Invite.
  1. Open Google. Tap this link: google.com and make sure you're signed in to your business account.
  2. In the search box, type your exact business name and search it.
  3. Your business strip appears at the top with buttons like Edit profile and Promote. Tap More → Business Profile settings.
  4. Tap People and access.
  5. Tap Add, then type our email: [email protected]
  6. Set access to Manager, then tap Invite.

This is what your business looks like when you find it (your buttons, not the personal-account menu):

google.com
Your Business Name
Your Town, ST · Your category
✏️Edit profile
📢Promote
👥Customers
⋮

Tap "More," then "Business Profile settings"

👤 Profile ›
🔐 People and access ›
⚙️ Advanced settings ›
google.com

People with access

You
You
your business email
Owner
SC
Steady Craft Solutions
[email protected]
Manager
🔑
You always stay the Owner.We are only a Manager. You can remove us anytime. We can never delete your profile or lock you out. That's the whole point of doing it this way.
💬
Can't find any of this?If you search your business name and no "Edit profile / Customers" buttons show up, your profile may not be finished or approved yet. Don't worry, just text us a screenshot of your screen and we'll point you to the exact next tap.
When you're done

That's everything we need from you

Once you're approved and you've added us as a Manager, we take it from here:

Stuck on any step? Send us a screenshot of your screen and we'll jump on a quick call.
Reach us at [email protected]