---
title: "Google Business Profile Checklist for Local Business | MCC"
description: "A 17-step checklist to claim, fill in and keep up your Google Business Profile so local customers can find and trust you. Free, tick items off as you go."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/websites/google-business-profile-checklist"
---

Free tool

# Google Business Profile checklist

Seventeen things to check on your Google listing, in order. Tick them off and see how complete your profile is.

**0 of 17 done**

## Set up

**Claim and verify your profile**
Search your business on Google Maps, choose Claim this business, and finish the verification (postcard, phone, email or video).**Pick the right primary category**
Your main category is one of the strongest signals for what you show up for. Choose the most specific one that fits.**Add secondary categories that are true**
Add only services you actually offer. Extra categories that don't fit can hurt.**Match your name, address and phone to your website**
Use the same name, address and phone number everywhere. Use your real business name, with no keywords added.

## Fill it in

**Write a clear business description**
Say what you do, who you serve and where. Plain words, no keyword lists, no phone numbers or links.**Add your services and prices**
List each service with a short description and a starting price if you can.**Set your hours, and holiday hours**
Keep them current. Wrong hours are one of the most common reasons for bad reviews.**Set your service area**
If you travel to customers, list the towns or counties you cover, and hide your address if you don't see customers there.**Add your website, booking link and phone**
Send people to the page that matches what they searched, not always the home page.

## Photos and trust

**Upload a logo and a cover photo**
Use a clear, current image. A real photo of you or your work beats stock art.**Add at least 10 real photos**
Your work, your team, your location. Add a few new ones each month.**Ask for reviews with a direct link**
Make the link with our review link tool and send it right after a job. Never offer anything in exchange.**Reply to every review**
Thank people, and answer problems calmly and briefly. Replies show up for future customers.

## Keep it active

**Post an update or offer every month**
Short posts about jobs, seasonal reminders or news keep the profile fresh.**Answer the questions people ask**
Add common questions and answers yourself, and check for new ones.**Turn on messages and calls tracking**
So you can see which actions the profile brings in.**Check the profile once a month**
Look for edits you didn't make, wrong hours, and new reviews.

Prefer to talk it through? [Get a quote](/websites/#quote) or [contact us](/contact).

How it works

## How to use it

Go through the groups in order: set up, fill it in, photos and trust, then keep it active. Each item says what to do and why. The progress bar counts what you've ticked. Nothing is saved or sent to us, so note what is left before you close the page.

FAQ

## About the checklist

**What is a Google Business Profile?**

It is your free listing on Google Search and Maps, with your hours, photos, reviews, services and contact details. It is often the first thing a local customer sees.

**How long does the checklist take?**

Most of it takes under an hour. Photos, reviews and posts are the parts you keep doing over time.

**Will this get me to the top of the map results?**

Nobody can promise that. Google says local ranking depends on relevance, distance and prominence. A complete, accurate, active profile is the part you control.

**Is my progress saved?**

No. The checkboxes work in this window only and nothing is sent to us. Print or note what is left before you close the page.

**Can you set it up for me?**

Yes. Our local SEO work includes profile setup and clean-up. See our website and SEO services.

Make your [review link and QR code](/websites/google-review-link-and-qr-code), or add [local business schema](/websites/local-business-schema-generator) to your website. More free tools: [Keyword density checker](/websites/keyword-density-checker), [robots.txt generator](/websites/robots-txt-generator), [UTM link builder](/websites/utm-link-builder), or [see all free tools](/free-tools).

General information, not tax or legal advice. [How we write and check our tools](/editorial-standards).

## Want us to set it up?

[See website services](/websites/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)