Google Business Profile verification confirms that an eligible business is real and that the person managing its profile is authorized to do so. Google chooses which verification methods are available for each profile, so start with the option shown when you select Get verified.
This guide was checked against Google's instructions on September 20, 2026. Because the available methods can change by profile and over time, follow the options and wording shown on your own profile.
You may be offered video recording, phone or SMS, email, a live video call, or mail. Some profiles need more than one method. If an option does not appear, you cannot switch it on yourself.
Mail verification is still available for some businesses. If Google offers it, most codes arrive within 14 days and expire after 30 days. While waiting, do not change the business name, address, or category, and do not request another code, because that can invalidate the code already sent.
If Google offers video recording, use the preparation below. If it offers another method, follow the instructions shown on the profile.
Before you record, identify your business type
Your video needs to prove the location, the existence of the business, and your authority to manage it. What counts as useful evidence depends on how the business serves customers.
- Storefront: Customers visit a staffed physical location during the stated hours. The location has permanent signage showing the same business name as the profile.
- Service-area business: You visit or deliver to customers and do not serve them at your business address. The address should not be displayed publicly. A home address does not turn the business into a storefront.
- Hybrid business: Customers can visit your staffed location, and you also visit or deliver to customers. You can show the customer-facing address and set a service area.
Use this checklist to plan one continuous recording:
| Business type | Location evidence | Business evidence | Management evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storefront | Street name, building number, nearby businesses, or recognizable surroundings | Permanent sign with the same name as the profile, plus the customer-facing premises | Unlocking the entrance, accessing staff-only space, or using employee-only equipment |
| Service-area | Street signs or landmarks near the operating address | Work tools, equipment, branded materials, or a business document with the same name as the profile | Access to the tools, work vehicle, or documents used to run the business |
| Hybrid | The mapped customer-facing location and its surroundings | Permanent signage and the premises, plus tools or equipment used for off-site work | Access to the premises, staff-only areas, equipment, or a branded work vehicle |
A business without permanent on-site signage does not qualify as a storefront. If it otherwise meets Google's eligibility rules and serves customers at their locations, set it up as a service-area business instead. An online-only business with no in-person contact with customers is not eligible for a Business Profile.
Complete your video preparation note
Fill this in before opening the camera:
- Business type: storefront / service-area / hybrid
- Offered verification method: the option shown on the profile
- Location evidence: what you will show outside or near the operating address
- Business evidence: the sign, premises, tools, equipment, branded materials, or document you will show
- Management evidence: what will prove that you run or represent the business
- Sensitive details to cover: any bank-account, tax, identity, customer, or other private information that must not appear
For example, a mobile electrician might write: service-area business; video recording; street sign near the operating address; tool cases and branded workwear; access to the work vehicle and business documents; cover customer names, addresses, account numbers, and tax numbers.
Put everything in reach and plan the order of the recording. This avoids a break in the video while you look for a key, document, or tool.
Record and submit the verification video
Record and upload the video live from a mobile device through your Business Profile. Google does not accept a prerecorded offline upload. The recording must be one unique, complete, unedited video without breaks and must last at least 30 seconds.
Start with the location evidence, then show that the business exists and that you manage it. A storefront or hybrid business can move from the street and permanent sign to the entrance, premises, and staff-only equipment. A service-area business can show nearby street signs or landmarks, followed by its tools, materials, vehicle, or business documents.
Protect private information before recording. Cover bank account and tax numbers, identity-document details, customer names and addresses, and any other private information. Do not show anyone else's face. If you use a permit, invoice, or utility bill as supporting evidence, make sure the business name matches the profile and only the necessary information is visible.
After you upload the video, Google's review can take up to five business days and may occasionally take longer. Some profiles are confirmed immediately. I also have an example where verification passed within 30 minutes of recording the video. That was one case, not a promise of how quickly another profile will be reviewed.
If Get verified appears again or the video shows Review issues, read the on-screen explanation, correct the problem, and verify again. If Google displays several methods, you can try another method shown there. You can delete the submitted video later through the profile's advanced settings; Google also says it will delete verification videos after a period of time.
Check the profile after verification
Verification gives you control of the profile. It does not guarantee rankings or new customers. Check that the information matches the real business:
- Use the real-world business name without extra keywords.
- Show a public address only if customers can visit a staffed location there during the stated hours.
- Set the service area if you travel or deliver to customers.
- Keep the category, phone number, website, and hours accurate.
- Update details when they change.
Google Business Profile is a no-charge way to manage how an eligible local business appears on Google Search and Maps. For the current requirements, use Google's guidance for business verification, video recording, and service areas.
If you need ongoing profile upkeep or content planning after verification, that is available through Mischka Studio's marketing services.
