Is Google My Business still called that in 2026?

No. Google renamed the product to Google Business Profile in late 2021, and there is no longer a separate Google My Business app. You now manage your listing directly from Google Search and Google Maps by searching your own business name while signed in, or through the Business Profile Manager at business.google.com. Most people still call it GMB out of habit, so the terms mean the same thing.

How much does a Google Business Profile cost?

Creating, verifying and managing a Google Business Profile is completely free. Google does not charge you to appear in local search results or on Maps. The only paid part is optional, which is running Google Ads or Performance Max campaigns that can promote your profile. If someone asks you to pay a fee just to list or verify your business, it is not an official Google charge.

How long does verification take?

It depends on the method. Phone or email verification is usually instant. Video verification, where you record a short clip of your premises and signage, is often reviewed within a few days. Postcard verification by mail can take one to two weeks to arrive at your address, and you then enter the code from the card. If verification fails, you can request video verification or contact Google support.

Why is my business not showing on Google Maps?

The most common reasons are that your profile is not verified yet, your address or service area is incomplete, or your listing is suspended for a policy issue such as a keyword-stuffed business name. New listings also take time to rank. Make sure the profile is verified, the category and address are accurate, and the business name matches your real-world signage, then keep the profile active with photos and posts.

Do Google reviews really affect ranking?

Yes. Review count, review rating and how recently you received reviews are all factors in local ranking, alongside relevance and distance. A steady flow of genuine reviews with owner replies signals an active, trusted business. Never buy fake reviews, because Google filters them and can penalise your profile. Ask happy customers in person or over WhatsApp and share your review link to make it easy.

Google Business Profile (My Business): Complete Setup Guide (2026)

If you run a shop, clinic, restaurant, salon, coaching centre or any local service in India, your Google Business Profile is the most valuable free marketing asset you have. When someone searches for a plumber near me or best cafe in Indiranagar, Google shows a map with three business listings at the top, and those are Business Profiles. This guide walks you through creating, verifying and optimising yours, then turning the calls and direction requests it generates into tracked leads.

What is Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)?

Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows your business on Google Search and Google Maps. It holds your name, category, address, phone number, website, hours, photos, reviews and posts. When your profile is complete and verified, you can appear in the local map pack, the box of three businesses that sits above the normal blue-link results. Google renamed the product from Google My Business to Google Business Profile, and you now manage everything straight from Search and Maps rather than a separate app.

Why it matters for local businesses

Most local purchases start with a search on a phone. A strong profile earns you free visibility exactly when a customer is ready to call, visit or order. It shows your opening hours so people know you are open, your reviews so they trust you, and a call button so they reach you in one tap. For many small businesses in India, the Business Profile drives more phone calls than the website does, because customers act directly from the Maps listing. It costs nothing and works around the clock.

The three things Google ranks on

Local ranking comes down to relevance (does your category and content match the search), distance (how close you are to the searcher), and prominence (reviews, activity and links). You control relevance and prominence directly, so most of your effort should go there.

Step 1: Create your profile

Sign in to a Google account you control, then go to Google Maps or search your business name. If Google already lists your business, you can claim it. If not, choose the option to add your business. Enter these details carefully:

Business name: use your real name exactly as it appears on your signboard. Do not add extra keywords or city names, because that breaks Google policy and risks suspension.
Category: pick the single most accurate primary category, such as Dentist or Sweet Shop. You can add secondary categories later.
Location: if customers visit you, add your full address so you appear on Maps. If you travel to customers, set a service area with the cities or pin codes you cover and hide the address.
Contact: add a phone number that actually rings at your business and your website URL.

Step 2: Verify your business

Verification proves you own the business, and an unverified profile has limited reach. Google offers different methods depending on your business type:

Phone or SMS: Google calls or texts a code, usually instant.
Email: a code is sent to your business email.
Video: you record a short walkthrough showing your premises, signage and any equipment, which proves the business is real.
Postcard: Google mails a card with a code to your address, which can take one to two weeks in India.

Complete verification before you do anything else, because unverified profiles can be edited by others and do not rank well.

Step 3: Optimise every field

A half-filled profile loses to a complete one. Fill in each of these:

Categories: one accurate primary plus a few relevant secondary categories.
Hours: set regular hours and update special hours for festivals like Diwali and Holi so customers are not misled.
Photos: add a clear logo, a cover image, your storefront, interior, team and products. Businesses with photos get more direction requests and calls, so refresh them monthly.
Services and products: list what you offer with prices where you can, so customers self-qualify before they call.
Description: write a plain, honest paragraph about what you do and who you serve.
Attributes: tick options like wheelchair accessible, UPI accepted or home delivery.

Turn marketing into managed leads

IndiaCRM captures leads from Google, WhatsApp, IndiaMART and your website into one place with follow-up reminders, free. See lead management or create your free account.

Step 4: Use posts and messaging

Google Posts let you publish offers, events and updates that show on your profile for a short window. Post a festival discount, a new arrival or a service you want to push. A profile that posts regularly looks active, which helps prominence. Turn on the call button and, where available, messaging, so customers can start a chat directly. Reply quickly, because a slow response loses the lead to a competitor two listings down.

Step 5: Get and reply to reviews

Reviews are the single biggest trust signal on your profile and a real ranking factor. Build a simple habit:

Ask in person: after a happy customer pays, ask them to leave a review.
Share your link: copy your short review link from the profile and send it over WhatsApp or print it as a QR code at your counter.
Reply to every review: thank positive reviewers by name and answer negative ones calmly with a fix. Public, professional replies show future customers how you handle problems.
Never buy fake reviews: Google filters them and can suspend your profile.

How your profile drives calls and leads

A profile is only useful if the enquiries it produces get followed up. Every call, WhatsApp message and form fill from Google is a lead, and leads that sit unanswered turn cold within hours. Track where each enquiry came from, note the customer, and set a reminder to follow up. If you want to see the marketing tactics that feed a profile, read our guide on how to get more customers and our lead generation ideas for India.

Once the enquiries start coming, a lead management system keeps them from slipping. For the wider picture of promoting your business beyond Google, see how to promote your business in India and our digital marketing starter guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

Stuffing keywords into your business name, which risks suspension.
Leaving the profile unverified or letting hours go stale.
Ignoring reviews, especially the negative ones.
Using a call-tracking number that does not match your real number everywhere else, which confuses Google.
Creating duplicate listings for the same location.

Get the basics right, keep the profile active, and your Google Business Profile becomes a steady source of free, high-intent enquiries.