Google Business Profile for Service-Area Businesses: Setup Basics

Google Business Profile for Service-Area Businesses: Setup Basics

Plumbers, cleaners, contractors, mobile services and many consultants travel to their customers. Google calls these service-area businesses, and their Business Profile is set up differently from a storefront.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Google changes its interface and guidelines; check its current Business Profile help pages.

Hide the address if customers do not visit

If you do not serve customers at your address, Google's guidelines say to hide it and list service areas instead. You still verify the business with an address; it simply is not shown.

Choose realistic service areas

List the cities or areas you actually serve, generally within a reasonable driving distance of your base. Listing every city in the province does not help and can conflict with the guidelines.

Pick categories carefully

Choose the primary category that matches your main service, then a few accurate secondary categories. Categories strongly influence which searches you appear for.

Fill in services, hours and description

List each service with a short description. Keep hours accurate, including holidays. Write the description in plain language, without stuffing keywords into your business name.

Add real photos and updates

Photos of your team, vehicles and finished work help customers choose you. Occasional posts keep the profile current.

Reviews

Ask every customer for a review and reply to them. See automating review requests.

Match your website

Your business name, phone and service areas should match your website and other listings. See our local SEO checklist.

How we help

Our free SEO audit includes a Google Business Profile review. See SEO services in Edmonton.