Why start here
When someone searches "plumber near me" or "movers in Doral," the first thing they usually see is a map with three businesses. To be there, you need a Google Business Profile.
In our review of licensed Miami-Dade providers, a large share didn't show up on Google Maps with a profile we could match to their license:
| Trade | Providers searched on Maps | Not found |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning | 71 | 37 |
| Plumbing | 48 | 25 |
| Roofing | 47 | 20 |
| Movers | 142 | 74 |
| Tax / ITIN | 67 | 26 |
| Driving schools | 63 | 16 |
| Total (includes 8 notary) | 446 | 200 |
Source: Valaku review of 500 providers with an active license or registration in Miami-Dade, Google Maps search by name and city, Oct 20, 2026 (54 weren't searched due to API limits). "Not found" may include businesses with a profile under a different name, which is one more reason to keep your name the same everywhere.
Step by step
1. Claim and verify
Search for your business on Google Maps. If it exists, tap "Own this business?" and claim it; if not, create it at business.google.com. Google says verification confirms you're authorized to represent the business and makes it more likely to show up in results.
2. Your real name, nothing added
Use the name your customers know, the same one on your sign, website and invoices. Google's rules don't allow adding words like "24-hour AC repair Miami," phone numbers, or repeating the name in two languages. Doing so can get your profile suspended.
3. The most specific category
Choose few categories, as specific as possible: the one that completes "this business IS a…". For example, "Air conditioning contractor" rather than just "Contractor."
4. Address or service areas
- If customers come to your place, enter the exact address. Google expects permanent signage with your business name there. Virtual offices and mailboxes don't qualify.
- If you go to the customer (plumbing, A/C, moving, cleaning) and work from home, remove the address and set service areas: up to 20 cities or ZIP codes, within about 2 hours' drive of your base.
- If you do both, show the address and the service areas.
5. Your own phone and website
List a phone you answer (local rather than a call center) and a link to your website. Google asks that the link not redirect to a page other than your business's own. If you don't have a website yet, now's a good time (see what your website needs).
6. Hours, services and description
Fill in hours (and holiday hours), your list of services and a useful description: what you do, where, and since when. Google doesn't allow promotions, prices or links in the description.
7. Photos
Upload real photos: your team, your branded vehicles, finished jobs. Google recommends it to show what you offer.
8. Reviews and replies
Ask every customer for a review and reply to all of them, good and bad. (See the reviews guide.)
9. Keep it current
If your hours, phone or website change, update them right away. Google says complete, accurate information helps your profile show up for relevant searches.
Common mistakes we saw
- Two profiles for the same business (Google allows one per location).
- The website link goes to an expired domain or another company.
- A home address showing for a business that serves customers on site.
- Unclaimed profiles with the wrong hours or phone.
FAQ
Does a Google Business Profile cost anything? No. Creating and keeping a profile is free. Ads are paid separately.
Can I have a profile if I work from home? Yes, as a service-area business: hide your address and choose the areas you serve.
Can I pay to rank higher on the map? Not in regular results. Google says you can't request or pay for a better local ranking; it depends on relevance, distance and prominence.
Can I list my name in Spanish and English? Not repeated: Google doesn't allow the same name in two languages. Use your real business name.
Is Google's profile chat still available? No. Google shut down Business Messages on July 31, 2024. Eligible accounts can add links so customers reach them through other channels, such as WhatsApp.
Sources for this guide (accessed Oct 20, 2026): Google Business Profile Help: "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google" (support.google.com/business/answer/7091), "Guidelines for representing your business on Google" (answer/3038177), "Manage your service areas for service-area & hybrid businesses" (answer/9157481). Chat shutdown: support.google.com/business/answer/14919056 (verified Oct 20, 2026).
Your Google profile and your Valaku listing reinforce each other. On Valaku we show your license and Sunbiz registration with a verification date, in Spanish and English. It's free. Claim your listing