To verify your Google Business Profile, sign in to the Google Account connected to the business, find or claim the correct existing profile, select Get verified, and complete one of the methods Google shows you.

The important part is that you do not choose from every possible verification method. Google automatically decides which options are available based on factors such as the business type, public information, region, and opening hours. It may also require more than one method.

That is why instructions that tell every business to wait for a postcard are out of date. Your screen may offer a video recording, phone or text, email, a live video call, mail, or another eligible route. Follow the option shown on the profile rather than trying to force a different one.

Google Business Profile verification: the short version

 
1. Sign in to the Google Account that should control the profile.
 
2. Search Google for your business name and city or for “my business.”
 
3. Find or claim the existing profile. Do not create a second profile just because you cannot access the first one.
 
4. Select Get verified.
 
5. Complete the method or methods Google offers.
 
6. Wait for Google's review, which can take up to five business days after you finish the requested steps.
 
7. Look for the confirmation email or check the profile again. If Get verified returns, Google may be asking you to re-verify.

Google's current verification instructions are the final authority because the available methods and interface can change.

Before you start: claim the correct profile

Verification proves that you are authorized to manage a real, eligible business. It is not the first step in creating multiple versions of the same listing.

 
• Search before adding. Look for the business on Google Search and Maps. If a profile already exists, claim it instead of creating another one.
 
• Use an account the business controls. The business owner should retain ownership. An employee or agency can be added as a manager after verification.
 
• Make the profile match the real business. Use the real-world business name, correct category, accurate location or service area, and current contact information.
 
• Check eligibility. A business must generally make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours. Online-only businesses are not eligible for a Business Profile.

If the business is not on Google, use Google's add or claim instructions or our Google Business Profile setup guide. This page picks up at verification.

Step 1: find the Business Profile you need to verify

Sign in to the Google Account associated with the business. Search Google for the business name and city or search for “my business.” You can also go to business.google.com.

If you see the correct unclaimed profile, follow the prompt to claim and manage it. If Google says that someone else manages the profile, stop there and request access. Creating a replacement can produce a duplicate and make the ownership problem harder to untangle.

Step 2: use the verification method Google offers

Select Get verified on the profile. You may see one option or several. Google says the methods are automatically determined and cannot be manually changed. In some cases, it asks for more than one method.

If video recording appears, Google currently recommends using it when the business is eligible. If it does not appear, use one of the options that does.

Video recording

A verification video must be recorded and uploaded from a mobile device through the Business Profile. Google requires one continuous, unedited recording that is at least 30 seconds long. A prerecorded video saved on your phone will not work.

Plan the route before you press record. The video needs to prove three things:

 
1. The business operates where the profile says it does.
 
2. The business exists and performs the type of work listed on the profile.
 
3. You are authorized to manage it.

For a storefront or hybrid business

In one continuous recording, show:

 
• The surrounding location, such as street signs, the building number, nearby businesses, or recognizable landmarks.
 
• The storefront and permanent on-site signage. The business name on the sign should match the profile.
 
• Something that demonstrates management access, such as unlocking an employee-only area, using the point-of-sale system, or opening a storage area.

If the location does not have permanent on-site signage, Google says it should be represented as a service-area business rather than a storefront.

For a service-area business

A plumber, cleaner, electrician, mobile service, or other business that travels to customers can verify without displaying its home or office address publicly. In one continuous recording, show:

 
• Street signs, nearby landmarks, or other identifiers around the location from which the business operates.
 
• Tools, equipment, products, a workspace, business cards, branded clothing, or a branded vehicle connected to the work.
 
• Proof that you manage the business, such as unlocking a branded work vehicle or showing a non-sensitive permit, invoice, or utility bill that matches the profile name.

Do not film bank, tax, or identification numbers, private information, or other people's faces. Review Google's full video verification requirements before recording.

Phone or text

If the profile offers phone or SMS verification, make sure you can answer the listed business number or receive its texts. Automated phone systems cannot receive Google's code. Enter the code on the profile when it arrives.

If phone or text is not shown, that does not mean you should add a different number or wait automatically for a postcard. Use the method Google has made available.

Email

If email appears as an option, make sure you can access the exact address displayed on the verification screen. Select email and follow the instructions in Google's message.

Email is not something you can enable by changing to a company domain or a Google Workspace address. The useful account rule is simpler: use an account the business controls and keep its recovery information current.

Live video call

A live video call may appear for some businesses. You will need to be at the business location and ready to show the surrounding area, business equipment or products, and proof that you manage the business. Live calls are available only during the location's stated business hours.

If live video is not offered, use the available option. Google does not make this method available to every business.

Mail or postcard

Mail verification is still used, but it is not available to every business. If Google offers it, confirm the mailing address and request the code. Google says most codes arrive within 14 days.

While you wait for the code:

 
• Do not edit the business name, address, or category. Those edits can invalidate the code already in the mail.
 
• Do not request a second code just because the first has not arrived yet. A new request invalidates the old code and can extend the process.
 
• Use the code within 30 days.
 
• Keep the code private. Google says it will never ask you to share it, including with someone who manages the profile.

If the expected window has passed, follow the prompts on the profile or use Google Business Profile support. Do not keep requesting codes without checking which request is active.

Instant and bulk verification

Some profiles are verified instantly. Google says this can happen when the business website is already verified in Google Search Console. Eligible organizations that manage ten or more locations may use bulk verification.

Neither route is a switch that every owner can turn on. Complete the flow Google presents on the profile.

Which evidence should you prepare?

The cleanest verification attempt shows a consistent story: the business name and model on the profile match what Google can see in the real world.

Storefront

 
• Prepare: Street and building markers, permanent signage, customer-facing space, and proof of management access.
 
• Fix first: A profile name or address that does not match the permanent signs and location.

Service-area business

 
• Prepare: Nearby location markers, work tools or equipment, branded materials or a vehicle, and matching non-sensitive business documents.
 
• Fix first: A private address displayed even though customers are not served there.

Hybrid business

 
• Prepare: Storefront evidence plus evidence of the service operation.
 
• Fix first: Missing permanent signage or a service area that does not match how the business operates.

Multi-location business

 
• Prepare: Consistent ownership, location data, signage, and authorized access for every eligible location.
 
• Fix first: Duplicate profiles, virtual offices, or several listings for services rather than real locations.

Can you verify a Google Business Profile without a postcard?

Yes—if Google offers another method on the profile. Video recording, phone or text, email, live video, instant verification, and bulk verification can all be used in eligible cases.

You cannot manually replace a postcard option with one you prefer. If the available method cannot work for the real business, confirm that the profile information and business model are accurate, then use Google's support route rather than creating another profile.

How to tell whether your Google Business Profile is verified

After you complete the requested steps, Google may review the information for up to five business days. When verification succeeds, Google sends a confirmation email.

You can also sign in to the account connected to the profile and search for the business or “my business.” If Google displays Get verified again, it could not fully verify the profile and is asking you to repeat or complete the process. If a video attempt shows Review issues, open that notice to see what was missing and submit a new video that includes both the original evidence and the missing proof.

What to do when the profile belongs to someone else

If Google says someone else manages the existing profile, request ownership instead of creating a duplicate.

For a storefront or hybrid business, go to business.google.com/add, select the existing business, choose Request access, and submit the form. Google gives the current owner three days to respond. If there is no response, you may be offered a way to claim the profile, although Google says that option is not always available.

For a service-area business, Google's current ownership instructions send the request through Business Profile support using “Transfer ownership of listing” as the issue.

Common verification problems

The verification method I want is missing

This is usually not a menu-setting problem. Google chooses the methods automatically. Use an available method, correct any inaccurate business information, or contact support if the offered route cannot verify the real business.

My video was rejected

Select Review issues and read the reason. The most common evidence gaps in Google's examples are a missing business name on the storefront, no view of the surrounding area, or no proof that the person recording is authorized to operate the business. Re-record the full continuous video and include the missing evidence.

My postcard has not arrived

Google says most codes arrive within 14 days. While you wait, do not change the name, address, or category, and do not request another code; either action can invalidate the code in transit. Codes expire after 30 days. If the delivery window has passed, follow the current prompt on the profile or contact Google support.

Google is asking me to verify again

Re-verification can happen after business details change or when Google cannot fully confirm the earlier attempt. Follow the new prompt and make sure the evidence matches the profile's current name, address or service area, category, and business model.

The profile is suspended or disabled

Suspension and reinstatement are different from ordinary verification. Do not create a replacement profile. Review Google's policy notice and use the reinstatement or appeal path shown for the account.

What verification does—and does not—do

Verification gives the authorized owner control of the Business Profile and helps Google confirm that the business information is legitimate. It lets the owner manage information and interact with customers through features available to that profile.

Verification does not guarantee a top Map Pack position, more calls, or visibility for every service. Once the profile is verified, accurate categories, complete information, reviews, website relevance, prominence, distance, and the quality of the customer path still matter.

For the ongoing work, use our Google Business Profile optimization checklist. To understand how the profile and website support each other, read how local SEO and your GBP fit together.

Google Business Profile verification FAQs

Do I need to verify my business with Google?

You need to verify the profile to gain ownership and manage the business information as its authorized representative. The business must also meet Google's eligibility rules.

How long does Google Business Profile verification take?

The time depends on the offered method. Google says most mailed codes arrive within 14 days, and its review can take up to five business days after you complete the verification steps. Video review can also take up to five business days.

Can I verify by email?

Yes, if email appears on the profile's verification screen. You cannot turn on email verification when Google has not offered it.

Can a service-area business verify without showing its address?

Yes. A service-area business can hide its address from customers and use video evidence such as local street markers, tools, equipment, branded materials, a work vehicle, and matching non-sensitive business documents.

Can an agency verify my profile for me?

The owner should control the profile and work directly through the verification process. After verification, the owner can add an agency or employee as a manager. Never give a mailed or phone verification code to someone who asks for it.

Will verification improve my local ranking?

Verification is required to own and manage the profile, but it does not guarantee ranking improvement. Local visibility depends on a broader set of factors and on the searcher's location.

When the problem is bigger than the verification button

A straightforward verification attempt should stay straightforward. The cases that usually need a closer diagnosis involve an unknown owner, duplicate profiles, a move, a service-area setup, multiple locations, an eligibility question, or repeated re-verification.

If that is what you are dealing with, review NOVA's Google Business Profile management services or tell us what happened. We will tell you whether the problem fits our work or should go directly to Google support.

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