Google Business Profile Checklist for Contractors

Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. Its Business Profile help page on local ranking defines relevance as "how well a Business Profile matches what someone is searching for," distance as "how far each business is from the customer who's searching," and prominence as "how well known a business is."

You cannot move your shop closer to every customer, so distance is mostly out of your hands. Relevance and prominence are where your work pays off. Relevance comes from accurate categories, services and a description that names the jobs you really do. Prominence grows with reviews, mentions around the web and a website people link to and talk about.

The same Google page is blunt about shortcuts. It says, "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google."

The fields that matter most are business name, primary category, service areas, phone, website, hours, services and description. Google's ranking help page says to make your business info "as complete as possible," so fill every field that applies to you.

Each field has its own rule. Google's guidelines say your name must match the real world name on your signage and branding. Your phone number "must be under the direct control of the business." Your website must not redirect people somewhere else.

Pick the single most specific primary category for the work that brings in most of your revenue, then add only a few secondary categories. Google's guidelines say to "use as few categories as possible to describe your overall core business from the provided list."

A San Diego roofer should choose Roofing contractor, not General contractor, as the primary category. A plumber who also does water heaters can add a secondary category if Google offers one that fits. Skip categories for work you rarely do. Loose categories blur relevance.

Your services list does the rest. Google says custom service names should not include prices or phone numbers. Name each service the way a homeowner searches, such as "paver patio repair."

If you drive to your customers and do not serve them at your address, Google treats you as a service area business. Its guidelines say, "If you're a service area business, you should hide your business address from customers."

Google's service area help page says you can have up to 20 service areas, set by city, postal code or another type of area. You cannot set a radius around your shop. The page also says your overall area "shouldn't be more than about 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based."

For a contractor in Chula Vista, a sensible list might include Chula Vista, National City, Bonita, Imperial Beach, Otay Mesa and the San Diego ZIP codes you truly serve. Service areas tell customers where you go. Ranking still depends on relevance, distance and prominence.

Add real photos of your crew, trucks, equipment and finished jobs, and post updates when you finish notable work or run a seasonal offer. Google's ranking page says photos and videos let you "show customers what you offer and tell the story of your business."

Google's photo help page lists the specs. Photos should be JPG or PNG, between 10 KB and 5 MB, with a recommended resolution of 720 by 720 pixels and a minimum of 250 by 250. Videos can be up to 30 seconds, up to 75 MB, at 720p or higher. Google says images should be sharp, well lit and should represent reality, so skip stock photos and heavy filters.

Posts come in three types: updates, offers and events. Google may reject a post with a phone number it cannot connect to your business, so put your number on the profile itself instead of inside the post text.

Verification proves to Google that you are allowed to manage the business. Google's ranking page says verification makes your profile "more likely to show up in search results," so treat it as required, not optional.

Google's verification help page lists phone or text, email, live video call, video recording and mail as possible methods, depending on what Google offers your profile. Mailed codes usually arrive within 14 days and expire after 30 days. Google says not to edit your business name, address or category while you wait, or the code may not work. Verification reviews can take up to 5 business days.

For a live video call, Google asks you to show your location, your business or equipment, and proof you manage it. Contractors can show a branded truck, tools and shop signage.

Most suspensions come from breaking Google's guidelines for representing your business. The guidelines say adding unnecessary information to your business name "isn't permitted" and can lead to suspension.

Google has discontinued the developer side of Q&A and is shifting customer questions to an AI feature. Google's own change log for the My Business Q&A API says the API "was discontinued on November 3, 2025."

On the customer side, PPC Land reported on December 22, 2025 that a Google product expert confirmed in the Business Profile help forum that Q&A on Maps listings is being replaced by an "Ask" button that answers questions with AI, using the business's information and reviews. Google said the rollout was in progress with no completion date. Because the AI draws on your profile and reviews, a complete profile and detailed reviews matter even more. Put your most common answers, like service areas, licensing and warranties, on your website too.

If you want a second set of eyes, WebSEO.pro offers a free visibility audit that checks your profile against this list and shows what to fix first.