Verification is the step where Google confirms that you really run the business. The most common methods today are a video recorded on your phone, a live video call, phone or SMS, and email. Google decides which options to offer for each profile. For the video, what gets approved is showing the business sign, the workplace and proof that you manage the business, all in one continuous, uncut video.
An unverified profile can’t be safely edited, doesn’t show up complete and can’t be linked to ads. That’s why verification is the first bottleneck for anyone just starting out.
Verification methods
Google lists the options on the Business Profile verification page. You don’t get to choose freely: the system offers methods based on the type of business, category and history.
- Recorded video. The most requested method today. You record it on your phone and submit it right through the app.
- Live video call. A Google representative watches live while you show the location.
- Phone or SMS. A code is sent to the number on the profile.
- Email. A code is sent to the business’s domain email.
- Postcard. Rare today, with a printed code sent by mail.
How to record a video that gets approved
One continuous, uncut video, one to two minutes long. Start outside and finish inside.
- Show the street. Street signs, building number, neighboring businesses. This proves the address.
- Show the storefront with the business name. The sign needs to be legible.
- Go inside. Show the workspace, equipment, inventory, the service area.
- Prove that you run the place. Open the cash register, show the door key, a company document or an employees-only area.
For businesses that work on-site at customers’ homes and don’t have a storefront, the video shows the branded vehicle, tools and a company document instead of a storefront.
Why the request gets denied
- A cut or edited video. It has to be continuous.
- Missing or illegible signage. Without visible identification, Google can’t link the location to the business.
- An address that doesn’t match. The number shown in the video differs from the one on file.
- An address that can’t be used. Coworking spaces without staff on site, virtual offices, PO boxes. See the rules in suspended business profile.
- Recorded at home for a business that claims to have a storefront.
How long it takes
After you submit the video, review usually takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. In the meantime, avoid editing the name, address and category. Changes made during review can restart the process.
After you get verified
Once your profile is verified, fill in everything: the right category, services, hours, photos and description. The full sequence is in our Google Business Profile optimization checklist, and category selection is covered in Google Business Profile category.
If you haven’t created your profile yet, start with Google Business Profile: step-by-step setup.
Verification for businesses with more than one location
Chains with ten or more locations under the same brand can request bulk verification instead of verifying location by location. The request is made through the dashboard, with a list of addresses, and Google reviews the business as a whole. For two or three locations, you still need to verify each profile separately, with a video for each address.
Frequently asked questions
Is verification paid? No. Any charge for verification is a scam. See is Google Business Profile free?.
Can I verify without an address? Yes, as a service-area business. The video shows your vehicle, tools and documents.
I moved. Do I need to verify again? Often, yes. Changing your address usually requires re-verification.
The video option doesn’t appear. Google offers the methods it considers appropriate. Sometimes completing your profile and waiting a few days changes the available options.
Want help? Our free Google Business Profile audit shows what’s missing from your profile.