Your business shows on Google Maps through its Google Business Profile, and only verified, active profiles show at all. If the profile is verified and you still can't see it, it's usually there but not ranking for what you searched.
1. Search for your exact business name
Open Google Maps and search your business name and town, exactly as on the profile: "Smith Plumbing Hamilton", not "plumber Hamilton".
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You come up | The profile is live. Google just isn't showing it for the general search you tried | Skip to step 5 |
| You don't come up | Something is stopping the profile from showing | Work through steps 2 to 4 |
Then sign in to the Google account that manages the profile and search "my business" on Google. That opens the profile with its status and any notices from Google.
2. Check it's verified
Google's help page on finding your business is plain about this: only verified businesses can show their business info on Maps and Search.
If the profile says it needs verifying, or a postcard or video check is still pending, that's your answer. Our setup guide covers the verification options.
3. Check it isn't suspended or a duplicate
If Google has suspended or disabled the profile, it sends a notice to the Google account that manages it. A suspended profile won't show until it's reinstated.
Duplicates are the other quiet cause. Google's page on duplicate profiles says a profile it treats as a duplicate won't show on Search or Maps.
That happens when there's already a verified profile for the same business, often one a previous owner or staff member set up. If you made the extra one by mistake, you can remove it. If someone else controls the verified one, the same page explains how to request access.
4. Check for recent changes
New profiles and recent edits take time.
- New profiles. Google says a new business can take up to a month to appear in search results.
- Edits. Google reviews edits before they go live. It usually takes about 10 minutes, but it can take up to 30 days.
- Pending edits. A pending edit shows as an alert in the edit section of your profile. Some edits aren't approved because Google can't confirm they're accurate.
If you changed the name, address or category, wait for the review before changing anything else.
5. If you show up by name but not for "plumber near me"
This is a ranking question, not a missing profile. Google's page on local ranking says it weighs three things:
| Factor | What Google means |
|---|---|
| Relevance | How well your profile matches what someone searched |
| Distance | How far your business is from the person searching |
| Prominence | How well known the business is, including reviews and links to your website |
You can't pay Google for a better local ranking. What you can control:
- Category. Google says the categories you choose affect your local ranking. Pick the most specific primary category that fits, such as "Nail salon" rather than "Salon", and add only a few extra ones.
- A complete profile. Google says businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show in local results. Fill in hours, services, phone, website and photos.
- Reviews. Ask every customer, and reply to the reviews you get.
If you work from home and go to your customers, Google expects you to hide your address and set service areas, as our setup guide explains. That's correct, not a fault.
Apple Maps and Bing are separate
Google Maps is only one map.
- Apple Maps. iPhone users often use it. It takes listings from Apple's free Business Connect.
- Bing Places. Bing has its own, which can import your details from your Google profile.
When to get help
You can sort most of this yourself. It's worth getting help when:
- The profile was set up by someone else and you can't get into the account.
- Google keeps rejecting your edits, or marks your profile as a duplicate and you can't see why.
- You've checked everything above and still don't show up for your own name.
If you'd like a second opinion on how your profile and website look to Google, start with our free website check.