Creating a Google Business Profile takes about 10 minutes if you have your business information ready. Start at google.com/business and sign in with the Google account you want to manage the profile. Click "Manage now" or "Add your business" and enter your exact business name as it appears on your storefront or legal documents. If Google suggests an existing listing, make sure it's not already claimed by someone else before proceeding. Next, choose your primary business category. This is critical for ranking, so pick the most specific option that matches what you actually do. A personal injury lawyer should choose "Personal Injury Attorney" not just "Lawyer." You can add secondary categories later, but the primary one carries the most weight. Enter your physical address if customers visit your location, or choose "I deliver goods and services to my customers" if you're service-area based. For service businesses, you can hide your address and instead define service areas by city or postal code radius. Add your phone number and website URL, then select business hours including any special hours for holidays. Verification is required before your profile goes live. Most businesses receive a postcard with a 5-digit code at the listed address within 5 to 14 days. Some categories like restaurants or retail stores may qualify for instant verification via phone or email. Once verified, complete your profile with photos (at least 3 exterior shots and 5 interior), a 750-character business description focusing on services and location, and your attributes like "wheelchair accessible" or "free Wi-Fi." At Ottawa SEO, we see businesses rush through setup and skip photos or pick the wrong category, which kills their visibility. Spend the extra 20 minutes to do it right the first time. Also, use the same NAP (name, address, phone) format across your website and citations to avoid confusing Google's algorithm. If you operate multiple locations, create separate profiles for each and never use a PO box as your address.