Google Business Profile lets eligible businesses manage how their information appears on Search and Maps. Start by searching for your business name on Google. If a profile already exists, click "Claim this business" or "Own this business?" in the knowledge panel. If nothing appears, go to google.com/business and create a new profile. Eligibility matters. You need a physical location or service area, direct customer contact, and a category that matches your core business. Google rejects profiles for ineligible operations like lead-gen sites, PO boxes, or businesses that exist solely to rent virtual offices. Use the most specific primary category you can—"Personal Injury Lawyer" beats "Lawyer"—and add secondary categories only when they reflect actual service lines. Fill out every field with accurate, stable information. Business name should match your real-world signage and incorporation documents; keyword stuffing triggers suspension. Enter your full street address if you have a physical location customers visit. Service-area businesses can hide the address and specify delivery zones by city or postal code. Add your primary local phone number—not a call-tracking redirect—and a website that works and loads quickly. Write a concise business description in the first person, focusing on what you do and where you serve. Upload photos: JPG or PNG, 10 KB to 5 MB, 720×720 recommended and 250×250 minimum. Keep them in focus, well lit, and avoid heavy filters. Cover logo, exterior, interior, team, and product or service shots. Google will show the verification steps available for that profile. Follow only the in-product instructions because availability varies by business and can change. Avoid editing core details while verification is pending. After verification, confirm your hours, services, attributes, and appointment links are current. Check the profile from an incognito window to see what customers see. Post frequency and photo uploads do not directly improve rankings, but an accurate, complete profile is the floor for local visibility.