Creating a Google Business Profile takes about 10 minutes of setup plus 3–7 days for verification. Start at google.com/business or search your business name on Google Maps and click "Claim this business" if it already exists. Sign in with the Google account you want to manage the listing—use a company account, not a personal one you might lose access to. Enter your exact business name as it appears on your storefront or legal documents. Choose the most specific primary category that describes what you do (like "SEO agency" not just "marketing agency"). Add your street address if customers visit your location, or select "I deliver goods and services to my customers" if you operate from home or serve clients on-site. For service businesses, you can hide your address and only show your service areas—useful if you run a plumbing company or consulting practice from a home office. Google will mail a postcard with a 5-digit verification code to your address, usually arriving in 5–7 business days. Some businesses qualify for instant phone or email verification. Until verified, your listing appears on Maps but you cannot edit details or respond to reviews. Once you enter the code, your profile goes live with full management access. Complete the critical fields immediately: business hours (mark holidays accurately), phone number (use a local line, not a call-tracking number that might change), website URL, and business description (750 characters to explain services and location—mention "Ottawa" or your city naturally). Upload 3–5 high-quality photos of your storefront, team, or work. Add services or products with descriptions if applicable. At Ottawa SEO, we always verify profiles using the actual business address, never a PO box or virtual office unless you legitimately operate from there, because Google cross-checks against other data sources. Set up two-factor authentication on the managing Google account immediately—losing access to an established profile with years of reviews is a nightmare. Enable messaging if you can respond within a few hours, disable it if you cannot. A half-completed profile ranks worse than a fully detailed one, so treat the first week of setup seriously.