Creating a Google Business Profile takes about 10 minutes if you have your business details ready. Go to google.com/business or search your business name on Google and click "Claim this business" if a listing already exists. Sign in with the Google account you want to manage the profile—use a company account, not a personal one you might lose access to. Enter your exact business name as it appears on your signage and CRA registration. Choose the most specific primary category that matches what you do—this affects which searches trigger your profile. Add your complete street address if customers visit your location, or select "I deliver goods and services to my customers" if you're service-area based. For service businesses operating from home in Ottawa or Toronto, you can hide your address and just show service areas. Google requires verification before your profile goes live. Most businesses receive a postcard with a 5-digit code at their address within 5–14 days. Some established businesses with existing web presence qualify for instant verification, phone verification, or email verification. Auto dealerships, hotels, and chains often get faster verification options. After verification, immediately complete these high-impact sections: add 3–10 photos including exterior, interior, team, and work samples; write a 150–250 word business description using natural language about what you do and where you serve; set accurate hours including holiday schedules; add your website URL and local phone number with Ottawa area code if applicable. At Ottawa SEO, we see verified profiles with complete info rank 40–60% higher in local pack results than bare-bones listings. The verification postcard is the bottleneck—plan for two weeks. If you operate multiple locations, use Google Business Profile Manager to handle them all from one dashboard. Never create duplicate listings for the same physical location, even if you offer different services—Google will suspend both.