Google Business Profile
Every contractor. When someone searches "plumber near me," this is what shows up. If you do not have a profile, you are invisible in local search.
Do this first
Go to business.google.com and either create a new profile or claim your existing one. Complete every single field. Add at least 5 photos. This takes 20–30 minutes and is the highest-ROI marketing action you can take.
- 1.Go to business.google.com and sign in with a Google account
- 2.Create a new business profile or claim an existing one (Google may have auto-created one)
- 3.Set your business name exactly as it appears on your LLC registration
- 4.Choose your primary category — use the most specific one (e.g., "Plumber" not "Home Services")
- 5.Set your service area using cities, zip codes, or neighborhoods (do not use a radius)
- 6.If you go to customers (not a storefront), hide your address and show only service area
- 7.Add your business phone number — use your business line, not personal cell
- 8.Add your website URL (or skip if you do not have one yet)
- 9.Write a business description (750 chars max): what you do, who you serve, and your service area
- 10.Add all specific services you offer as individual service entries
- 11.Upload at least 5 photos: completed work, your vehicle, your team, your equipment
- 12.Set your business hours accurately
- 13.Enable messaging if you want customers to text you through Google
- 14.Post your first Google update — a job photo with a short description
- 15.Ask your first satisfied customer to leave a Google review
Cheapest path
Google Business Profile is 100% free. This is the single highest-value free marketing tool for any local service business. Spend 30 minutes setting it up properly and you will start receiving calls.
Tools to compare
Not endorsements or paid placements. Compare these and other providers.
Complete profile with photos and reviews. Generates calls from day one for most contractors.
When to use: Always. Every contractor should have this, regardless of budget or stage.
Visit site ↗Add Yelp, Angi, Thumbtack, and chamber of commerce listings to strengthen local search.
When to use: You want to appear in more places and build local citations for SEO.
Optimized profile, targeted content, and automated review requests using NiceJob or Podium.
When to use: Competitive market where you need to outrank other contractors in the 3-pack.
Educational guidance only. Statistics cited are approximate examples and may change. Google Business Profile is a free product of Google LLC. We are not affiliated with Google.