How to Create a Google Business Profile – 8 Easy Steps (Canada)

A Google Business Profile (GBP) helps your home service company show up in Google Search + Google Maps when someone searches “plumber near me,” “roofing Edmonton,” etc. You can create one free and manage it from Google. Google Business+1

Table of Contents

Before you start (2 minutes)

What you need

A Google account you’ll use for ownership (ideally a shared admin account, not a personal one). Google Help
Your business basics: legal business name, primary category, phone, website, service area(s), hours.
Proof you’re real (often needed for verification): signage, vehicle branding, tools on-site, job site access, etc. (verification methods vary). Google Help

Important eligibility note (home services)

To qualify, your business generally must make in-person contact with customers during stated hours (common for trades/home services). Google Help

Step-by-step action plan (with exactly what to click)

Step 1) Start the profile creation

Go to Google’s Business Profile start page and click Get started / Manage now. Google Business+1

Step 2) Add or claim your business

If your business doesn’t exist yet, you’ll add it. If it exists, you’ll claim/request access.

Google’s official “Add or claim” flow: Google Help

Step 3) Enter your business name + choose your category (do this carefully)

Use your real-world business name (no keyword stuffing).
Choose the best primary category (e.g., “Plumber,” “HVAC contractor,” “Roofing contractor”). This affects ranking and what features you get.

Tip for home services: pick the category closest to your core revenue service, then add secondary categories later.

Step 4) Choose your business type: storefront vs service-area vs hybrid

Most home service companies should be Service-area (you travel to customers).

Google’s guidance: if you don’t have permanent on-site signage, you may not be eligible as a storefront and should list as a service-area business. Google Help

Step 5) Set your address and/or service areas properly

Service-area businesses: you typically hide your address and set the cities/regions you serve.
Use a precise, accurate location/service area; P.O. boxes aren’t allowed. Google Help
You can edit service areas later (Google explains how). Google Help

Step 6) Add contact info (NAP) and website

Add:

Best practice: Keep NAP consistent with your website and directories.

Step 7) Add hours (and be honest)

Set your hours for when staff are available. If you’re a service-area business, hours should reflect when customers can actually reach/receive service.

Step 8) Verify your Business Profile (this is the gate)

Verification methods are automatically determined by Google and can depend on business type/region/public info; sometimes you may need more than one method. Google Help

Google’s official verification overview: Google Help

“Do this right after verification” checklist (high impact)

Once verified, do these in order:

Add your description (clear services + areas served + differentiators)
Upload photos: logo, cover, team, trucks, before/after, completed projects
Add services (each major service line)
Turn on messaging (if you can respond fast)
Get your first 5–10 reviews from real customers
Post updates weekly/bi-weekly (promos, tips, seasonal services)

(These steps are part of “personalize/manage” what Google highlights in the product flow.) Google Business

Common mistakes that get profiles suspended or filtered

Using a fake address, virtual office, or P.O. box Google Help
Choosing the wrong business type (storefront when you’re really service-area) Google Help
Breaking representation rules (name spam, misleading info) Google Help

⭐ Now That You Have a Google Business Profile — Start Building Reviews

Creating your Google Business Profile is just the first step. The real long-term power comes from reviews — they boost your visibility on Google, build trust with potential customers, and improve click-through rates to your website.

But how do you consistently get more 5-star reviews as a home service business?

We’ve got a great real-world example for you.

👉 Read this article:
How Furnace King Home Services Added 85 New 5-Star Reviews in Just 60 Days
🔗 https://blog.renovationfind.com/how-furnace-king-home-services-60-days-case-study/

In that case study, Furnace King used practical, scalable strategies to accelerate review growth — and you can apply the same methods to your own business, no matter your category (landscaping, plumbing, electrical, painting, HVAC, etc.).

Reviews are a major ranking signal and trust factor — so once your profile is live and optimized, shifting focus to strategic review generation will have a huge impact on your local search visibility and lead flow.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com