Get your shop on Google Maps
When someone searches "restaurant near me", "kirana store open now" or "momos near me", Google shows a map with shops close by. If your shop is not on that map, those customers walk past you and go to someone else. This page explains how a Google Maps listing works, what we need from you, and how to keep it healthy.
AIWe use AI tools to help write and organize your listing, and a person checks it before it goes live.
What is a Google Maps listing?
It is a free page about your business that Google shows on Google Maps and in Google Search. Its official name is Google Business Profile. People often say "Google My Business" or "Google Maps listing". They all mean the same thing.
What customers see
- Your shop name and a pin on the map
- A button to get directions
- A button to call you
- Opening and closing hours
- Photos, menu or products
- Reviews from other customers
Who it helps
- Restaurants: people searching for food nearby, and visitors who do not know the area
- General and kirana stores: neighbours who want to know "is it open right now?"
- Street food sellers: hungry people looking for a popular stall near them
Be realistic
A listing helps people find you, but nobody can promise you the number 1 spot on the map. Your position depends on how close the customer is, how complete and correct your information is, and your reviews. A correct, active listing gives you the best chance.
Can I make one myself?
Yes. It is free and anyone with a real business can do it. Here is how it works:
- Sign in with a Gmail account.Use an account you will keep for years. The listing belongs to this account.
- Open Google Maps or go to business.google.com.Choose "Add your business".
- Enter your business name and category.For example "Restaurant", "Grocery store" or "Street food vendor".
- Add your location.A shop with a fixed address adds the address and places the pin. A business that travels to customers can hide the address and list the areas it serves.
- Add phone number, hours, photos and a short description.
- Verify.Google checks that the business is real. See "Verification" below.
The steps are simple, but mistakes are easy to make: the wrong category, a pin in the wrong lane, or a verification video Google rejects. That is where we help. We do it carefully the first time, so you do not lose days to rejections.
What we need from you
Please send these exactly as they are in real life. Everything must match your real shop.
Business name
The name written on your signboard, exactly as customers know it. Do not add extra words like "best" or "cheap" or "near station". Google can reject names with extra words.
Accurate location
- Full address with PIN code and a landmark (for example, "opposite the temple")
- A location pin: stand at your shop, open Google Maps, touch and hold the spot until a red pin appears, tap it, then share it with us
- Floor number or shop number, if any
Phone number
A number that is always switched on and that someone answers during business hours. This is the number customers will call. Also tell us which number will get the verification code.
Opening hours
Real hours for each day, including lunch breaks and your weekly off day.
Photos
- Shop front with the signboard
- Inside of the shop
- Your food, products or menu
- Your team or yourself at work
Use your own real photos. They show customers the real you.
What you offer
- Dine-in, takeaway, delivery
- Main items or product types
- Payment: cash, UPI, cards
- Languages you speak
Your Gmail ID
The listing will be owned by this account. You stay the owner. If you prefer, we can create a new Gmail for the business and hand it over.
Street food or small stall?
- The exact spot where you stand
- Days and times you are there
- A photo of your stall and of the area around it
- A landmark nearby
Street food sellers: please read this
Google lists businesses that meet customers in person. A stall that stands in the same place every day is usually treated like a shop. A stall that moves around is more complicated, and Google's rules for it can change. We will tell you honestly which setup fits you best. We cannot promise that Google will accept every stall, because Google makes that decision.
Verification: Google needs to be sure it is real
After you submit the listing, Google asks you to prove the business is real. This step is done by you, the owner. Google decides which options you get, and they can be:
Phone or SMS code
A short OTP arrives on your phone. We guide you on when to enter it. Only share an OTP with us when you are in the middle of the setup, and ideally type it in yourself.
Email code
A code arrives on the email you used.
Video
You record a continuous video, without cuts, that shows your signboard, the shop front, the inside, and your goods or equipment. We tell you exactly what to film.
Postcard
Google posts a card with a code to your address. It can take several days. Keep the card safe and tell us when it arrives.
Never share your bank details, card number or UPI PIN with anyone for this. Google does not ask for them.
How we use AI
AI helps us work faster. It does not decide anything.
- It helps write your short description in simple English or Hindi, based on what you tell us.
- It suggests the right category and a list of services or menu items for you to approve.
- It checks that your name, address and phone number are written the same everywhere.
- It drafts polite reply templates for customer reviews.
A person reads and fixes everything before it goes online. AI does not verify your business, and Google makes the final decision. We do not write fake reviews, ever. We do not use AI-made photos of your shop or food, because customers would feel cheated. We use your real photos.
How to manage your listing
After setup, the listing is yours to run. You can use the Google Maps app on your phone or search for your own business name on Google while signed in. You will see options to edit your profile. We give you a simple guide at handover.
Every week
- Reply to new reviews
- Add a fresh photo
- Check that your hours are right for the coming week
When something changes
- New phone number: update it the same day
- New menu, price or product: update it
- Holiday or festival: set special hours
Reviews
- Ask happy customers to leave a review
- Never pay for reviews or offer gifts in exchange
- Reply politely to bad reviews. Other customers read your replies too.
Insights
The dashboard shows how many people called you or asked for directions. Use it to see what works.
What happens if the information is wrong?
Customers trust what Google shows. When the information is wrong, you lose customers and sometimes get bad reviews.
| Wrong information | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Pin in the wrong place | Customers go to the wrong lane or the wrong building, give up and leave a review such as "shop not found". | Drop the pin while standing at your shop door and zoom in to check. |
| Wrong or old phone number | Orders and enquiries go to a stranger or nobody. | Use a number you own and update it the same day it changes. |
| Wrong opening hours | Customers arrive at a closed shop and are angry. They may leave a one-star review. | Check your hours every week. |
| Extra words in the name | Google can reject the change or remove the listing. | Use only your real signboard name. |
| Fake address | Google can suspend the listing, and then customers cannot find you at all. | Only use an address where you really work. |
| Wrong category | You show up for the wrong searches, or not for the right ones. | Pick the category that matches what you mainly do. |
| Duplicate listing | Reviews and information are split between two pages, which confuses customers. | Check whether a listing already exists. Tell us first. |
Anyone can suggest edits to a listing, so check yours regularly. If you see a wrong change, correct it quickly.
What if my phone number is lost or I do not answer calls?
Number lost or SIM closed
- Customers call and nobody answers, or a stranger gets your calls
- You may not get Google's security codes on that number, so recovering the listing can become hard
- Recharge on time so the SIM stays active
- If you change the number, update Google at once and add a recovery email
You do not answer calls
- The customer calls the next shop on the map
- Customers can write "nobody picks up the phone" in a review
- Give a number that someone always answers during your hours
- If you miss a call, call back as soon as you can
What if my shop is closed for a day?
Shops close for many reasons: a festival, a wedding, illness, a power cut, repairs, or a family emergency. If Google still says "Open", customers arrive, find the shutter down, and may leave a bad review. Tell Google instead.
Closed for a day or festival
Use special hours for that date. Google then shows the shop as closed on that day.
Closed for some days or weeks
Mark the business as temporarily closed. When you reopen, switch it back on the same day.
Closed for good
Only mark it as permanently closed if you will never reopen. Google can then show it as closed for everyone.
Street food stall
If you are not coming today, change today's hours or post a short update. Regular customers will thank you.
Send us your details
Fill in what you know and send it. Please do not write any password or OTP here.
Common questions
How long does it take to show on Google?
Creating the listing is quick. Verification and Google's review can take from a few minutes to several days, depending on the method Google gives you. A postcard takes the longest.
Who owns the listing?
You do. It is created under your Gmail account. If you want to give someone else access later, you can add them as a manager and remove them any time.
I do not have a signboard yet. Can I still list?
You can try, but verification is easier with a visible signboard. A simple printed board or banner is enough, and it helps customers find you too.
Will Google charge me?
A basic listing is free. Anything Google offers as paid advertising is optional and not part of our service.
Can you get me reviews?
No. We do not buy, write or fake reviews. Fake reviews can get your listing removed. We will show you honest ways to ask real customers, such as a QR code at the counter.
What if Google rejects or suspends my listing?
It happens, usually because of a wrong name, a wrong address or an unclear video. We help you correct it and appeal. The final decision belongs to Google, so we cannot guarantee approval.