How to Verify Your Google Business Profile

A Practical Verification Guide for Real Estate Agents and Local Businesses

Learn how to prepare your Google Business Profile, complete verification, and organize the information you need before you begin.

Updated October 2026. Google determines eligibility and approval; verification options and requirements can change.

1. Check Your Google Business Profile Eligibility

Your profile should represent a real business accurately. Real estate agents can qualify as individual practitioners when they are public-facing professionals with their own customers. Support staff should not create practitioner profiles.

Use your real-world business name, accurate contact details, and a category that describes your business. Avoid adding search keywords to the business name unless they are part of its actual name.

A rented mailing address or virtual office where you do not operate is not eligible. Businesses displaying an address should have permanent signage. Before using a brokerage office address, check that your circumstances meet Google's practitioner and location rules. Do not assume that working at a brokerage automatically qualifies every agent for a separate profile.

Read Google's business representation guidelines.

2. Find or Claim Your Business Profile

Sign in to the Google account associated with your business. Search Google for your business name and city, or “my business.” Claim the existing listing, or add the business if it is not listed.

Select Get verified and follow the options Google presents. Depending on the profile, these may include phone or text, email, video recording, live video call, or mail. Google chooses the available methods; you cannot require a different option.

3. Prepare for Google Business Profile Video Verification

Plan the recording before starting. Google requires a unique, uninterrupted, unedited video of at least 30 seconds, recorded and uploaded through your profile on a mobile device. Do not film it offline for later upload.

Your video should establish:

• Location: recognizable street signs, building numbers, or nearby landmarks.
• Business activity: the workspace, tools, equipment, or other evidence of actual operations.
• Authority: access to business-only areas or assets that demonstrates you manage the business.

Storefronts should show permanent signage matching the profile name. Service-area businesses should show where they operate and the equipment or documents supporting their business.

Keep bank details, tax or identification numbers, private information, and other people's faces out of the recording. For real estate businesses, plan your route so client files and confidential transaction documents stay out of view.

On your phone, open the profile, choose Get verified → Business video, follow the prompts, record, review, and upload.

Follow Google's complete video verification instructions.

4. Complete Verification and Watch for Updates

For phone, text, or email verification, use the contact method shown and follow the instructions. If mail is offered, avoid changing the business name, address, or category while waiting, and do not request replacement codes unnecessarily. Never share your verification code.

Google says verification reviews can take up to five business days, sometimes longer. Successful verification brings a confirmation email.

If Get verified returns, follow the re-verification prompts. If a video is rejected, open Review issues and address the stated problems. Contact Google support if the available process still does not work.

Read Google's verification and troubleshooting guide.

Google Business Profile Verification Checklist

Use this planning checklist to keep your preparation organized:

• Confirm which Google account you will use.
• Review the existing profile before creating anything new.
• Check the business name, contact details, and location information.
• Read the requirements for the method offered to your profile.
• Plan the evidence and recording route, if video is requested.
• Record the submission date and any follow-up instructions.
• Keep a clear next action until verification is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a real estate agent get a Google Business Profile?

Yes, eligible individual practitioners can have profiles. Review Google's rules for your business and location before applying.

Can I choose phone verification instead of video?

Only use the verification methods Google makes available in your profile.

Does verification guarantee better Google rankings?

This guide helps you prepare for verification. It does not promise approval, search placement, or leads.

Keep Your Business Information Organized

Maintain a simple record of your profile details, submission date, status, and next steps. Use the same habit you use for client follow-up: document what happened and what needs to happen next.

Explore the Real Estate Library for more practical business guides.

TASKLAMP VA is not affiliated with Google. This guide provides general organizational guidance. Google's official policies and on-screen instructions control the verification process.