Finding Your Existing GBP Listing
Before creating a new Google Business Profile, check whether one already exists for your business. Google often automatically generates business listings based on data from directories, Maps, and web crawling. These auto-generated listings may already have your business information — and claiming them (rather than creating new ones) is always preferable because they may already have user-contributed photos and reviews that you would lose if you create a fresh profile instead.
To find your existing listing: go to Google Maps (maps.google.com) and search your exact business name. Also search your phone number and your address. If a listing appears with “Own this business?” or “Claim this business?” alongside it — your listing exists but is unclaimed. If no listing appears, you will need to create one.
Search your business name in regular Google Search (not Maps). If a Knowledge Panel appears on the right side of the results with your business information and an “Own this business?” link — that is your GBP and the fastest path to claiming it.
Claiming an Unclaimed Listing
An unclaimed listing is one that exists on Google but has no verified owner. These can appear for businesses in operation for many years that were automatically added to Google Maps without the owner’s involvement. To claim an unclaimed listing:
Go to business.google.com
Sign in with the Google account you want to use to manage this business. This should be a business email account, not a personal Gmail — though either works technically.
Search for your business
Type your business name in the search field. If your existing listing appears in the suggestions, select it. This initiates the claiming process for the existing listing rather than creating a duplicate.
Request to manage the listing
Click “Manage this business” or “Claim this business.” Follow the prompts to confirm your business details — category, address, phone number, and website.
Choose a verification method
Select your preferred verification method from the options available. Video verification is fastest. Postcard is most reliable but takes 5 to 14 days.
What to Do If Your Listing Is Already Claimed
If Google shows “This listing has already been claimed” — someone has already claimed ownership of your business listing. This happens most commonly in four scenarios: a previous employee or agency claimed it and did not transfer ownership, a previous business owner claimed it before you took over, you or someone at your company claimed it with a different Google account that you no longer have access to, or in rare cases, a bad actor has claimed your listing fraudulently.
To reclaim your listing: click “Request access” when you see the claimed listing. Google will send a request to the current owner’s email. The owner has 3 days to respond. If they accept, you gain access. If they deny or do not respond, Google will investigate and may grant you ownership if you can demonstrate you are the legitimate business owner.
If you believe your listing was claimed fraudulently: contact Google Business Profile support directly at support.google.com/business and provide documentation of your business ownership (business license, utility bill, bank statement with your business name and address). Google takes fraudulent claims seriously and typically resolves these cases within 1 to 2 weeks.
Verification Methods in 2026
Video verification is Google’s primary verification method as of 2026. You record a short video showing your business exterior with the address clearly visible, your business interior, and your equipment or products (to confirm the business type). The video must be unedited raw footage — no filters, cuts, or editing. Google reviews the video within 24 to 72 hours and approves or requests a new recording.
Tips for successful video verification: record during daylight hours when address numbers are clearly visible, include a wide shot of the exterior showing signage and street context, show the full interior including any branded equipment or products, and keep the video under 5 minutes. The most common rejection reason is an address that is not clearly visible in the footage.
Postcard verification remains available as an alternative. Google mails a postcard with a 5-digit verification code to your business address. It arrives in 5 to 14 days. Enter the code in your GBP dashboard when it arrives. This method is reliable but slow — if you can complete video verification, do so.
Phone verification is available for some business types — Google calls your listed phone number with an automated verification code. This option only appears when your phone number matches the business data Google has on file.
Email verification is available for businesses whose domain email matches the business website Google has on file.
Instant verification is available if your business is already verified in Google Search Console with the same Google account. Connect the same account to GBP and the verification may complete automatically.
Troubleshooting Verification Failures
Video verification rejection is the most common failure. If Google rejects your video: re-read the verification requirements carefully, reshoot during daylight with better exterior address visibility, and ensure you show all required elements (exterior with address, interior, equipment/products). Most re-submissions are approved on the second attempt.
If your postcard does not arrive within 14 days: request a new postcard from your GBP dashboard. If the address is a PO Box or mail is collected at a different location — the postcard must go to the actual business address Google has on file, not a mailing address.
If no verification option appears: your business type or location may require additional steps. Service-area businesses (like plumbers and HVAC companies that serve customers at their location rather than a fixed address) sometimes encounter this. Contact Google Business Profile support for guidance specific to your situation.
What to Do After Verification
Immediately after verification, complete your profile before doing anything else. A verified but incomplete profile starts appearing in results almost immediately — you want it optimized before it begins receiving visibility.
- Write your business description (250 to 750 characters)
- Set your most specific accurate primary category
- Add all relevant secondary categories
- Add all services with descriptions
- Upload at least 20 photos
- Confirm all hours including special hours
- Enable relevant attributes
- Set up messaging if you can monitor it daily
Then run your first free audit at audit.rankifylocal.com to get a baseline score and see exactly which additional optimizations to prioritize.
Maintaining Ownership of Your Listing
GBP ownership can be complicated when agency relationships change. If you have ever given an agency or employee Owner-level access to your GBP, ensure you retain Owner access yourself — not just Manager access. Only Owners can remove other Owners from a listing. An agency with Owner access that refuses to relinquish control after a relationship ends requires Google support intervention to resolve.
Best practice: maintain one personal Owner account (your business owner Google account), grant agencies Manager access rather than Owner access, and keep a record of which Google accounts have access to each of your listings. Review access permissions quarterly and remove access for any agency or employee that no longer requires it.
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