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To grow your residential contracting business, there is no replacement for having a Google My Business profile.
It doesn’t matter what contracting trade you are: HVAC, Plumbing, Roofing, Tree Removal, Stucco, or any other type of industry — Google My Business is hands down the best way to show up on Google searches, and get new homeowners reaching out to you.
It’s better than Angi, Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, Facebook, Instagram, or any other platform out there.
Why?
- Because it’s free.
- Because when homeowners have a problem, they Google it.
- Because Google wants homeowners to find you, if you’re a good contractor.
If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, and if you’re not asking your clients to leave you Google Reviews, you’re leaving money on the table.
So given how important a Google My Business profile is to grow your contracting business, this guide will tell you exactly how to set it up and get it approved.
Unfortunately, many fake businesses have cropped up on Google, who run scams on unsuspecting homeowners, and ultimately hurt Google’s core business by destroying their reputation and trust that they have with the world.
To combat this, Google has made it much harder to register for new Google My Business profiles, and they’re much faster to flag accounts and take them down.
Due to these reasons, in 2025, it’s more important than ever to follow the right process in order to get your Google My Business account created.
The 2025 Google Business Profile Verification Playbook for Home‑Service Pros
Why you should care
A verified Google Business Profile (GBP) is now table‑stakes for ranking in local search, running Google Ads/Local Services Ads, and collecting reviews that convert prospects. Google’s 2024 Trust & Safety update means HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and other home‑service companies get only one clean shot at verification before risk of permanent suspension. The checklist below shows exactly how to nail it the first time.
0. What to gather before you even open the GBP wizard
| ✅ Must‑have proof | Acceptable examples | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Legal business registration | PDF or screenshot from your state’s local business registry, IE: Sunbiz (FL), Utah Gov, Secretary of State, etc. | Name and physical address must match what you’ll enter in GBP |
| Physical address evidence | Recent (≤ 60‑day) utility, internet, or cell bill OR insurance certificate with the same street address | P.O. Boxes and virtual mailboxes are not accepted |
| License / insurance | State HVAC license or general‑liability policy | Take a clear photo if no digital copy |
| Brand presence | Photo of your work van/truck with permanent wrap or magnet and the house number in frame | Google wants to see you operate from that location |
| Digital consistency | Screenshot of website footer showing identical phone, hours, and service area | Helps the algorithm tie your site to the profile |
🔑 Use a real cell number
Google now cross‑checks whether the phone can receive texts and voice calls on a physical device. Cloud numbers (Twilio, Burner, VoIP dashboards, etc.) are red‑flagged as spam. Put the SIM in an actual phone before you start.
1. Create the profile with the right Google account
- Sign in with the owner’s Gmail that sits under your professional G Suite domain. Example:
kody@fieldrocket.uslives inside G Workspace, but automatically has a matching Gmail login. This beats a throwawayfieldrocket‑kody@gmail.combecause:- Google can link the account to your website’s Search Console property – a direct trust signal.
- It passes internal “account tenure” checks that filter spammers.
- Go to
business.google.com/createand click Add your business to Google. - Enter the exact legal name and choose HVAC contractor (or your trade) as the primary category.
2. Service‑area setup – hide the address later, show it now
- Select “No” when asked if customers visit your location.
- Enter your street address anyway – this is mandatory for verification.
- Tick “Hide my address” so Google plans to suppress it after approval.
- Add your counties or cities (e.g., Brevard County, Palm Bay, Melbourne).
Pro tip: After you’re verified, leave the address hidden. Your ranking radius still centers on that point but your home privacy stays intact.
3. Phone, website, and hours
- Phone: the physical cell number you control.
- Website: full URL, ideally HTTPS.
- Hours: mirror the footer on your site (ex: Mon‑Sat 8 AM–8 PM; Sun closed).
Consistency across every field is the easiest reputation win.
4. Choose video verification – the 2025 gold standard
Video has a 90 %+ success rate, far higher than postcard, phone, or email codes. On your mobile phone:
- Tap Verify via video when prompted.
- Record one continuous 30–60 sec clip showing – in order:
- Street sign + house number.
- Branded vehicle (logo on door or magnet).
- Tools/work area (spare coil, gauges, ducting, etc.).
- Your face + driver’s license (if requested in the flow).
- Upload immediately.
- In the same session, tap “Provide additional documentation” and drop the PDFs/photos from Step 0.
5. After you hit submit
- Typical review time: 1–5 business days.
- You get one appeal if Google rejects or suspends the profile. Do not fire off another appeal until you’ve fixed the issue and collected new evidence. Multiple appeals without changes = permanent suspension.
- Once approved, toggle Hide address, add all your services (mini‑split repairs, duct replacement, etc.), enable messaging, and start requesting reviews.
6. Review link & next steps
In the GBP dashboard: Get more reviews → Copy link. Text or email it to every happy customer (a review with words plus a photo beats a star‑only rating).
How Field Rocket helps
- We connect the now‑verified GBP to your Google Ads, syncing service areas and phone numbers for higher ad trust.
- Weekly Insights monitoring – we’ll feed the high‑converting search terms back into your PPC campaigns and landing pages.
TL;DR Checklist
Follow this playbook and your HVAC business should be live on Google Maps – generating calls and five‑star reviews – within a week.