Google Business Profile: A Simple Setup Guide for Contractors

When someone searches “plumber near me,” the first thing they usually see is a map with three businesses. Those come from Google Business Profiles. For many contractors, this free listing brings in more calls than their website.

According to Google, customers are:

• 2.7 times more likely to see a business as reputable if it has a complete profile
• 70% more likely to visit a business with a complete profile
• 50% more likely to consider buying from it

And BrightLocal's 2025 survey found 83% of consumers use Google to read reviews. Your profile is where those reviews live.

• Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account you control (not an employee's).
• Search for your business. If it exists, claim it. If not, create it.
• Pick “service area business” if you go to customers instead of them coming to you. You can hide your home address and list the cities you serve.
• Complete Google's verification. It may be a video, phone, or email check.

A complete profile is the goal. Make sure you have:

• The right primary category. “Plumber,” “HVAC contractor,” or “Electrician.” Add secondary categories for other services you offer.
• Your real business name. Do not stuff keywords into it. Google can suspend profiles for that.
• A phone number that always gets answered. This is where your calls come from. If it goes to voicemail, the profile is wasted.
• Accurate hours. If you take emergency calls 24/7, say so.
• Services and a short description. Plain words: what you do, where, and what makes you different.
• Real photos. Your trucks, your team, before-and-after shots. Not stock photos.

• Ask every customer for a review. See our Google reviews guide for scripts and the rules.
• Reply to every review within a few days — good and bad.
• Add a few new photos from recent jobs each month.
• Answer questions people post on your profile.
• Update holiday hours so no one shows up or calls expecting you when you are closed.

• Using a personal cell number that you cannot always answer
• Having different business names or phone numbers across Google, your website, and directories
• Creating more than one profile for the same business
• Ignoring negative reviews
• Listing hours you do not actually keep

A great profile only pays off if someone picks up when the phone rings. Mercvox answers every call from your Google listing in under a second, day or night, and books the job on the spot. After the job, it can text the customer a review request, which feeds right back into your profile.

• Google Business Profile Help — Tips to improve your local ranking
• BrightLocal — Local Consumer Review Survey 2025