Why verification comes first
A verified profile is the basis for everything else: Google's local ranking advice starts with verifying your business, and photos and posts stay pending until you do. Do it early.
The methods
Sign in to the Google Account linked to the profile, select Get verified, and Google shows the methods available to you. You cannot choose a method Google does not offer, and some businesses need more than one.
- Phone or text. A code goes to your business phone number. Automated phone systems (IVR) cannot receive the code, so someone must answer.
- Email. Follow the steps in the email sent to the address on file.
- Live video call. Available only during your business hours. You must be at the business with a device that supports video, and be ready to show your location, your business or equipment, and proof that you manage it.
- Postcard. Confirm your mailing address and request the code. The postcard carries a 5-digit code that most often arrives within 14 days.
- Video recording. Google recommends this if your business is eligible.
- Instant. Some profiles are verified immediately if you verify your website with Search Console or use bulk verification.
How long it takes
Verification reviews take up to 5 business days and rarely longer. Postcard codes expire after 30 days, so enter yours as soon as it arrives.
Postcard rules that save you trouble
- Do not edit your business name, address or category while you wait. Doing so can make the code stop working.
- Do not request a new code unless you must. A new request invalidates the postcard already mailed and can lengthen the process.
- Keep the code private. Google will never ask for it, and you should not share it even with someone who manages your profile.
If verification fails
If Get verified reappears, Google could not fully verify the business. Try again or choose another method if one is offered. A Review issues notification after a video means the video was not accepted; follow the on-screen instructions. A request for more information usually follows recent changes to your business details, and the fix is to select Get verified and verify again.
After verification
You can add other people as owners or managers, and transfer primary ownership if needed. Give access to someone you trust by name, not a shared password.
Open your profile and look for the Get verified button today.
How this post was made: an AI drafted it from the official pages listed under Sources, every figure was checked against those pages, and the Reveaxa team approved it before it was published. Our own advice is marked as such. If a source changes, we update the post and its date.
Reveaxa guide reference: RVX-B-verify-your-google-business-profile