Fifteen minutes of prep saves hours of back-and-forth — whether you are setting up GBP yourself or handing materials to a marketer. Use this as your single prep pass before Google Business Profile Mastery or an agency kickoff call.
When to Use This Checklist
- DIY setup — complete before you click Create profile at business.google.com
- Agency or freelancer — send them answers + photos + Manager access when ready
- Annual audit — re-run when services, hours, or service areas change
Use a business Google account you will keep
Sign in with an email you control long-term (e.g.
owner@yourcompany.com). Personal Gmail tied to a former employee or agency is a common ownership problem. See Transfer GBP Ownership if you are already stuck.About Your Business
- Legal / customer-facing business name (matches truck, license, website)
- Business type — local home service (plumber, HVAC, roofer, electrician, landscaper, etc.)
- Primary category — one best match (e.g. Plumber, Roofing contractor)
- Secondary categories — 2–9 related services you actually perform
- Opening date (optional; helps trust on some profiles)
- Short About description drafted (under 750 characters) — what you do, cities served, why customers choose you
- Website URL (or plan for a simple landing page)
- Physical location? Yes (shop/office customers visit) or service-area only (most mobile trades) — see Mastery guide decision section
Photos and Brand Assets
Google recommends 720×720 px for most images, 1024×576 for cover, JPG/PNG, 10 KB–5 MB.
- Logo (PNG with clear background if possible)
- Cover photo — truck, team, or branded banner
- Exterior / shop (if you have a visible location)
- Team or crew — uniform or branded apparel
- Before-and-after job photos (10+ minimum; 20–30 ideal)
- Product or equipment shots (water heaters, panels, mowers, etc.)
- Short video optional (60–120 sec, real job site — great for verification and posts)
Store files in a folder you can share (Google Drive, Dropbox, or email zip). Mark / or N/A for any item you do not have yet — but prioritize real job photos over stock.
Contact and Location
- Main phone customers should call (answered live or forwarded)
- Business email for notifications and verification
- Street address (only if customers visit; otherwise skip)
- City, state, ZIP
- Service areas — every city, neighborhood, or ZIP you actually work in
- Deliveries or on-site only? Confirm you do not show a fake storefront for a mobile business
Hours and Scheduling
- Standard hours — Mon–Sun open/close (or mark closed)
- Emergency or after-hours availability (e.g. 24/7 plumber — state honestly)
- Special hours — lunch closures, seasonal changes, holiday plan
- Appointment required? Yes/no; online booking link if you use one
- Separate hours for specific services (optional — e.g. office vs emergency line)
Services and Pricing
- List every service you want leads for (drain cleaning, AC tune-up, re-roof, panel upgrade, etc.)
- Customer-friendly names for each service (how homeowners search, not internal codes)
- Starting prices or ranges where you are comfortable publishing them
- Booking or quote link per service if applicable
- Services you do not offer — note so agency does not add wrong categories
Access and Team (If Using Help)
- Decide Manager vs Owner for each person — default Manager for marketers (GBP User Access)
- Agency email address ready for invite
- Internal contact for approvals (owner cell for photo or offer sign-off)
- Review goal stated (e.g. “3+ new Google reviews per week”)
- Posting cadence expectation (e.g. “1–2 GBP posts per week” — see GBP Posts)
Structured How-To (great for SEO & AI answers)
- Complete the About, photos, contact, hours, and services sections above.
- Choose service-area vs physical location before any agency or DIY setup begins.
- Sign in with your long-term business Google account at business.google.com.
- If using an agency: send checklist answers + photo folder; grant Manager access only.
- Start creation or optimization in GBP Mastery; schedule monthly maintenance after verification.
Working With a Marketing Agency or Freelancer
You do not need a shared Google Drive template from them — you need clear assets and controlled access.
What a competent partner should ask for:
- Completed checklist (this page)
- Logo + 20+ real photos
- List of services, areas, and hours
- Approval process for posts and review replies
What you should do:
- Send prep answers and creative files (email or shared folder).
- Grant Manager access — not Owner — unless you fully trust delete/transfer rights (User Access guide).
- Confirm they will not create a duplicate listing if one already exists.
- Agree on kickoff: verify categories, service areas, and photo upload plan.
- Keep your Ask for reviews link in your office workflow (Reviews & Referrals).
Copy-ready email to your agency when granting access: see Templates.
After Prep — Next Steps
| Your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Setting up yourself | Google Business Profile Mastery |
| Adding team or agency | GBP User Access |
| Wrong account owns profile | Transfer GBP Ownership |
| Multiple locations | Organization accounts |
| Weekly execution | Printable Checklists + GBP Posts |
Take the Lead Gen Scorecard if you are unsure which channel to prioritize after GBP. See the Ultimate Guide for the full GBP + paid + measurement roadmap.
Quick win: Fill the Photos and Services sections tonight — those two blockers slow most agency and DIY setups.