● The short answer
A service-area business (one that travels to customers, like a plumber or mobile groomer) should keep one Google Business Profile, hide its street address, and list the cities or postal codes it serves, up to 20, staying within about two hours of driving time from its base. Then build strong service pages and reviews, because you will still rank best near where you are based.
Key takeaways
- Service-area businesses keep one profile and hide the address if customers do not visit.
- Google allows up to 20 service areas, within about two hours of driving time.
- Service areas make you eligible, not ranked; distance from your base still matters.
What Google considers a service-area business
Google's guidelines distinguish storefront businesses, which serve customers at their address, from service-area businesses, which visit or deliver to customers. Plumbers, cleaners, landscapers, mobile mechanics, roofers and in-home care providers are typical examples. Some are hybrids: a carpet company with a showroom that also installs in homes. Hybrids can show their address and list service areas.
The how is where we come in.
What we walk through with you, for your business:
- The rules, in Google's words
- Setup, step by step
- Ranking reality for service-area businesses
- Our take
Every business is different, so the plan is too. Tell us where you want to show up and we will show you what it takes.
Talk to usMore questions
Can I use my home address for a service-area business?
Yes. Many service-area businesses operate from home. Use the home address for verification and hide it from the public profile. Google needs a real address to confirm you exist and where you are based; it does not need to show it. Never use a PO box or virtual office instead.
Why don't I rank in all my service areas?
Because distance is still one of Google's three ranking factors. Your service areas tell Google where you work, but it still ranks businesses closer to the searcher more easily. To compete farther away, strengthen relevance and prominence with service pages, reviews and local links, and consider ads for distant areas.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Manage your service area
- Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking on Google
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