Field Note 02 · Small Business

Start with a free Google Business Profile

Before you pay for a website, this free Google listing is often the best first step for a small business.

· 2 min read · by Hadi Vahidi

In my video series "Before You Pay for a Website", episode one makes a simple point: you might not need a website yet. For many small businesses, the best first step is a free Google Business Profile.

Illustration of a Google Business Profile for an example barber shop, showing the rating, opening hours, address, action buttons and photos
Illustration: how a Google Business Profile can appear on Google Search and Maps.

What is a Google Business Profile?

It is a free listing from Google. When someone searches for your name, or for a service like yours nearby, your profile can appear on Google Search and Google Maps. It shows your phone number, opening hours, directions, photos and reviews.

If most of your work comes from word of mouth, and nobody is searching for you online yet, a website may not earn its place yet. A Google Business Profile helps the people who are already looking for a business like yours to find you, call you or get directions. And it costs nothing.

How to set one up

  1. Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account.
  2. Add your business name, category and the area you serve.
  3. Add your phone number, opening hours and a few clear photos.
  4. Verify your business. Google checks it is really yours, usually by phone, email or a short video.
  5. Ask a few happy customers to leave a review.

When does a website earn its place?

A website is worth paying for when people look for you and cannot find enough, when you want online booking or payments, or when you want full control over how your business looks. Until then, a free profile is a strong and honest start.

These steps can change over time, so follow the instructions on Google's own site as you set yours up. This is general guidance, not professional advice.