Short answer: Eligible service businesses can use the services editor (Edit services), shops selling physical goods can use the product editor (Edit products) where available, and restaurants and cafés can use the menu editor. The options depend on your business category and the features available to your profile. Add each thing you offer as a separate entry, name it in the words customers use, and give it a short description that says what's included. Google reviews what you submit and rejects entries that break its rules.
Which section applies to your business?
| Your business | Google tool | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Service business in an eligible category | Services editor | Your profile > Edit services, where available |
| Local shop selling physical goods | Product editor | Your profile > Edit products, where available |
| Restaurant, café or other food and drink business | Menu editor | Your profile > Edit menu, where available |
| Eligible physical retailer with barcoded products and a compatible point-of-sale system | Automatic in-store products via the Local Inventory app | Available in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia; other eligibility conditions apply |
See Google's guidance for services, products, menus and automatic in-store products.
Can't see the option? Google says only some business categories can show services directly on their profile. If the option isn't there, check that your primary category is the most accurate one available. Don't switch to a less accurate category just to unlock a section; our guide to improving your Business Profile explains how to choose categories.
How to add services
Sign in with the Google Account that manages the profile and open your Business Profile on Google Search or in the Maps app.
Add services to the list
- Select Edit services.
- Select the suggested services you actually offer, then Save.
- To add more, return to Edit services and select Add more services. Choose a listed service or use Add custom service if yours is missing, then Save.
Add descriptions and prices
- Open Edit services again.
- Select a service and add its description and price, if appropriate.
- Select Save.
You can also group services under relevant additional categories and delete services you no longer offer (Google's steps).
What gets rejected: Google says custom services that break its policy are automatically rejected. Custom service names shouldn't include profanity, gibberish, personal information, prices or phone numbers.
How to write service entries customers understand
The services list is read by people deciding whether you do the thing they need. Write for them first.
- One service per entry. "Bookkeeping" and "GST filing" are two services, not one.
- Use customers' words, not internal jargon. If customers say "company secretary", don't write "corporate governance solutions".
- Make the description answer three questions: what's included, who it's for, and how it's delivered (on-site, remote, turnaround time).
- Be specific without padding. Repeating your town or keywords in every description doesn't make an entry more useful.
- Only show a price if it's current and accurate. If you give a starting price, explain what that price includes and what can increase it. Leave the price blank if a single figure would mislead.
- Match your website. Keep service names and details consistent with your website, so customers aren't confused when they click through.
Hypothetical example: a bookkeeping firm with a customer-facing office.
| Weak entry | Clearer entry |
|---|---|
| Accounting solutions | Monthly bookkeeping: Recording income and expenses, bank reconciliation and a monthly summary report for small companies. Done remotely using your accounting software. |
| Tax | GST filing: Preparing and submitting quarterly GST returns for GST-registered businesses, with a checklist of documents we need each quarter. |
| Best accountant, cheap, fast | (Delete. This describes marketing claims, not a service.) |
How to add products
The product editor is for local stores that sell physical goods. Google says it suits you if you don't have a website where customers can buy, your products don't have barcodes, or you don't have up-to-date stock data (About product editor).
For a Singapore shop, check whether your profile offers Edit products. Google's automatic Local Inventory route does not list Singapore, but its eligibility guidance directs retailers outside those countries to the manual Product Editor. Follow the steps below if the option is available.
- Sign in with the Google Account that manages your profile.
- Go to your Business Profile on Google Search and select Edit products.
- Fill in the product form.
- Select Publish.
A few things to know:
- Products must follow the Shopping ads policy. Google says violations can lead to removal of all the products you uploaded.
- Correcting a disapproved product. After you fix a product marked "Not Approved" and save it, Google says it is automatically re-reviewed within 24 hours.
- "Not Approved" status. Select the product to see the reason and the relevant policy. In some cases, if you've fixed the issue or disagree with it, you can request a review. Google warns that too many requests for policy-violating products can temporarily disable that option.
- Suspensions affect products. If the profile is suspended, all products show as "Not approved". Google says they're reprocessed within five days of reinstatement.
- Merchant Center. If an account is already linked to your profile, Edit products offers a way to manage products in Merchant Center. If you lack access to the linked account, Google offers a request-access option.
Our photo tip: Use clear photos of the actual item on a plain background. Avoid adding promotional text over the image.
Services, products or the business description?
Each part of your profile does a different job.
- Business description: a summary of what you do and what sets you apart. Google allows up to 750 characters and asks you to focus on the business rather than promotions, prices or sales, and not to include URLs.
- Services or products: the itemised list. This is where the detail belongs.
- Posts or your website: time-limited offers and promotions.
Putting a promotion in your description, or your whole service list in a single paragraph, makes both harder to read.
Will adding services help my profile show up more?
Google doesn't promise that it will. Its local ranking guidance describes relevance, distance and popularity, with the last factor also called prominence. It says complete, accurate business information makes a profile more likely to appear in local results. Clear service entries help customers understand your offering and support a complete profile; Google does not specify the ranking effect of the Services field. They won't make up for an inaccurate category or a profile that doesn't reflect your real business, and Google says there's no way to pay for a better local ranking.
A quick check before you save
- [ ] Every service or product is something you offer today
- [ ] Names use the words customers use
- [ ] No prices, phone numbers or personal details in service names
- [ ] Each description says what's included and who it's for
- [ ] Prices (if shown) are current and accurate
- [ ] Wording matches your website
- [ ] A reminder is set to review the list every few months, or whenever you add or drop a service