Why is my business not showing up on Google Maps?

The map runs on three things

Google says it ranks map results on how close you are to the searcher, how well your listing matches what they typed, and how well known your business is. You cannot buy proximity. The other two you can work on.

The profile problems I find most

When a business is invisible on the map, it is usually one of these:

• A generic primary category. Google matches searches to categories first.
• The listing was never verified, so Google does not fully trust it.
• A service-area business with no address, where the pin landed in whatever town Google guessed from your service list.
• Hours that say open when nobody answers, or a phone number that does not match the website.
• A duplicate listing from years ago splitting your reviews.

The reviews gap

If the top three on the map each have 50 or more reviews and you have a handful, that is the gap. Nothing on the profile can make up for it. The fix is a steady stream of asks after every job, not a burst.

What I do about it

A one-time Google Business Profile cleanup is $299: categories, services, description, service area, photos, and a check for duplicates. Ongoing work, including posts, review replies, and rank tracking on a grid across your service area, is part of the Growth plan at $199 a month.