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Why my business isn't showing on Google Maps in Miami and how to fix it
If your business goes to the customer, Google asks you to hide your address and set it up as service-area; if it has a storefront, it needs visible signage. Google can also ask for a verification video, and it can suspend profiles with a P.O. Box, a business it decides doesn't exist where it says, or an account that hasn't been used in a long time. And even with everything right, Google decides results by relevance, distance, and prominence: a business in Miami may not show up for someone searching from Doral, Hialeah, Kendall, or Little Havana, simply because it's farther away.
The most common reasons you're not showing up
1. Wrong profile type
A storefront business needs permanent, visible signage. A service-area business should hide its address if it doesn't serve customers there.
2. Video verification
Google can ask for a video at least 30 seconds long, with no breaks, filmed live. Review can take up to 5 business days.
3. Suspended or disabled profile
P.O. Box addresses, businesses Google decides don't exist where they say, misrepresentation, or accounts inactive for a long time.
4. Mismatched name, address, or phone
Google asks you to represent your business as it really exists, with a local phone you control, and only one profile per business.
5. Distance counts too
Local results depend on relevance, distance, and prominence. A business in Miami may not show up for someone in Doral, Hialeah, Kendall, or Little Havana, simply because it's farther away.
What Google says (official text)
“If you don't serve customers at your business address, remove your address from your Business Profile.”
If you don't serve customers at your address, take it off your profile.
“At least 30 seconds long.” “This process can take up to 5 business days.”
The video must be at least 30 seconds, and review can take up to 5 business days.
“Businesses with a P.O. Box address aren't permitted on Google Business Profile.”
P.O. Box addresses are not allowed.
“Do not create a new Business Profile for the same business.”
Never create a new profile for the same business; you only get one appeal.
“There should only be one profile per business.”
Only one profile per business.
“Distance refers to how far each business is from the customer who's searching.”
Distance is how far each business is from the person searching.
Does your profile exist but not show up for "near me" searches? That's a different cause. Check our guide on Google's three ranking factors: why you're not showing up on Google Maps near me.
Free check of your Google profile
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Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't my business show up on Google Maps at all?
It's almost always one of four things: the wrong profile type, missing verification, a suspended or disabled profile, or a name, address, and phone that don't match between your profile and your website.
What is a service-area business?
According to Google, it's a business that visits or delivers to customers directly, but doesn't serve them at its own address. If you're service-area, Google asks you to hide your address.
Why does Google suspend profiles?
Google says it may suspend profiles that don't follow its guidelines, for example a P.O. Box address, a business Google decides doesn't exist where it says, misrepresentation, or an account inactive for a long time.
What does video verification require?
According to Google, the video must be at least 30 seconds long, an unedited recording captured live (pre-recorded video isn't allowed), and review can take up to 5 business days.
Why might a Miami business not show up for someone searching from Doral or Hialeah?
Google says local results depend on relevance, distance, and prominence. Distance is calculated from where the searcher is, so a business can be missing for someone farther away even while it serves that area.
Do my profile and website have to say the same thing?
Google asks you to represent your business as it really exists and keep only one profile per business. Keeping the same name, address, and phone on your website is good practice to avoid confusion, though Google doesn't describe it as a ranking rule.
Official sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Decide if your business needs an address or service area
- Google Business Profile Help: Verify your Business Profile with a video
- Google Business Profile Help: Fix suspended or disabled profiles
- Google Business Profile Help: Overview of Google Business Profile policies
- Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business
- Google Business Profile Help: Improve your local ranking on Google
We are not lawyers and we are not Google. This guide is general information, not legal advice or a guarantee of results.
