How to Claim a Google Business Profile Already Created for Your Company

To claim a Google Business Profile that already exists, go to your business listing on Google Maps or Google Search, click "Own this business?", then follow the verification process (by phone, email, postal mail or video). Google has very often automatically generated a profile for your business using directories or user submissions, even if you never created it yourself. In France, thousands of restaurants, tradespeople and healthcare professionals discover an existing profile they do not control, sometimes with wrong hours or an incorrect address. Claiming this profile is free and gives you back control over the information your customers see first. It is one of the most profitable actions for your local visibility.

In short

• Google often creates an unclaimed profile automatically: one may already exist in your name.
• Search for your business on Google Maps: if you see "Own this business?", the profile is not yet claimed.
• Verification is done by phone, email, postal mail, video or via Google Search Console.
• The delay ranges from a few minutes (phone) to 1 or 2 weeks (postal mail).
• Claiming is 100% free: beware of paid calls claiming to do it for you.

Why a Google profile already exists without you creating it

It is very common to discover a profile for your business without ever having published one. Google aggregates data from multiple sources to build its local map.

The most common origins:

• Directories and databases: official registries, partner sites, listing services.
• User submissions: a customer can add a missing place on Google Maps.
• Public data: your registration, your storefront sign visible on the street.
• Former managers or vendors: an agency or ex-partner may have created the profile in the past.

The problem is that an unclaimed profile often shows rough information: wrong hours, poorly chosen category, outdated phone number. Your customers land on it first, and one error (for example a "closed" wrongly shown on a Saturday) makes them lose trust and switch to a competitor.

How to check if your Google profile is already claimed

Before any action, identify the exact status of your profile. The process takes two minutes.

Step 1: find your profile

Type your business name followed by your city in Google (for example "Martin Bakery Lyon"). Open Google Maps at the same time. Three cases arise:

1. No profile appears: you will need to create one from scratch.
2. A profile exists with an "Own this business?" button: it is unclaimed, you can claim it.
3. A profile exists without that button: it is already claimed, perhaps by you, perhaps by a third party.

Step 2: interpret the status

The table below summarizes what each situation means and the action to take.

Profile status	What it means	Action to take
No profile	No Google presence	Create the profile in Google Business Profile
Unclaimed profile	Automatically generated	Start the claim (free)
Claimed by you	All in order	Optimize and update
Claimed by a third party	Old vendor or error	Request access or dispute ownership

If the profile is claimed by someone else, Google offers a process to request access from the current owner or, if there is no reply within 7 days, to claim the profile.

The verification methods explained

Once the claim is started, Google must verify that you really manage the business. Several methods exist depending on your sector and how long you have been operating.

The most common options:

• By phone or SMS: Google sends you a code in seconds. The fastest.
• By email: a code arrives at the associated business address.
• By video: you film your storefront, equipment or premises to prove real activity. Increasingly required.
• By postal mail: a card with a code arrives at the business address within 1 to 2 weeks.
• Via Google Search Console: possible if your website is already linked to your account.

For some time now, Google has favored video verification to limit fraud, especially for businesses with a visible location (restaurants, hair salons, garages). Prepare a short video showing the sign, the interior and an element proving that you work there.

What to do if no option works

If you do not receive the mail or if the video is rejected, do not create a duplicate profile: it confuses your ranking. Contact Google Business Profile support via chat or the dedicated form, and keep your supporting documents (registration certificate, invoice at the address, photos).

What to do after claiming your profile

Claiming is only a starting point. A claimed but empty profile brings little. Here are the priority actions to turn it into a source of customers.

1. Check the name, address and phone (NAP): they must be strictly identical everywhere on the web.
2. Choose the right primary category: "Italian restaurant" rather than just "Restaurant".
3. Set precise hours, including holidays and exceptional closures.
4. Add 10 to 20 quality photos: facade, interior, products, team.
5. Write a clear description with your services and service area.
6. Enable messaging and questions/answers to reply quickly.
7. Start collecting reviews: recent reviews weigh heavily in local ranking.

A well-filled profile can push you up into the "local pack", those three results shown with the map. To go further, read our guide to appearing first on Google Maps and our tips to get more Google reviews.

How much it costs and the pitfalls to avoid

Claiming and managing a Google Business Profile is completely free. This is a crucial point, because many businesses get trapped.

The most widespread scams in France:

• Calls claiming to "secure" or "validate" your profile for a fee: Google never calls to bill this service.
• Fake Google emails asking for your credentials: always check the sender address.
• Opaque vendors who claim the profile in their own name and then block your access.

If you delegate management to an agency, insist on remaining the primary owner of the profile, with the agency being only a manager. This is non-negotiable. A profile, like a domain name, must always stay in your name. To understand the real costs of an online presence, read our analysis of the cheap website and its hidden costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is claiming a Google profile paid?

No, it is completely free, whether you go by phone, email, video or mail. Any call or email asking you for money to validate your profile is a scam. Google never charges for claiming or managing a Business Profile.

How long does verifying a profile take?

It depends on the method: a few seconds by phone or SMS, a few minutes by email, and 1 to 2 weeks for postal mail. Video verification can require a few days of checking by Google. Until the profile is verified, your changes are not published.

What if someone else has already claimed my profile?

Google offers a "Request access" process. You send a request to the current owner, who has 7 days to respond. Without a reply, you can claim the profile by proving you manage the business, with documents such as a registration certificate or an invoice at your address.

Do I need a website to claim a Google profile?

No, a website is not required to claim or create a profile. That said, linking a professional site strengthens your credibility and improves your local ranking. A well-optimized site and profile work together to push you up in the results.

What happens if I create a duplicate profile by mistake?

Duplicate profiles harm your visibility and confuse Google. If it happens, report the duplicate from your Business Profile account to request a merge. It is always better to check whether a profile exists before creating a new one.

Conclusion

Claiming a Google Business Profile that already exists is one of the simplest and most profitable actions for your local visibility. In a few free steps, you take back control of the information your customers see, you fix errors and you open the door to the local pack. Do not let an inaccurate profile or one controlled by a third party hold your business back. At Lenobot, we handle your website, your Google profile and your SEO from A to Z, with no upfront fees. Check if your sector is still available in your city and let us take care of your online visibility.