For an eligible local service business, begin with Google Business Profile and Apple Maps. Consider Yelp where customers use it, BBB for a relevant US or Canadian audience, and Clutch for business services such as development, design or marketing. Check your location and category before paying for an additional listing.
Match the directory to the customer
A cleaning company serving nearby homes needs a different profile from a design agency selling projects to companies. Search for the service as a customer would. Note which maps, directories and specialist sites appear, and whether their listings cover your area.
| Platform | Consider it for | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | A business receiving customers in person or travelling to them. | Check eligibility, claim the real business and set the correct address or service area. |
| Apple Business / Apple Maps | Customers looking up a location, opening hours or directions in Maps. | Claim the location and check its contact details, hours and photos. |
| Yelp | A service category and market with active local Yelp users. | Maintain the listing and respond to reviews; do not solicit them. |
| BBB | Customers checking a business through the US and Canadian BBB directory. | Find or submit the business listing. Assess accreditation separately. |
| Clutch | Business buyers comparing agencies and professional service providers. | Start with a relevant company profile. Compare the limits of Basic, Verified and advertising options. |
Clutch offers a free Basic profile, but some directory visibility and linking features belong to other packages. Read the current offer before treating a “free listing” as equivalent to paid placement.
Make the listing answer the questions before the call
- Use the same real business name and working contact details as on your website and documents.
- Describe the services you perform, the areas you cover and how customers book.
- Keep opening hours, holiday changes and appointment information current.
- Use your own recent work photos with permission, without exposing a customer's address or private records.
- Point people to the relevant service page rather than leaving them to search a large homepage.
For Google, a service business operating from a home without a customer-facing storefront should follow the service-area rules and hide that residential address. Creating profiles for towns where you have no eligible location can mislead customers.
Google and Yelp have different review rules
Google allows you to share a review link or QR code and ask for an honest review. Do not offer a discount, free work or another reward in return for posting, changing or removing a review.
Yelp says businesses should not ask for reviews, including by first identifying happy customers through a survey. An automated request sent to every platform would therefore be a poor choice.
A short Google review invitation
“Thank you for choosing us for the repair. You can share your experience here: [Google review link]. Your honest feedback helps us improve our service.”
Keep the invitation separate from a payment reminder. Do not make a review a condition of a refund, warranty response or help with the job.
Respond without arguing over private job details
Acknowledge the specific issue and give the customer a private contact route. For example: “I'm sorry the arrival time was unclear. Please contact our office with your booking reference so we can review what happened.” Do not publish their invoice, phone number, home address or payment history to prove your point.
If a review appears to breach a platform's policy, use its reporting process. A disappointing rating alone is not evidence of a policy violation. Keep your job notes for the private discussion.
Count enquiries and booked work, not just stars
Ask new customers how they found you. Record the directory, enquiry date, requested service and whether a quote became a job. Compare that with any listing or advertising fee before renewing. A profile with many views and no suitable enquiries may need a clearer service description or a different audience.
Sources and scope
Platform policies and listing options checked October 5, 2026. The official pages linked above cover eligibility, review rules and profile options. Check availability for the market you serve.
For further reading: Invoice Simple's business review sites overview.