Google Business Profile Verification Video: What to Record
When Google asks for a verification video, record one continuous, unedited take that shows three things: where the business is, that it really operates there, and that you are allowed to manage it. Show the street and the signage, then the inside or the work, then proof such as equipment, a document in the business name, or access with a key. Keep the business name on screen the same as on your profile. This guide gives the shots in order for a shop, a home service business and a home-based business, and what to do if the video is rejected.
Video is one of several ways to verify. If you are still choosing a method, see Google Business Profile verification. If you have not claimed the listing yet, start with how to claim your business on Google. This page is only about the video route.
When Google asks for a video
Google decides which verification methods you see. You do not choose video freely. It tends to appear when a postcard, call, text or email is not offered for your profile, or when the profile has been flagged for extra checks. Many service area businesses and businesses in categories that attract fake listings get it. If you see "Verify by video", that is the route Google is offering, and you cannot swap it for a postcard by asking. Google states that you cannot send a pre-recorded or edited video.
What Google says it needs to see
Google's help page lays out the same three ideas in different words. Vendor guides sometimes call them location, operations and affiliation.
| Idea | What the video must show | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Location | That the place is real and is where the profile says | The street, the building outside, a street sign, the entrance |
| Operations | That a business works from there or from your vehicles | Signage, tools, stock, a counter, a van with your name |
| Affiliation | That you are allowed to manage the profile | A document in the business name, access with a key, your branded uniform |
Google also says the name in the video must match the profile name, and that you may show documents such as a permit, an invoice or a utility bill bearing that name. Treat the exact current wording on Google's page as the authority, because the requirements change.
Before you hit record: a ten-minute prep list
- Be at the business address. Verification is about the place. Do not record at home unless that is the business address on the profile.
- Sign in on the phone or computer you will record with. Open the verification screen and see the instructions before you start.
- Charge the phone and clear storage. Running out of space mid-recording means starting again.
- Check the profile name and address. The name you show should be the one on the profile. If the sign says something different, fix the profile first (and expect a review), or choose another method.
- Gather proof. A licence, an invoice, a utility bill or a bank letter with the business name. Put them somewhere you can reach without stopping.
- Open the doors. Unlock the premises, have the key in your hand, and switch on the lights. Dim video is a common problem.
- Plan the walk. Outside to inside to a counter or work area to your documents. Walk it once without recording.
- Silence interruptions. Turn off notifications and tell the people there.
Shot list for a shop, salon or office with a front door
- Start on the street so a street name or number is visible, then turn slowly to show the whole front of the building.
- Show the sign with the business name, close enough to read.
- Show the door and use your key in the lock, if you control the access.
- Walk inside without cutting. Pan across the counter, shelves, chairs or desks.
- Show something that proves it operates: stock, a till, equipment, a price list on the wall.
- Show a document in the business name, held steady so the name can be read, with private details covered.
- Say your name and role in a sentence if you like. Keep it short and calm.
Shot list for a home service business (plumber, cleaner, locksmith)
If you serve customers at their homes and your address is hidden, Google still wants proof that a real business operates. Show:
- The place your work starts: a depot, workshop or the front of the premises you operate from. If you work from home, the front of the house and the street number may be needed, even though the address stays hidden publicly.
- Your vehicle with the business name, or a magnet sign, in the same shot as the street or driveway.
- Tools, parts and supplies. Open the van doors and show them.
- Uniform or branded clothing, and a business card.
- A document in the business name, such as an insurance certificate or an invoice template.
Hidden-address businesses should read how service areas work before they choose a method, because the address you give and the area you serve are two different fields.
Shot list for a home-based business
Show the exterior with the number, the work area inside (desk, equipment, materials), and a document with the business name and the address. Do not show things you want private: children, a neighbour's plates, financial numbers. Cover them with your thumb or choose a document that does not carry them. The goal is to prove a real business, not to share your home.
Length, quality and format
Vendors disagree on length. Some say at least 30 seconds, others suggest two to three minutes, and others say stay under five. Google does not promise a magic number. A practical rule: long enough to cover every shot above without hurrying, and nothing more. Most people finish in two to three minutes.
- One continuous take, no cuts, no filters and no edits.
- Hold the phone steady, in landscape if it helps readability, and move slowly.
- Make sure text is readable when you pause. If you cannot read the sign in a freeze-frame, move closer.
- Good light, no backlit windows behind the sign.
- Sound is not the point, but background noise is harmless.
The most common reasons a video is rejected
| Problem | Fix before you re-record |
|---|---|
| The name on the sign does not match the profile name | Fix the profile name, or the sign, so both agree |
| No readable street or address | Show the street sign or the building number clearly |
| Only a shared office or a mail drop | Virtual offices and mailboxes do not qualify as a business location |
| No sign of operations (empty room) | Show equipment, stock, a counter, tools |
| No proof you manage it | Show a document and use a key to open the door |
| Cuts, edits or a pre-recorded file | Record live in one take |
| Dark or shaky footage | Light the room and slow down |
If you are denied, do not send the same video again. Read the reason Google gives (it does not always give one), change the thing that failed and record a new one. Do not open a second profile, and do not pay someone who promises to get you "approved".
What if the option will not open or fails to upload
- Use an up-to-date browser or the Google Maps app, and allow camera access.
- Try a different network, because uploads on weak mobile signal fail.
- Try another device while signed into the same account.
- If the profile is stuck on "verification in progress", wait for the review and do not start another submission.
How long until you hear back
Google says video reviews are not instant. Owners report anything from a few hours to several days. Do not edit your profile name, address or category while you wait, because changes can send you back to the start. If a week passes with no result and the profile shows no message, contact Business Profile support from the help page with screenshots.
After you are verified
Verified does not mean visible straight away. If your business still does not show, follow verified but not showing. If you were waiting on a postcard instead, see code not received.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a Google Business Profile verification video be?
Google does not give one number in the places we checked. Two to three minutes is enough to show the street, signage, inside or work, and a document, without rushing.
Can I upload a video I already filmed?
No. Google asks for a live, continuous recording made during verification, without edits.
What if my business has no storefront?
Show your vehicle, tools, branded items and documents, plus the place you operate from. Hiding the public address does not remove the need to prove a real business.
Why was my video verification denied?
Usually because something does not match or is missing: the name, a readable address, signs of operations, or proof that you manage the business. Fix that one thing before recording again.
Can I choose postcard instead of video?
Only if Google offers it for your profile. The methods shown are decided by Google.
Can I show documents with private information?
You can cover details that are not needed, such as account numbers. The business name must stay readable.
What to do next
When the video is approved, your profile goes live and your reviews matter. See how your Google reviews compare with your nearest rivals, free, with a review link and a printable sign. More help is on the guides page.
Sources
- Verify your Business Profile with video, Google Business Profile Help, read Nov 6, 2026.
- Verify your business, Google Business Profile Help, read Nov 6, 2026.
- Guidelines for representing your business on Google, Google Business Profile Help, read Nov 6, 2026.
- Google Business Profile video verification, Wiremo, read Nov 6, 2026 (as listed in search).