How to Add a Second Address to Google My Business

Adding a second location for your business on Google can seem simple, but the rules are specific and often confusing. Do you create a brand new profile or just add another address to your existing one? This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it correctly, clarifying for whom a new listing is appropriate and what so-called “service area businesses” should do instead.

First Things First: Can You Actually Add a Second Address?

Before you start clicking buttons, you need to understand Google’s rules. The platform is designed to give users accurate, real-world information, so it has strict guidelines about what qualifies as a distinct business location. Getting this wrong can lead to your profiles being suspended, so let’s get it right from the start.

The Golden Rule: Each Location Needs its Own Verifiable Profile

You can’t just add a list of addresses to a single Google Business Profile (GBP). Instead, if you have multiple legitimate, physical business locations, you must create a separate Google Business Profile for each one.

To qualify for a separate profile, a secondary location must meet these criteria:

• A Distinct Physical Address: It must be a real storefront, office, or workshop that customers can visit (if applicable) or that can receive mail. A P.O. box, virtual office, or a desk in a coworking space does not count.
• A Unique Phone Number: While not strictly mandatory, having a unique, local phone number for each location is a strong signal to Google and better for customers. Shared call centers or 800 numbers are acceptable but less ideal.
• Visible Signage: The business name should be clearly visible on permanent signage at the location. Think of a sign above the door or a name plaque in an office building directory.
• Dedicated Staff: You need to have staff on-site during your stated business hours to assist customers. For example, if you own two retail shops, each shop must have its own staff.

Simply put, think of it this way: could a customer physically walk up to and enter your second location through a door that is dedicated to that business? If the answer is yes, you likely qualify for a second Google Business Profile.

Do You Run a Brick-and-Mortar or a Service Area Business?

This is the most common point of confusion. The right method depends entirely on how your business operates.

You are a Brick-and-Mortar Business if:

Customers come to your physical location. Examples include a bakery with two different cafes, a law firm with offices in two cities, or a retail chain with multiple stores.

The Solution: You need to create a new, separate Google Business Profile for each physical location. We’ll show you how below.

You are a Service Area Business (SAB) if:

You travel to meet your customers at their locations. Examples include a plumber who serves three counties, a mobile dog groomer, a general contractor, or a house cleaning service.

The Solution: You do NOT need a second address or profile. Instead, you use a single Google Business Profile and define the specific regions, cities, or zip codes you serve. Listing a fake address to appear in another city is a direct violation of Google's guidelines and will get your profile suspended.

How to Add a Second Location (for Multi-Storefront Businesses)

If you've confirmed that you have a second brick-and-mortar location that meets Google’s guidelines, congratulations! The next step is to create its own profile and organize your locations for easy management.

The best way to manage two or more locations is by creating a "location group" in your Google Business Profile Manager. This keeps all your profiles under one umbrella, making it much easier to keep track of everything.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Your New Location

Follow these steps carefully to set up your new profile without any hassle:

1. Sign In to Google Business Profile Manager: Head over to business.google.com/locations and sign in with the Google account you use to manage your primary business profile.
2. Click "Add business": Look for the blue "Add business" button, usually in the top right or on the main page. A dropdown will appear. Select “Add single business.”
3. Find or Create Your Business: Start typing your business name. Google will ask you to identify your business type and find existing matches. Since this is a new location, you will likely need to click to create a new business with that name.
4. Enter Business Name and Category:
   • For the Name, use a consistent format. For example, if your first location is "Sally's Boutique," your second could be "Sally's Boutique - Southside." Avoid adding keywords like "Sally’s Boutique - Best Dresses in Town." Keep it clean.
   • For the Category, choose the primary category that best describes your business. Be as specific as possible.
5. Add Your Address: This is the main part. Carefully enter the new, unique address for your second location. Google will ask if this is a place customers visit. Choose "Yes." Double-check every detail: street name, suite number, and zip code.
6. Pin Your Location on the Map: Google will show you a map and ask you to drag the pin to your exact rooftop location. Getting this right is important for navigation, so zoom in and place it as accurately as possible.
7. Add Contact Info: Enter your location-specific phone number and a website URL. For the website, you can either use your main homepage or, ideally, link to a landing page created specifically for that new location (e.g., yoursite.com/southside-location). Location-specific pages are much better for local SEO.
8. Complete the Verification Process: This step is mandatory. You can't manage your profile until it's verified. Google uses verification to confirm that your business is real and located at the address you provided. Common verification methods include:
   • Postcard Verification: The most common method. Google sends a postcard with a code to your new business address, which usually arrives in 5-7 business days.
   • Phone or Text Verification: Available for some businesses. You'll receive a code via an automated call or text.
   • Email Verification: Available for some businesses. A code is sent to an authorized business email (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com).
   • Video Verification: You may be asked to record a short video showing your location, signage, and proof that you work there.
   Just follow the on-screen instructions. Until you verify, your edits won’t be public.
9. Organize into a Location Group: Once your dashboard is accessible, you can create a "location group" to keep both your first and second business profiles tidy. This feature is a lifesaver once you have more than a couple of locations.

How to Manage a Service Area Business Correctly

If you realized earlier that you operate a service area business, don’t try to game the system with a second address. The proper way to expand your digital reach is by defining your service areas within your one and only Google Business Profile.

Setting and Editing Your Service Area

This tells Google which towns, cities, or counties you serve, helping you appear in local search results across that whole area.

1. Go to your Google Business Profile Manager Dashboard.
2. Click on "Edit Profile."
3. Navigate to the "Location" tab.
4. Under "Business location," make sure the toggle for "Show business address to customers" is turned OFF. This hides your physical address since customers don't come to you. Don't worry, Google still knows where you are for ranking purposes. Your general city/region will still be shown publicly.
5. Right below that, you will see "Service areas." Click the pencil icon to edit.
6. Start adding the cities, postal codes, or entire counties you cover. You can add up to 20 regions. Be realistic, don't add areas you wouldn't actually travel to for a job.

That's it! Google will now understand the geographic boundaries of your operations and show your business to relevant customers searching for your services within those areas.

Tips for Managing Multiple Locations Like a Pro

Once your second (or third, or fourth) profile is up and running, your work isn't all over. Each profile operates as its own mini-website and requires individual attention to perform well.

Maintain NAP Consistency

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. It's critical that the information for each of your locations is perfectly consistent across the web (your website, Yelp, Facebook, industry directories, etc.). For "Location A," always use the same spelling for the name, the same address format, and the same phone number everywhere it's listed. Do the same for "Location B." This builds trust with search engines.

Create Location-Specific Content

Treat each profile as a unique entity. Share photos, update posts, and run promotions that are specific to that location. Did your downtown shop get a new espresso machine? Post a photo of it on the downtown profile only. Is the Southside location celebrating its one-year anniversary? Create a Google Post with a special offer just for that profile.

Encourage and Respond to Reviews for Each Location

Customer reviews are one of the most powerful local ranking factors, and they are tied to each specific profile. Actively ask customers at your new location to leave a review on its Google profile. And when they do? Respond to every single one, good or bad. It shows you're engaged and value their feedback.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, adding a second location requires creating a brand new Google Business Profile, but only for legitimate brick-and-mortar storefronts with distinct addresses. For businesses that travel to customers, defining your territory in the "service areas" section of a single profile is the correct and only Google-approved method to expand your reach.

Getting your local presence on Google sorted is often the first step in connecting with your community online. But once customers find you there, their next stop is frequently social media to understand your brand and get updates. Managing active social channels for multiple locations can become a job in itself, which is why we created Postbase. Our goal was to build a tool that makes scheduling content, managing all your comments and DMs in one inbox, and understanding your analytics simple, so you can focus more on running your business, not juggling five different social media apps.