How to Change Business Type on Instagram

Thinking about switching up your business category on Instagram? It's a small change on your profile that can make a big difference in who finds your account and how they see your brand. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your business type, explain the difference between a Business and Creator account, and offer some pointers on choosing the absolute best category to attract the right kind of followers.

Why Your Instagram Business Category REALLY Matters

That little gray text under your brand name is more than just a label. It's a critical piece of your Instagram strategy that quietly works for or against you in the background. If you've set it and forgotten it, you might be missing out on some significant advantages.

1. It Tells the Algorithm Who You Are

Instagram's algorithm is a powerful discovery engine, but it needs clear signals to work its magic. Your business category is one of the strongest signals you can send. When you label yourself as a "Personal Coach" or a "Restaurant," Instagram uses that information to recommend your content to users who have shown interest in similar accounts. This helps you show up in the Explore page, suggested user lists, and relevant Reels feeds, putting your brand in front of people who are genuinely looking for what you offer.

2. It Manages Follower Expectations Instantly

When someone lands on your profile for the first time, you have only a few seconds to convince them to stick around. Your business category instantly frames what your account is about. For example:

• "Blogger" suggests personal stories, tips, and long-form captions.
• "E-commerce Website" signals that the account is product-focused and shoppable.
• "Health & Wellness" sets the expectation for content about fitness, nutrition, and self-care.

A clear, accurate category tells potential followers exactly what they'll get by hitting that "Follow" button, reducing confusion and attracting a more engaged audience from the get-go.

3. It Polishes Your Professional Image

A misaligned or overly generic category can make a brand feel unfinished or unprofessional. Changing "Entrepreneur" to something more specific like "Marketing Agency" or "Digital Creator" shows intention and clarity. It's a small detail that contributes to a stronger, more trustworthy brand presence. It signals that you know exactly who you are and whom you're here to serve.

How to Change Your Business Type on Instagram: The Quick Guide

Ready to make the switch? The process takes less than a minute. You can do this directly within the Instagram app on your mobile device.

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Navigate to your Instagram profile page by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the Edit Profile button located right under your bio.
3. Scroll down to the "Public business information" section. You should see a row labeled Category. Tap on it.
4. You'll now see a list of suggested categories. You can scroll through them or, for better results, use the search bar at the top to find a more specific label that fits your brand.
5. Once you find the perfect one, tap to select it.
6. After selecting your category, you'll be taken back to the previous screen. Here, you'll see the option to Display category label. Turning this toggle on will make the category visible on your public profile under your name. Turning it off will still let Instagram's algorithm use the data, but it won't be visible to your visitors.
7. Tap Done (on iOS) or the blue checkmark (on Android) in the top-right corner to save your changes.

That's it! Your profile is now updated with your new business category.

Business vs. Creator Account: Making the Right Choice

While you're updating your category, it's a good time to consider a related - and even more impactful - setting: your account type. Instagram offers two professional account types, "Business" and "Creator," and they provide different toolsets. The category label itself (e.g., "Photographer," "Clothing Brand") exists within both of these account types.

The Instagram Business Account: Best For Brands Selling Something

The Business account is designed for organizations that offer a product or service. This is the optimal choice if you are a:

• Retail company or e-commerce store
• Local business (like a cafe, spa, or gym)
• Service-based business (like a marketing agency or consulting firm)
• Software company or app developer

The key benefits of a Business account are features built for commerce and direct contact. You can add action buttons like "Book Now," "Order Food," or "Reserve," and you get full access to the Instagram Shopping suite, allowing you to tag products in your posts and Stories. Your DMs are also simplified into a Primary and General inbox for easier message management.

The Instagram Creator Account: Best for Personalities and Influencers

The Creator account is tailored for public figures, content producers, and influencers who are building a personal brand. This is the right fit if you are a:

• YouTuber, podcaster, or blogger
• Artist, musician, or writer
• Fitness trainer, chef, or coach who is the "face" of their brand
• Influencer or public personality

Creator accounts offer more flexibility. You can choose to show or hide your contact information and category label to maintain a cleaner profile look. The analytics are slightly more advanced for tracking personal growth, including daily follow and unfollow data. A significant advantage for Creators is access to Instagram's full library of trending audio for Reels - a feature often restricted on Business accounts due to music licensing laws.

How to Switch Between a Business and Creator Account

If you realize you're on the wrong account type, switching is easy and can unlock features better suited for your goals.

1. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top right.
2. Select Settings and privacy.
3. Tap on Account type and tools.
4. You'll see options to Switch to business account or Switch to creator account, depending on your current setup.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the switch.

How to Choose the Perfect Category for Your Brand

Scrolling through hundreds of options can feel a little overwhelming. Instead of guessing, use these guiding principles to zero in on the category that will work hardest for you.

Think Like Your Ideal Follower

Put yourself in your audience's shoes. What words would they use to describe what you do? A handmade jewelry maker could choose "Artist," but if their main goal is to sell products, a category like "Jewelry & Watches Store" or "Shopping & Retail" is more commercially focused and likely to attract people in a buying mindset.

Check Out Your Competitors (and Aspirations)

Take a quick tour of successful accounts in your niche. What categories are they using? Look at both direct competitors and larger brands you admire. This isn't about copying them, it's about spotting patterns and understanding the industry standards on the platform. You might discover a better, more specific category you hadn't considered.

Be Specific, but Still Discoverable

Instagram gives you plenty of choices, so get as specific as you can. "Restaurant" is good, but "Pizza Place" or "Vietnamese Restaurant" is even better if it applies. That said, don't choose a category so obscure that no one would ever think to look for it. Use the search bar in the category menu to test keywords related to your business and see what pops up. Find the balance between a targeted description and a broad enough term for discovery.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are solutions to a few common hiccups people face when changing their business type.

• The category I want isn't an option. Unfortunately, you are limited to the categories provided by Instagram, you cannot create a custom one. If your exact niche isn't listed, your best bet is to find the closest, most relevant option available. Think a step broader - if "Handmade Soap Maker" isn't there, try "Beauty, Cosmetic & Personal Care."
• My new category won't show up on my profile. This is the most common issue! Go back to Edit Profile > Category and make sure the toggle for Display category label is switched on. If it's off, your category is still saved for the algorithm, but it will be hidden from public view.
• Instagram isn't letting me change my category. This is less common but can be frustrating. First, try the simple fixes: close and reopen the app, then make sure it's updated to the latest version. Sometimes, category options are tied to the category of the Facebook Page your Instagram account is linked to. Check your Facebook Page settings to ensure there aren't any restrictions there.

Final Thoughts

Choosing and changing your business category on Instagram is a quick adjustment that delivers strategic value. It's a fundamental step in clarifying your brand's purpose on the platform, helping the algorithm connect you with the right audience, and creating a professional profile that turns visitors into followers.

Nailing your profile details is a great start, but creating and publishing great content consistently is what drives real community growth. We built Postbase because managing that consistency, especially with short-form video, felt overwhelming with older, clunky tools. Our visual calendar lets you plan your content strategy at-a-glance, while our ultra-reliable scheduler ensures your Reels, TikToks, and posts publish exactly when they should, giving you the freedom to focus on engaging with your well-defined audience.