How to Open a Second Google My Business Page

Expanding your business to a new location is a huge step, and making sure customers can find it online is your top priority. So, can you spin up a second Google Business Profile? The short answer is yes, but you have to do it by the book. This guide breaks down exactly when you're eligible for a second profile, how to create it step-by-step, and the best practices for managing multiple locations without getting on Google's bad side.

Can You Have More Than One Google Business Profile?

You absolutely can have more than one Google Business Profile (GBP), provided each one represents a legitimate, distinct business location that customers can visit. Google's core rule is simple: one profile per physical business location. Think of it this way: if a customer could physically walk into two different branches of your store in two different parts of town, each of those branches deserves its own profile.

The system is designed to provide clear, accurate information to users searching for local businesses. Creating multiple profiles for a single location to game the system is a fast track to getting your listings suspended. But for businesses that are genuinely growing and opening new doors, Google provides the tools to manage each location effectively. This ability is foundational for multi-location businesses, franchises, and practices with multiple public-facing professionals.

When You're Eligible for a Second Business Profile

Understanding Google's eligibility rules is the most important part of this process. Getting it wrong can lead to failed verifications or even suspension of your existing profile. You are generally eligible for a second (or third, or tenth) profile in these situations:

• You have distinct physical locations. This is the most common and straightforward reason. If you own a cafe with a downtown branch and another in the suburbs, each one gets its own GBP. They have different addresses, serve different neighborhoods, and operate as separate storefronts. Other examples include a dental practice with offices in three different cities or a retail chain with stores in multiple malls.
• You have different businesses at the same address. This is less common but still valid. Imagine a large office building where you run both a law firm and a separate accounting firm from the same address. As long as the two businesses have separate entrances, distinct signage, different phone numbers, and operate as separate legal entities, they can each have their own profile. However, you can't create two profiles for "Bob's Law Firm" and "Bob's Legal Services" at the same address if they are the same business.
• You have multiple practitioners at a single location. In some professions, the individual is the "brand." Think of a medical clinic that has three public-facing doctors, each with their own patient base. Or a real estate brokerage with several high-profile agents. Each doctor or agent can have an individual practitioner profile in addition to the main profile for the clinic or brokerage. These individual profiles must use the person's name (e.g., "Dr. Jane Smith, MD") and cannot be just a keyword-stuffed variation of the main business name.

When You're Not Eligible for a Second Profile

Trying to create a second profile when you don't meet the criteria is a bad idea. Google's spam filters are sophisticated and community reporting is common. Avoid creating another profile if:

• You are trying to target a different service or keyword. If you're a wedding photographer, you can't create one profile for "Downtown Wedding Photographer" and a second for "Affordable Wedding Photography" at the same address. Services and keywords should be listed within your single, primary profile.
• You are a service-area business trying to cover multiple towns. If you're a plumber based in one town, you cannot create physical profiles in all the surrounding towns you serve unless you have a staffed office at each of those locations. Instead, your single profile should be designated as a service-area business (SAB), and you can list all the towns and zip codes you cover in your service area settings.
• You only have a temporary "pop-up" or virtual location. A P.O. box or a co-working space you use once a month doesn't count as a permanent business address that receives customers. Creating a profile for a virtual office address is a direct violation of Google's terms and will likely get your profile rejected.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Second Google Business Profile

If you've confirmed you're eligible for another profile, the process is pretty straightforward. You'll add your new location from within your existing Google Business Profile dashboard.

Step 1: Sign in to your Google Business Profile Manager

Go to business.google.com and log in with the same Google account you use to manage your first business profile. This keeps all your locations neatly organized under a single login. Managing multiple businesses from different Google accounts becomes a headache very quickly, so stick with one.

Step 2: Add a New Business

Once you are on the main page displaying your current business(es), look for a button that says "Add business." It's usually prominent and easy to find. Click this and select "Add single business" from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Enter Your New Business Name and Category

Start by typing your new business's name. It's important that this name matches your real-world signage and branding for that specific location. For example, if your first shop is "Central Perk Coffee," your second might be "Northside Perk Coffee."

Next, choose your primary business category. Be as specific as possible. Start typing "Coffee Shop," "Dentist," or "Boutique," and Google will present you with the best options. You can add more categories later, so just focus on the primary one for now.

Step 4: Enter the Address of the New Location

This is the most critical step. Enter the full, accurate street address for your new business location. Double-check the street name, suite number, and postal code. This address is what Google uses to place your business on Maps and is where they will send your verification postcard if that's the method used.

Google will then show you a map to confirm the pin location. Drag and drop the pin to be precisely positioned on your physical entrance to help with directions for customers using Google Maps.

Step 5: Add a Phone Number and Website

Provide the phone number and website address for this new location. Ideally, each location should have a unique phone number and a dedicated landing page on your website (e.g., yoursite.com/downtown-location). This keeps your data clean and helps with local search optimization, confirming to Google that this is a truly distinct entity.

Step 6: Complete the Verification Process

No new profile goes live without verification. Google needs to confirm that your business is real and located where you say it is. The verification methods available can vary, but common options include:

• Postcard by mail: Google sends a physical postcard with a verification code to your new business address. It typically arrives in 5-7 business days.
• Phone or text: An automated call or text message sends a code to your business phone number. This is often available for established businesses.
• Email: A code is sent to your business email address (e.g., info@yourdomain.com).
• Video verification: This is becoming more common. You may be asked to do a live video call where you show a Google representative your storefront signage, business equipment, and proof that you have access to the building.

Follow the on-screen instructions precisely. Once you receive your code, log back into your dashboard and enter it to get your new profile published.

Best Practices for Managing Multiple Business Profiles

Creating your second profile is just the beginning. Now you need to manage them effectively to maximize your local visibility. An active, well-maintained profile is what attracts customers.

Organize with Location Groups

If you're managing more than a few locations, use Google's "location group" feature (previously called business accounts). This allows you to bulk-manage users, share access with team members, and keep your profiles organized by brand, region, or any other system that works for you.

Build Location-Specific Content

Don't just copy and paste information, photos, and posts from one profile to the other. Each profile should reflect its unique neighborhood and clientele. For your new location:

• Upload high-quality, local photos. Show off the new storefront, the team that works there, and products in the new space. Avoid using stock photos.
• Use Google Posts for local events. Run a special only at the new location? Hosting a community event? Create a Google Post specifically for that profile. This shows customers that your profile is active and relevant.
• Encourage reviews for the new location. Reviews are gold for local SEO, and they are location-specific. Ask happy customers at your new spot to leave a review on its specific GBP. Respond to every review - positive and negative - to show you're engaged.
• Build out the Q&A section. Proactively answer common questions people might have about the new location. Think: "Do you have parking at the Northside branch?" or "Are you pet-friendly at this location?" This saves customers a phone call and shows you're on top of your game.

Maintain NAP Consistency

For each location, your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) must be consistent everywhere it appears online, from your GMB page to your website, Facebook page, Yelp, and other local directories. However, the NAP for each location must be unique to that location. Mixing up phone numbers or addresses across your profiles will confuse Google and hurt your rankings.

Final Thoughts

Opening and managing a second Google Business Profile is a clear, manageable process as long as you adhere to Google's guidelines for distinct physical locations. By ensuring each profile is individually optimized with locally relevant content, photos, and reviews, you give each branch of your business the best possible chance to be discovered by customers in its neighborhood.

Just as you manage each Google Business Profile to have a unique local identity, your social media presence for each location needs the same care. Juggling different content for multiple branches across several social networks can quickly become overwhelming. When we built Postbase, our goal was to simplify that chaos. With features like the visual content calendar, you can see your entire strategy across all locations at a glance, while our unified inbox brings all your comments and DMs into one place, so no local customer query goes unnoticed. It helps you maintain a consistent brand voice while giving you the freedom to customize content for each community you serve.