How do you set up Google Business Profile and Yelp for a Calgary business?

Before you start: get these five things ready

Write them down once, then paste the same answers into every site. It saves time and avoids mistakes.

• +Your real business name, exactly as customers know it. No keywords, taglines or phone numbers in the name.
• +Your address, or the area you serve if you travel to customers or work from home.
• +One phone number and one email you will keep.
• +Your website address and your opening hours.
• +A short, plain description of what you do and who it is for, plus a square logo and two or three real photos.

Step 1: Create your Google Business Profile

• +Go to business.google.com/add and choose Add your business to Google.
• +Enter your business name, category and details. Pick the category that best describes your main service.
• +If you travel to customers or work from home, choose a service area (the towns or region you cover) instead of showing a street address. Google says home-based businesses should hide their address.
• +Add your phone number, website and hours, then choose a verification option.

Google needs proof that the business is really yours. This is called verifying. You may be offered a phone call or text, an email, a postcard in the mail, a short video, or a live video call. Which ones you see depends on your business. Google says a review can take up to five business days, a postcard code usually arrives within 14 days, and codes expire after 30 days.

Make the profile complete

• +Description. Say what you do, who for, and where. Google asks you to describe your services and your business, and says not to include links or to focus on promotions, prices or offers.
• +Name. Use your real business name only. Google does not allow marketing taglines or phone numbers in it.
• +Photos. Use JPG or PNG files between 10 KB and 5 MB. Google recommends 720 by 720 pixels, with a minimum of 250 by 250. Photos should be in focus, well lit and not heavily filtered. Add a logo and a cover photo.
• +Services and hours. List each service you offer and keep your hours current.

Step 2: Claim or add your Yelp page

• +Go to biz.yelp.com/claim (Canadian businesses can use biz.yelp.ca) and enter your business name.
• +If Yelp finds your business, select it and claim it. If not, choose Add to Yelp for free.
• +Create an account with a business email you control, and verify with the code Yelp sends.
• +Fill in your hours, phone, website, description and photos. Use the same details as your Google profile.

Yelp says there is no charge to create a business page, and most pages appear within 24 hours, though some need extra verification. Yelp also sells ads and upgrades. You do not need them to be listed.

Step 3: Keep your details identical everywhere

Use the same business name, address or service area, phone number and website on Google, Yelp, Bing and your own site. It is the simplest habit that helps. When the details agree, search engines and AI assistants can tell they have the right business. See how AI assistants choose which local business to name.

Reviews: ask the right way

Happy customers are your best asset on both platforms. Read each platform’s review policy before you ask anyone, and never offer anything in exchange for a review. Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and briefly.

What a profile won’t do on its own

A profile gets you onto the map. It can’t explain each service in depth, show your pricing guidance, or capture an enquiry with a quote form. That is what a website is for, and the two work best together. Our guide to website versus Google Business Profile explains which to set up first. Nonprofits can follow the same steps; our nonprofits page covers the rest.

Copy-and-paste checklist

• +Business name written down once, exactly as customers know it
• +Address or service area decided; home address hidden if you work from home
• +One phone number, one email, one website address
• +Short plain description, no links, no promotions
• +Square logo, a cover photo and two or three real photos
• +Google profile created and verified
• +Yelp page claimed or added, details matching Google
• +Bing Places listing added for Microsoft Copilot and Bing
• +Plan for asking happy customers for reviews

Want it done for you?

Business in a Box ($750 on any package) sets up your Google Business Profile and Bing Places, along with professional email, local search, AI visibility and security, and the accounts stay in your name. Ask for a free quote.

Sources

Checked on October 5, 2026 against Google’s guide to adding a business, Google’s verification options, Google’s representing-your-business guidelines, Google’s photo requirements and Yelp for Business. These platforms change their rules, so check the latest on each before you submit.