Choosing The Best Google Business Profile Categories
Choosing The Best Google My Business Category
It really is a tricky challenge to choose one among Google Business Profile categories. And you will have to pay for the mistake with customers and visibility. This article will show you how to find the complete Google Business Profile categories list and optimize your profile.
What Are Google My Business Categories?
Google Business Profile categories are something you choose when you create your Google profile. Essentially, you need to choose a business type so that the algorithms know who they are working with. After all, they're the ones responsible for local search results and Google Maps.
This is definitely not a stage you can skip and forget about. Take it seriously! Here's the checklist:
Focus on your core service.
Add additional categories if you offer multiple destinations.
Avoid too many categories—sometimes it's a detriment rather than a benefit.
For example, it's better to choose “Air Conditioning Repair Service” rather than just “Contractor” for an air conditioning repairman.
How To Find Competitor Business Categories
Tip from 4pmix marketing agency experts: analyze the top 5 competitors in your niche. Go to Google Maps, type in your service and study the profiles. Yes, it's very straightforward but still very effective. The GMBspy tool (it's a Chrome extension) will help you identify hidden categories in a sec.
The Complete List of Google My Business Categories
Google doesn't publish an official Google Business categories list, but there are several ways to find it:
Use the Google Business API (ask your programmer friend to tell you how to use it).
Open the profile edit form and view the list.
Download unofficial Google Business categories lists available online.
And in general, keep your own spreadsheet with the right categories for your region and season. Just in case.
Optimizing Your Profile with the Right Category
Your right choice will increase visibility, CTR, and consequently, the number of calls. For example, if you're an agency, use “Marketing Agency” rather than “Consultant.” Keep in mind: Google gives more weight to the main category than to additional ones.
Google has added several new categories in 2025. Most notably, in home service and digital service. We're particularly interested in the former, so here are some examples of what's gaining popularity right now: energy-efficiency consultant, smart home installer, and eco-HVAC contractor.
Keep an eye on updates and trends—it will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Commonly Misused Categories
Businesses often choose:
Overly general Google Business profile business categories (“Service”, “Business”)
Irrelevant ones (“Retail Store” instead of “HVAC Supply Store”)
Categories that don't reflect geography or specificity
Such errors drastically reduce relevancy and the algorithm's credibility. Don't use categories that don't exist on your site because this can trigger penalties (and you don't want them, trust us).
Google's Category Suggestion Tool
Google sometimes suggests changing your category based on activity or reviews. Don't ignore these suggestions. Sometimes you should just trust the algorithms that usually don’t suggest anything bad. However, this is primarily an automated process, so make sure the change really reflects your business first. Still, the human factor is more important here.
Third-Party Tools for Category Research
Here are some tools to help you research the Google Business Profile categories list. Feel free to keep it for the future:
PlePer GMB Category Tool
GMBspy
BrightLocal
LocalFalcon (not free, but extremely accurate)
With these, you can find not only your category but also the most popular Google Business Profile business categories in your niche.
Case Studies: Before and After Category Changes
After changing the category from “Contractor” to “HVAC Contractor,” one business increased calls by more than 35%. There's another example—a marketing agency that started showing up higher after changing “Advertising Agency” to “Marketing Agency.”
Cases like this prove it: the right category leads to more customers.
Local SEO Impact of the Right Categories
The right category affects not only search results but also rankings. Google uses the category to match the query and the offer. This is directly related to local SEO. Use keywords and categories in your titles and posts.
Schema Markup and Categories
Keep in mind that the schema markup of the site must match the chosen category. If Google says “Plumber” and schema says “LocalBusiness”, it reduces trust. Use Schema.org and micro markup generators for proper customization.
Aligning Categories with Website Content
Your website should validate the category you've chosen. Add relevant keywords, service descriptions, and testimonials. And pics! You can find our visuals on our Instagram, by the way. For example, an article about air conditioning cleaning validates the Air Conditioning Repair Service category.
Use these guidelines to choose the right Google Business Profile categories. Or just contact us at (725) 213-7330 or info@4pmix.co. Check the categories regularly and adapt to trends—then your business will really be on top of its game.