Find the right Google category for your business
Your category tells Google what you do, and it decides which searches you show up in. Pick your business type to see the best primary category, the extra ones worth adding, and tips for businesses in India.
What kind of business do you run?
Rules for choosing categories
- Pick the most specific category that fits. Google's own example: choose "Nail salon", not just "Salon".
- Your primary category matters most. Google uses your categories to decide which searches to show you in, so get the primary one right first.
- Only add extra categories for things you really offer. Don't add one for every product or service; list those in the Services section instead.
- If a separately run business sits inside yours, like a cafe inside a gym, it needs its own profile. Don't add its category to yours.
- Never stuff keywords or city names into your business name, like "Sharma Dental - Best Dentist in Pune". It is against Google's rules and profiles get suspended for it.
How to change your category
- Open your Business Profile: search your business name on Google while signed in, or go to business.google.com.
- Tap Edit profile.
- Next to Business category, tap the pencil (edit) icon.
- In the Primary category box, start typing the name and pick it from the list that shows up.
- Tap Add another category for each extra category, and pick each one from the list.
- Tap Save. Google may ask you to verify your business again after a category change.
Categories for every business type
Names are as Google shows them in Indian English. Where US English uses a different name, it's shown in brackets.
Dentist or dental clinic
Primary category: Dentist
Also add, if they fit:
- Dental clinic
- Cosmetic dentistAdd if you do smile makeovers, veneers or whitening.
- OrthodontistAdd only if an orthodontist works at your clinic.
- Dental implants providerAdd only if you place implants.
- Paediatric Dentist (also shown as “Pediatric dentist”)Add only if a children's dentist works with you.
- Patients also compare dentists on Practo and Justdial. Keep your timings, phone number and address exactly the same everywhere.
- Use your real clinic name as it appears on your board. Don't add words like "Best dental clinic in Pune" to the name.
General physician clinic
Primary category: General practitioner
Also add, if they fit:
- Doctor
- Clinic (also shown as “Medical clinic”)
- Medical centre (also shown as “Medical Center”)Add if several doctors see patients at your place.
- Patients often check Practo before calling. Keep your timings and fees the same on Google and Practo.
- If you are a specialist (for example a paediatrician or dermatologist), pick that specialty as your primary category instead.
Salon or beauty parlour
Primary category: Beauty Salon
If you mostly cut and style hair, pick "Hairdresser" as primary. If you only serve men, pick "Barber shop".
Also add, if they fit:
- Hairdresser (also shown as “Hair salon”)
- Make-up artistAdd if you do bridal or party makeup.
- Nail salonAdd only if you do nails.
- Mehndi DesignerAdd only if you offer mehndi.
- Hair removal serviceAdd if you do waxing or threading.
- Add your services (haircut, facial, bridal package) with prices in the Services section. Customers compare prices before calling.
- Post real photos of your work. Before-and-after photos of your own clients work better than stock photos.
Gym or fitness centre
Primary category: Gym
Also add, if they fit:
- Fitness centre (also shown as “Fitness center”)
- Personal trainerAdd if you offer personal training.
- Yoga studioAdd only if you run regular yoga classes.
- Boxing GymAdd only if you have a boxing setup and coach.
- Add photos of your actual equipment and floor. People want to see the place before they visit.
- If you are a personal trainer without your own gym, pick "Personal trainer" as primary and hide your home address.
Coaching institute or tuition centre
Primary category: Coaching Center
Also add, if they fit:
- Test preparation centerAdd if you prepare students for entrance or government exams.
- Tutor (also shown as “Tutoring service”)
- Education Centre (also shown as “Education center”)
- Training centre (also shown as “Training center”)Add if you also teach job skills.
- Don't add exam names or "No. 1" to your business name, like "ABC Classes - Best IIT JEE Coaching". Google can suspend profiles for this.
- A home tutor without a centre should hide the home address and set the areas they travel to.
Full setup guide for coaching institutes and tuition centres
Restaurant
Primary category: North Indian restaurant
Pick your main cuisine. Other choices include "South Indian restaurant", "Punjabi restaurant", "Bengali restaurant", "Andhra restaurant" and "Dhaba". Use plain "Restaurant" only if nothing fits.
Also add, if they fit:
- Vegetarian restaurantAdd only if you serve no meat or eggs.
- Family restaurant
- Takeaway (also shown as “Takeout restaurant”)Add if many customers take food away.
- CatererAdd if you take catering orders.
- Restaurant
- Add your menu with prices and link your Zomato or Swiggy page in the order link. People decide from the menu.
- In India many restaurants are called "hotel" on their board. Still choose a restaurant category, not "Hotel", unless you have rooms.
Cafe
Primary category: Cafe
Also add, if they fit:
- Coffee shop
- Dessert shopAdd if desserts are a big part of your menu.
- BakeryAdd only if you bake and sell breads or cakes.
- Breakfast restaurantAdd if you serve a proper breakfast menu.
- Upload photos of your seating, menu board and best-selling items. Cafe customers choose by look and feel.
Sweet shop (mithai)
Primary category: Indian sweets shop
Also add, if they fit:
- BakeryAdd only if you bake.
- CatererAdd if you take orders for weddings and functions.
- Snack barAdd if you sell samosa, kachori or chaat to eat on the spot.
- Confectionery store
- Don't pick "Sweet shop". In Google's list it means a candy and toffee store (it shows as "Candy store" in US English). "Indian sweets shop" is the right one for mithai.
- Before Diwali, Raksha Bandhan and other festivals, post your gift boxes and update your festival timings.
Chartered accountant (CA)
Primary category: Chartered accountant (also shown as “Certified public accountant”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Accountant
- Tax preparation serviceAdd if you file income tax returns.
- Bookkeeping serviceAdd if you keep books for clients.
- Auditor
- Accounting firmAdd if you run a firm with partners or staff.
- ICAI has rules on how chartered accountants can advertise. Keep your profile factual: name, address, hours and services.
- If your Google is set to US English, this category shows as "Certified public accountant". It is the same category.
Lawyer or advocate
Primary category: Lawyer
If you only handle one kind of case, pick that as primary, for example "Divorce lawyer" or "Criminal defence lawyer".
Also add, if they fit:
- Legal services
- Family Lawyer (also shown as “Family law attorney”)Add if you handle family cases.
- Criminal defence lawyer (also shown as “Criminal justice attorney”)Add if you handle criminal cases.
- Property lawyer (also shown as “Real estate attorney”)Add if you handle property cases.
- Notary publicAdd only if you are a notary.
- Bar Council of India rules restrict advocates from advertising. Keep your profile to plain facts: name, chamber address, hours and areas of practice.
- List your chamber or office address, not the court complex, unless you actually meet clients there.
Real estate agent or property dealer
Primary category: Estate agent (also shown as “Real estate agent”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Property Consultant (also shown as “Real estate consultant”)
- Property Rental Agency (also shown as “Real estate rental agency”)Add if you help people rent.
- Property management companyAdd if you manage flats for owners.
- Make one profile for your office. Google doesn't allow separate profiles for each project, site or flat you're selling.
- Google's Indian English list has two near-identical names: "Estate agent" (an agent) and "Estate Agent" (an agency). In US English they read "Real estate agent" and "Real estate agency". Either is fine; pick the one that matches you.
Plumber
Primary category: Plumber
Also add, if they fit:
- Drainage ServiceAdd if you clear blocked drains.
- Water Tank Cleaners (also shown as “Water tank cleaning service”)Add only if you clean tanks.
- Bathroom Renovator (also shown as “Bathroom remodeler”)Add if you redo full bathrooms.
- Water Pump SupplierAdd only if you sell pumps.
- If customers don't come to your address, hide it and set the areas you serve instead. Google can suspend a home address shown to the public by a service business.
- Add your mobile number and keep WhatsApp on it. Most plumbing calls come from people searching on their phone.
Electrician
Primary category: Electrician
Also add, if they fit:
- Electrical installation service
- Electrical repair shopAdd if customers bring items to your shop for repair.
- Lighting contractorAdd if you take lighting work for homes or offices.
- Security system installation serviceAdd only if you install CCTV or alarms.
- If you go to the customer and don't have a shop they visit, hide your address and set your service areas.
AC repair and service
Primary category: Air conditioning repair shop (also shown as “Air conditioning repair service”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Air conditioning contractorAdd if you install new ACs.
- Appliance repair serviceAdd if you fix other appliances too.
- Refrigerator repair serviceAdd only if you repair fridges.
- Air conditioning storeAdd only if you sell new ACs.
- Most AC technicians go to the customer. Hide your address and set the areas you serve.
- Don't put "Samsung", "LG" or other brand names in your business name unless you are an authorised service centre for that brand.
Pest control
Primary category: Pest control service
Also add, if they fit:
- House cleaning serviceAdd only if you also do deep cleaning.
- Upholstery cleaning serviceAdd only if you also clean sofas and mattresses.
- There is no separate category for termite control. Use "Pest control service" and list termite, cockroach and bed bug treatment in the Services section.
- If customers don't visit your office, hide the address and set your service areas.
Interior designer
Primary category: Interior designer
Also add, if they fit:
- Interior Decorator
- Interior fitting contractorAdd if your team does the fit-out work.
- Kitchen Renovator (also shown as “Kitchen remodeler”)Add if you do modular kitchens.
- Furniture makerAdd if you make furniture in your own workshop.
- Upload photos of finished homes and offices you have done. Projects with before-and-after photos get more calls.
- If clients don't visit an office or studio, hide your address and set your service areas.
Physiotherapist
Primary category: Physiotherapist (also shown as “Physical therapist”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Physical Therapy Clinic
- Sports medicine clinicAdd if you treat sports injuries.
- Physical rehabilitation centerAdd if you run longer rehab programmes.
- If you also do home visits, keep your clinic address visible and add the areas you visit as service areas.
- Patients also look for physiotherapists on Practo. Keep your timings the same on both.
Pharmacy or medical store
Primary category: Pharmacy
Also add, if they fit:
- Chemist (also shown as “Drug store”)
- Medical supply storeAdd if you sell equipment like BP machines or wheelchairs.
- Homeopathic pharmacyAdd only if you sell homeopathic medicines.
- Use the shop name on your board and drug licence. Don't add "24 hours" to the name; set your real hours instead.
- If you deliver medicines at home, say so in your description and add the areas you deliver to.
Optician or optical shop
Primary category: Optician
Also add, if they fit:
- Eye Care Clinic (also shown as “Eye care center”)Add if you test eyes at the shop.
- Contact lenses supplier
- Sunglasses Shop (also shown as “Sunglasses store”)
- OptometristAdd only if a qualified optometrist works with you.
- Add photos of your frame display and eye-testing room. Mention free eye tests only if you really offer them.
Car repair garage
Primary category: Vehicle repair shop (also shown as “Auto repair shop”)
For a two-wheeler garage, pick "Motorbike repair shop" as primary instead.
Also add, if they fit:
- Vehicle Repair (also shown as “Car repair and maintenance service”)
- Car Body Shop (also shown as “Auto body shop”)Add if you do denting and painting.
- Oil change service
- Car washAdd only if you wash cars.
- Car Battery Shop (also shown as “Car battery store”)Add only if you sell batteries.
- Only use "Maruti", "Hyundai" or other brand names in your business name if you are an authorised service centre for that brand.
Hotel
Primary category: Hotel
For a small place with a few rooms, "Guest house" or "Lodge" may describe you better. Pick the one guests would use.
Also add, if they fit:
- Banquet hallAdd only if you have a hall for functions.
- Resort hotelAdd only if you are a resort.
- RestaurantAdd if your restaurant serves the public, not only guests.
- If a separate company runs the restaurant inside your hotel, it should have its own Google profile. Don't add its category to yours.
- Hotels get extra fields on Google, like star class and amenities. Fill them in.
Wedding photographer
Primary category: Wedding photographer
Also add, if they fit:
- Photographer
- Photography studioAdd if clients can visit your studio.
- Video production serviceAdd if you shoot wedding films.
- Portrait studioAdd if you do portrait shoots at your studio.
- If you don't have a studio clients visit, hide your address and set the cities you travel to.
- Post your best wedding photos regularly. Get the couple's permission first.
Tailor
Primary category: Tailor
Also add, if they fit:
- DressmakerAdd if you stitch women's clothes.
- Clothing alteration service
- Mens Tailor (also shown as “Men's tailor”)Add if you stitch mostly men's clothes.
- Bespoke Tailor (also shown as “Custom tailor”)Add if you make made-to-measure suits.
- Add photos of your stitched work, like blouses, suits and kurtas. People want to see finishing before they give cloth.
Boutique or ladies' clothing shop
Primary category: Boutique
Also add, if they fit:
- Ladies' Clothes Shop (also shown as “Women's clothing store”)
- Saree ShopAdd if you sell sarees.
- Fashion designerAdd if you design your own collection.
- DressmakerAdd if you stitch to order.
- If you also stitch to measure, add that in your description and services so people searching for a tailor find you too.
Preschool or play school
Primary category: Pre-school (also shown as “Kindergarten”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Nursery school
- Day Care CenterAdd if you keep children for the full day.
- Montessori preschoolAdd only if you follow the Montessori method.
- This category shows as "Pre-school" in Indian English and "Kindergarten" in US English. It's the same category.
- Parents look for photos of classrooms and play areas. Avoid photos where children's faces are clear unless parents have agreed.
School
Primary category: CBSE School
Pick your board: "CBSE School" or "ICSE School". For a state board school, use "School".
Also add, if they fit:
- School
- Primary school (also shown as “Elementary school”)Add if you have primary classes.
- Higher secondary schoolAdd if you have classes 11 and 12.
- Boarding schoolAdd only if students stay on campus.
- If your school runs a separate preschool wing with its own entrance, it can have its own profile with "Pre-school" as primary.
Diagnostic centre or pathology lab
Primary category: Diagnostic centre (also shown as “Diagnostic center”)
Also add, if they fit:
- Medical laboratory
- Blood testing service
- Medical Diagnostic Imaging Centre (also shown as “Medical diagnostic imaging center”)Add only if you do X-ray, ultrasound or scans.
- Each collection centre with its own staff and timings can have its own profile. Don't make profiles for places where you only pick up samples.
- If you offer home sample collection, mention it in your description and services.
Questions
What is the primary category and why does it matter?
It's the one main category that describes your business. Google says the categories you choose affect where you show up in local search, and the primary one is the first thing to get right.
My exact business type isn't in Google's list. What do I do?
You can't create your own category. Pick the closest general one that fits, then describe your exact services in the Services section and your business description.
Will changing my category cause problems?
Google may ask you to verify your business again after you change a category. That's normal. Change it when the new category clearly fits better, and don't keep switching back and forth.
Why does the category name look different on my phone?
Google shows category names in the language and region of your account. For example, "Hairdresser" in Indian English is "Hair salon" in US English. They are the same category, so search for either name.
Setup guides for every business type
Is the rest of your profile set up right?
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