How to get your shop on Google Maps in Malaysia (2026)

To get your shop on Google Maps, add or claim a free Google Business Profile, verify it, then fill in your name, category, hours, phone and photos. Google doesn't charge for it. Verification reviews take up to 5 business days and sometimes longer, so plan for about 2 weeks before you appear.

By Vickkes, founder, EDC · Last updated 29 October 2026

Baca dalam Bahasa Malaysia →

Is it free to be on Google Maps?

Yes. Google lets you add or claim a Business Profile at no charge. You only pay if you hire someone to set it up for you, or if you choose to run Google Ads, which are separate.

Be careful with anyone who says you must pay Google to be listed or verified. The listing itself is free; a provider can only charge for their time to set it up.

What do you need before you start?

A Google account you'll keep for the business, your business name exactly as it appears on your signboard, your address or the areas you serve, a phone number, your opening hours and a few real photos.

Use an account the business owns, not a staff member's personal account, so you never lose access if someone leaves.

How do you add your shop to Google Maps, step by step?

Search for your shop on Google Maps first. If it's already there, claim it; if not, add it at business.google.com/add. Then follow Google's prompts and choose a verification method.

Search your shop name and town on Google Maps to see whether a profile already exists.
If it exists, open it and choose to claim it. If someone else already manages it, request ownership.
If not, go to business.google.com/add and enter your business name and main category.
Add your address if customers visit you, or your service areas if you go to them.
Add your phone number and website (your Facebook page is fine until you have a website).
Choose a verification method and follow Google's steps.

How does Google verify a business?

Google decides which methods you can use: a video recording, a phone call or text, email, a live video call or a postcard. Google says reviews take up to 5 business days, sometimes longer, and postcards usually arrive within 14 days.

Plan for at least 2 weeks from start to showing on Maps. For a video, show your signboard, your shop or your work, and something that proves you run it, such as your tools or your till.

Can you be on Google Maps without a shop address?

Yes. If you go to customers or work from home, Google asks you to remove your address and list the areas you serve instead. The whole area should stay within about 2 hours' drive of where you're based.

Google doesn't let you draw a radius; you list towns or postcodes, up to 20 service areas.

Why isn't my shop showing on Google Maps?

Usually because it isn't verified yet, the profile has been suspended, there are duplicate listings, or the person searching is far away. Google ranks local results on relevance, distance and prominence, so a new profile can take time to appear.

Not verified yet: the profile won't show publicly until Google approves it.
Suspended: often after adding keywords or a location to the business name, which Google's guidelines don't allow.
Duplicates: two listings for one shop split your reviews. Ask Google to remove or merge the extra one.
Distance: Maps favours businesses close to the person searching.

How do you show up higher on Google Maps?

Complete every part of the profile, add real photos, ask every customer for a review and reply to each one, post updates, and keep your name, address and phone the same on your website. Google says there's no way to pay for a better local ranking. We don't promise #1 rankings.

Sources

Google changes its rules and screens from time to time. If something looks different, check the source.