Before you pay anyone to send people your way, make sure they can find you and trust what they find.
The checklist
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile. Fill out every field: services, service area, hours, and photos of real work.
- Get a dedicated business phone number. Your personal cell should not be the number on your truck.
- Buy your domain name, even if the website comes later.
- Set up email on that domain. [email protected] reads very differently than a free email account.
- Keep your business name, phone number, hours, and service area consistent wherever customers find you.
You do not need a big website yet
A simple one-page site with your services, service area, reviews, and a phone number is enough to start. Spend the money you save on answering calls well.
Own the accounts, not just the passwords
Register the domain through an account you control. Use recovery details you can reach, turn on multi-factor authentication where available, and keep the recovery codes in a secure place. Give vendors their own access instead of handing over your only login.
Write down where your domain renews and who handles the bill. Do the same for hosting, email, your phone provider, and Google Business Profile. If a vendor leaves, the business should still be able to answer calls and keep the website online.
Make Google match the business you actually run
Use your real business name and choose a category that describes your main service. Keep your number, hours, website, and service area accurate. Add real work photos with the customer’s permission where needed.
For a service-area business that does not receive customers at its address, Google says to hide that address from customers. Follow Google’s business representation guidelines instead of copying a competitor’s setup.
Test the basics on a phone
Search your business name, open the website, tap the number, and submit the contact form. Check that the details agree and that the message reaches the right person. Use the Foundation Checklist to record the result.
Next step: Step 3: Answer Every Call
Browse all foundation guides · Print the Foundation Checklist