New Google My Business Guidelines: Virtual Offices Not Allowed for Service-Area Businesses
In accordance with the latest Google My Business (GMB) guidelines, it has become unacceptable for service-area businesses to use virtual addresses.
Joy Hawkins first observed this change, potentially prompted by a discussion on the GMB forum. The forum thread questioned the legitimacy of using a virtual address for a service-area business, with the original poster mentioning their use of a virtual office address as their primary business address on all business cards.
Another user responded, suggesting it should be permissible to use a virtual office address if the business makes in-person contact with customers during business hours. Despite this, the location mentioned in the forum was frequently suspended and reinstated in GMB.
Following a comprehensive discussion on the forum, Google has now officially updated its guidelines to address these issues:
“Service-area businesses — those that serve customers at their locations — should maintain a single page for the central office or location and designate a service area from that point. These businesses cannot list a ‘virtual’ office unless it is staffed during business hours.
Some businesses, such as pizzerias with both a seated restaurant service and delivery, are considered hybrid service-area businesses. These businesses are permitted to show their storefront address and designate a service area in Google My Business. If you accommodate customers at your address and wish to set a service area, your business location must be staffed by your team and capable of receiving customers during stated hours.
Google will determine the optimal way to display your business address based on your business information and other external sources.”
In summary, according to these new guidelines, to qualify as a legitimate service-area business in GMB, you must have a dedicated business address that is fully staffed during business hours.
