Service-area business on Google: how to set up your Austin areas
If you travel to customers, Google wants a service area instead of a public address. Here is how to set it up properly in Austin.
- Who needs a service area
- How many areas and how to choose them
- The mistakes that cause suspensions
Free Austin SEO audit
A person reviews your Google listing, your website on a phone and the businesses that outrank you in Austin, then replies within one business day.
What a service-area business is. A service-area business serves customers at their location, such as a plumber, electrician, cleaner or mobile mechanic. Google lets these businesses hide their address and show the areas they serve. A hybrid business, such as a shop that also makes house calls, can show its address and its service areas.
How to set it up
1. Decide if customers visit you
If customers come to your location during business hours, show your address. If they never do, hide it and list service areas. If both, choose hybrid.
2. Use a real address behind the scenes
Google needs a real business location. P.O. boxes, mailboxes at remote locations and virtual offices are not eligible.
3. Choose your service areas
You can list up to 20 service areas, set by city, ZIP code or another type of area. A radius around your business is not available. Around Austin, common choices include Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Buda and Kyle.
4. List where you really work
Pick the places you serve and can earn reviews from. Listing areas you do not serve will not help and can look misleading.
5. Match your website
Show the same service areas on your website. Add an area page only where you have real jobs, photos and reviews. See how we think about it on our areas page.
6. Earn reviews from your service areas
Reviews that mention the job and the neighborhood help customers and help Google understand where you work.
Mistakes that cause trouble
- Using a virtual office, mailbox or co-working desk as the address
- Creating a second profile for the same business
- Adding keywords or extra words to the business name
- Listing dozens of areas you do not serve
- Changing the name, address or categories again and again
Expect distance to matter
Even with a perfect setup, Google weighs distance. A business closer to the searcher often shows first, so check how you appear from different parts of your service area, and focus where it pays.
Not sure how to set yours up? Ask for a free audit, or see SEO for home service companies.
FAQ
Quick answers
Can I hide my address on Google?
Yes, if customers do not visit your location. You then show service areas instead.
How many service areas can I add?
Up to 20, set by city, ZIP code or another type of area. You cannot set a radius.
Sources
Sources for the numbers on this page
Want us to check this for your business?
Get a free audit. A person replies within one business day, and the findings are yours to keep.