What the reviewer is looking for
A person at Google watches your clip with three questions in mind. Where is this? Does this business exist here? Does the person filming have control of it? Every second of your video should help answer one of those. Pretty footage of your best work doesn’t help if the reviewer can’t tell what street you’re on.
For a shop, office or restaurant, Google spells it out:
- Location: street signs, building numbers, or nearby businesses and landmarks.
- Existence: your storefront or signage, with a business name that matches the profile.
- Management: somewhere only staff can go, such as the cash register, kitchen, storage room or point-of-sale system.
If customers never come to you
Service-area businesses prove the same three things differently. Show street signs or landmarks near your base. Show the tools, equipment, products, workspace, business cards or branded clothing you work with. For the control part, perform part of a service, open up a branded van, or show a permit, invoice or utility bill whose name matches your profile.
A shot list that works
Think of it as a short walk, not a film. Start outside, pointing at the nearest street sign so it fills the frame for a few seconds. Pan to the front of your building or your vehicle and hold on the name. Walk in, or open the van, and show something a customer couldn’t reach: the till, the stockroom, the toolbox. Finish on a document with your business name. Narrating out loud isn’t required, but it keeps you moving and fills the 30 seconds without dead air.
Do it in daylight. Hold the phone steady and move slowly; a reviewer can’t verify a blur. If the sign outside doesn’t match the name on your profile, fix that mismatch before you film, because a name that doesn’t match is one of the reasons Google lists for rejection. Google doesn’t publish how many attempts you get, so treat each recording as if it counts.
The same issue twice
If the result keeps coming back with the same issue and you can’t show what it asks for, step back. Check whether another method now appears under Get verified. If none does, the Help Center’s Contact us route is the next stop, with a short note on what you filmed and which issue Google raised.
If it doesn't work
- Upload fails: Google's only advice is to upload again. Try on a stronger Wi-Fi connection.
- Result is Not successful: open Review issues, then record a new clip that keeps everything from the first one and adds what was missing.
- You run an online-only business: Google says these aren't eligible for video verification, or for a Business Profile at all.
- You keep failing after several honest tries: Google suggests trying another verification method before you contact support.
Questions owners ask
Can I film the video ahead of time and upload it later?
No. Google requires the recording to be captured live through the Business Profile on a mobile device. Pre-recorded clips and footage edited together from several takes aren't accepted. Plan your route, then film it in one continuous take.
What should I keep out of the shot?
Google asks you not to show sensitive numbers like bank account, tax or ID numbers, private information about you or anyone else, or other people's faces. Film documents so the business name and address are readable but account numbers aren't.
Can I delete the video after I'm verified?
Yes. In the app go to More, then Business Profile settings, Advanced settings, Video uploads, and tap Delete videos. Google says you can do that anytime, and that it deletes the video later if you don't.
I work from home. What counts as showing my location?
Google says home-based service-area businesses can film landmarks and street signs in their immediate neighborhood. It asks you to avoid empty land or places with no clear markers, since the reviewer needs something that ties the clip to your area.
Sources
- Verify your business with a video recording (support.google.com)
- Verify your business on Google (support.google.com)
Checked 13 Nov 2026. When the platform changes its process we update this page and log it in What changed.