An individual Google Business Profile (GBP) puts your doctor on the map — literally. When patients search for a specialist in their area, a verified doctor profile is often the first thing they see, and it’s where they read reviews, find your phone number, and decide whether to schedule an appointment or not.

Practices that build strong online reviews and ratings for both their organization and doctors will be positioned to attract new patients, strengthen trust, and remain competitive. A practice that also focuses on their doctors’ online reputations will outperform their peers and be better positioned as AI search evolves.

The setup itself is free, but Google’s process for individual doctors has a few twists that trip up most practices, especially the verification step. This guide walks you through every screen step-by-step, so your new doctor Google Business Profile gets created and verified the first time.

1. Start the Setup

Ensure you are signed into the Google account you want associated with the new doctor’s Google Business Profile (GBP) you want to set up.

• Go to google.com/business
• Click Start Now or Create your profile

Are you setting up a Google Business Profile (GBP) for the first time, or have you set up one previously with this same account?

After you click Start Now or Create your profile, what you see next depends on whether or not you have previously set up a Google Business Profile before, with this same account. Either way, follow our step-by-step guide and it will all make sense.

Most people have set up a location or Doctor GBP in the past with the same account. If that is you, jump right on to Step 2.

Creating a Google Business Profile (GBP) for the First Time

If this is the first GBP you’re creating under this Google account, Google will walk you through a few extra introductory screens. These screens simply collect the business name, business type, and business category — the same information covered in Steps 2 and 3 below — so just follow along.

First-time screen 1:

Enter the business name in the format [First Name] [Last Name], [Degree] (for example, Jane Smith, MD).

First-time screen 2: Choose your business type

Select “Local store” so patients can find and visit your practice in person.

First-time screen 3: Enter a business category

Choose the specific medical category in the following format:

Business Category: Examples: Ophthalmologist, Dermatologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgeon, etc..]

Finished the introductory screens?

These introductory screens cover the same information as Steps 2 and 3. Your next screen is Step 4: Enter the Address of Your Practice. Once you reach Step 4, the two directions have merged — you’re on the right track and can follow the remaining steps accordingly.

Step 2: You Already Manage a Google Business Profile (GBP)

If you already manage other profiles on this account, you won’t see the introductory screens above. Start here at Step 2.

Enter the Doctor’s Name & Category

Enter the name and choose the specific medical category in the following format:

[First Name] [Last Name], [Degree]
[Business Category: Examples: Ophthalmologist, Dermatologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgeon, etc.]

The business name will be the doctors name as shown below: Jane Smith, MD

3. Select “Yes” to: Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?

You want your patients to be able to find you on Google and in person.

4. Enter the Address of Your Practice

Enter the physical address of the clinic where the doctor works.

5. Select “None of these” to: Is this your business?

If you have access to other GBPs, Google’s system will cross-reference its database and see your existing GBP’s at this same location. This is normal.

Since you are setting up a new individual doctor GBP and not trying to claim or overwrite your existing profile, you must select “None of these.”

By telling Google it doesn’t match, you are signaling to the system: “Yes, I know there is a business here, but this is a new individual doctor at the same location.” Google will then allow you to proceed with creating the new GBP profile.

If you do not have access to other GBP’s, you will not receive this prompt in the setup process.

6. Select “No” to: Do you provide deliveries or home and office visits?

If you have a new profile and already selected your business type, you will not receive this prompt in the setup process.

7. Enter Your Practice Phone Number and Website

Enter your practice’s phone number and website.

Add chat is optional but it will require you to enter your practice phone number to complete this step. Go ahead and enter the phone number for your practice and select text message. It does not automatically turn chat on for your GBP.

Pro Tip: Do not try a workaround of Google’s verification process (see next steps) by entering your mobile phone number as the practice phone. Once this goes live, bots will scrap the details of this new GBP and have your mobile phone for spam calls, etc.

8. Verify Your New Google Business Profile (GBP)

Verifying your new GBP is the last step. Follow the series of prompts below.

Enter your practice phone number and click next.

Most practices have a phone tree or AI-based phone system with a series of prompts. Due to this, you will not be able to receive a phone call to verify you are legitimate.

You will select the option below for: Submit a Business Video

Select Submit Business Video

You will select Submit a Business Video and click next.

Get Ready to Record Your Video

In 1 continuous recording show the following:

• View of surrounding area & your exterior building
  • Show street signs, neighboring businesses or recognizable landmarks
• Front door opening & unlocking (they will reject the video if you do not lock/unlock your front door)
• Doctor’s name on permanent fixtures such as your signage, license, etc.
  Doctor’s name must match the doctors name entered on this new GBP you are setting up, and show the doctor at this address. Example: this GBP profile is for Jane Smith, MD so we must show signage or the license that reads: Jane Smith, MD
• An exam room or staff only area

Click next

Scan QR Code

Tips for Getting Started

Review the tips for recording a successful video.

The most common reasons for video rejection are:

• No street signs shown in the video
• Front door was not locked/unlocked
• Didn’t show doctor license, utility bill, or proof doctor works at location

If you have set up this new GBP on your mobile phone, you can go ahead and click the start recording button and take your video.

If you are on your computer, you can still select start recording and Google will recognize you are on a computer and provide you a QR code, see next step below.

Click next

If you set up the new GBP for a doctor on your computer, Google provides you with the below QR code to scan from your mobile device. At this point, you are switching from your computer, to a mobile device to take the video.

If you don’t want to take the video now, no problem. You have several options to continue later:

1. Save this link from step 1: Go to google.com/business
   • You will click on the google.com/business link later and see the GBP that needs to be verified with the doctors name on it
2. Take a screen shot of the QR code on your computer, and you can scan it later from your mobile device

When you verify later on your mobile device, just make sure you are signed into the account you used to set up this new GBP doctor listing with Google.

9. Add Your Services

10. Add Business Hours

Do not select 24 hours

11. Add business description

12. Add photo of your work (add your headshot)

Advertising credit click skip

You’re Done! What Happens Next?

That’s it — the setup is complete, and there is nothing more you need to do right now. Google will review your verification video, which typically takes 1–5 business days. Google will email you once your new doctor GBP is verified.

If your video gets rejected, don’t worry — we’ve included a pro tip at the end of this guide that explains exactly what to do next.

Once you are verified, you will be able to manage all aspects of your GBP — reviews, photos, hours, services, and more — as shown below and on the following page.

Manage your new doctor Google Business Profile (GBP)

Once verified, you will be able to manage your new doctor GBP.

What if my video gets rejected?

If your video gets rejected, Google will email you and let you know what needs to be fixed.

Pro Tip: If your video is rejected, don’t rush the next attempt.

• Carefully review the specific feedback provided in Google’s rejection email, as it will explicitly list which requirements—such as street signs, door unlocking, or permanent signage—were missing.
• When you are ready to record again, use a single continuous shot to capture the surrounding area, street signs, the process of unlocking the front door, and proof of the doctor’s name on a permanent fixture.
• Ensure you are showing the doctor’s name on permanent signage or license, not just a temporary paper sign, as this is a frequent reason for rejection.

Conclusion

Setting up an individual Google Business Profile for a doctor takes about 15 minutes, plus a short verification video. The keys to getting it right the first time: use the [First Name] [Last Name], [Degree] name format, select “None of these” when Google surfaces your existing profiles, and record one continuous verification video that hits every requirement — especially the street signs, the locked/unlocked front door, and the doctor’s name on permanent signage or a license.

Once verified, the new doctor profile becomes one of your most valuable marketing assets — the place where patients find, evaluate, and choose your doctor.