How to create a second Google My Business listing ?

Have you opened a second location, a new office, or a branch? You need a second Google My Business listing (now called Google Business Profile) so your customers can find you at this new address.

Good news: Google allows you to create as many listings as you have physical locations. Here's how to do it, step by step.

Can you have multiple Google My Business listings?

Yes, and it's actually required if you have multiple addresses. Google enforces a simple rule: one listing per physical address where you serve customers.

Do you have 2 stores? You need 2 listings. Opening a 3rd location? Create a 3rd listing. Each location must have its own listing with its own address, its own hours, and its own phone number.

Creating a second listing: step-by-step guide

The process is identical to your first listing. You can manage everything from the same Google account.

Step 1: access Google Business Profile

Sign in to your Google account (the one that already manages your first listing). Go to business.google.com or type "my business Google" in the Google search bar.

Step 2: add a new business

In the menu, click "Add business" then "Add a single business". If you have more than 10 locations to create, Google offers a bulk import option via an Excel file.

Step 3: fill in the information

Complete the information for your new location.

• Business name: use the same name as your first location, or add the city to differentiate (e.g., "Martin's Bakery - Chicago" and "Martin's Bakery - Evanston")

• Category: choose the same primary category as your first location

• Address: the full address of the new location

• Phone: a different number from your first location (required)

• Hours: the specific hours for this location

Step 4: verify the listing

Google needs to verify that you own this business. Several verification methods exist.

• By postcard: Google sends a postcard with a code to the business address (5-14 days)

• By phone: an automated call dictates the verification code (available for some businesses)

• By email: the code is sent via email (available for some businesses)

• Instant verification: if you've already verified a listing for the same business, Google may verify automatically

Organize your listings with business groups

Once your second listing is created, organize your locations to simplify day-to-day management.

In Google Business Profile, you can create "business groups". For example: "Northeast Region", "West Coast", or by business type if you have different kinds of locations.

Groups let you filter the view, give specific access to certain managers, and make bulk changes (like updating holiday hours for all locations in a group).

Mistakes to avoid

A few common pitfalls can compromise your listings.

Using the same phone number. Each listing must have its own number. A central number as a secondary option is fine, but the primary number must be unique.

Duplicating the exact same content. Customize the description of each location. Mention the neighborhood, local specifics, services unique to that location.

Forgetting to complete the listing. An incomplete listing ranks lower on Google. Add photos of the new location, respond to reviews, publish posts.

Creating a listing for a virtual address. Google requires a physical address where you serve customers. PO boxes and virtual offices are not allowed.

Managing reviews across multiple locations

With two listings, you now have two streams of reviews to monitor. This is where management gets more complex.

Each location receives its own reviews and its own rating. An unhappy customer at your second location will leave a review on that listing, not the first one. So you need to monitor both.

Google Business Profile notifications aren't always reliable. A negative review can go unnoticed for days if you don't regularly check each listing.

That's why many multi-location businesses use a centralized management tool. A single dashboard that aggregates reviews from all your listings, alerts you instantly to new reviews, and lets you respond without switching between interfaces.

Summary

Creating a second Google My Business listing is straightforward: same process as the first, from the same Google account. Fill in the new location's information, verify ownership, and complete the listing 100%.

The real challenge starts after: managing reviews across multiple locations, keeping information updated everywhere, responding quickly to negative reviews on each listing. The more locations you have, the more essential a centralized tool becomes.