Most Google Business Profile audits stop at "fill out your hours and add photos." That is not enough. Here is the 33 item checklist we use to audit any local business in under 10 minutes. Walk through every item. The total score tells you instantly whether the listing is a 30 minute fix or a 30 hour cleanup.
Profile completeness (10 items)
Verified ownership. Primary category set to most specific option. Secondary categories filled (up to 9). Business name matches signage exactly with no keyword stuffing. Address is precise. Phone number is local area code, not a tracking number. Website URL works and uses HTTPS. Hours are current and include holiday hours. From the business description is filled (750 character max). Service area is set if applicable.
Content and media (8 items)
At least 10 photos uploaded by the owner. Cover photo is high quality and represents the business. Logo is uploaded. At least 1 video. Photos cover interior, exterior, products or services, and team. Photos are labeled with descriptive filenames. At least 1 Google Post in the last 30 days. Products or services list is filled (especially important for service businesses).
Reviews and engagement (8 items)
At least 25 reviews. Average rating above 4.3. At least 5 reviews in the last 90 days (velocity). Owner response rate above 80 percent. Owner responses are personalized, not templated. No reviews older than 6 months without a response. Q&A section seeded with 3 to 5 owner answered questions. No flagged or reported reviews pending.
AI search readiness (7 items)
Business name appears in ChatGPT or Perplexity for primary local query. Website has LocalBusiness schema with most specific subtype. Website has FAQPage schema on at least 2 pages. Reviews are detailed (over 40 words on average) so AI can extract context. Business is mentioned on at least 2 niche directories or forums. Business has Apple Maps and Bing Places listings to match. Business hours and contact info are identical across Google, Apple Maps, and the website footer.