How can I update my primary business category?

Your primary business category helps Google (and other directories) understand what your business does. Choosing the right one is one of the most impactful things you can do for your local search visibility.

How to Update Your Primary Business Category

1. Navigate to the Core Location page within Location Manager.
2. Locate the primary category field.
3. Begin typing your primary business category into the field. As the list of available categories is extensive, use the search to find your best match — not every category will be visible in the default dropdown.
4. Select the category that best represents your business from the list.

The available categories may vary depending on the country your location is based in.

Choosing the Right Primary Category

If you have a Google Business Profile, your primary category here should match the one you've set there. Consistency across platforms strengthens your local search signals.

Your primary category is the single most important signal Google uses to understand what your business does. If your business type overlaps with several categories, it's worth doing some research. Look at what categories competitors or similar businesses in your area are using for inspiration.

Local Search Grid and Google Business Profile Audit can help here, as both show you the primary categories used by the top-ranking businesses in your local area.

It can be tempting to choose a broader or more popular category to appear in more searches, but using one that doesn't accurately reflect your business can hurt your rankings rather than improve them. Stick to what genuinely describes what you offer.