Missing Business Information: How to Identify and Fix Each Issue

What Google Means by Business Information

Google's misrepresentation policy requires that merchants display sufficient information for customers to trust them and contact them if needed. When this information is missing or unverifiable, accounts get suspended for "Insufficient contact information" or "Missing business information."

The key distinction: it's not enough to have the information somewhere on the site. It must be easily findable by a customer — and by Google's crawler.

Common Business Information Flags

Flag: No physical address Fix: Add your business address to your Contact page and About page. If you're a home-based business, use a registered agent address or PO Box. The address must match what's in your GMC account settings.

Flag: No phone number Fix: Add a business phone number to your Contact page and footer. If you don't have a dedicated business line, a Google Voice number that forwards to your mobile is acceptable. The number must be functional — Google may call it during reviews.

Flag: Business name inconsistency Fix: Check that your website business name matches exactly what's in GMC > Settings > Business information. "Smith & Co" vs "Smith and Co" can trigger a flag.

Flag: About page missing or too thin Fix: Add a proper About page with: who you are, what you sell, when you were founded, where you're located, and why customers should buy from you. Minimum 150-200 words of real information — not marketing copy.

Flag: No contact form or email Fix: Add a visible contact method. A simple contact form is acceptable. Ensure it actually sends emails — test it after every platform update.

Quick Self-Check

Open your website in an incognito window. As a first-time visitor:

1. •Can you find out who owns this business in under 30 seconds?
2. •Can you find a way to contact them before purchasing?
3. •Can you verify their address exists?

If any answer is no, you have the business information issue.