How Many Types of Local Businesses?

Are you someone who is looking to start a local business or already has a small business and seeking ways to build a strong presence to enhance sales and revenue?

97% of people get to know about local businesses online, so having a GMB profile and listing is crucial for any business. But, as there are several Google My Business categories available online, choosing a business niche or categories for any business profile may seem tough. But it does not have to be.

In this article, we will cover how many types of businesses are available and their categories that can help you establish and grow a local business seamlessly. Also, learn how to choose categories with proper planning.

List of Google My Business Categories

There are several types of local businesses that you can choose to increase your visibility and reputation. You can use the following list to select the best business categories within your specific niche.

1. Retailer -

The retailer refers to the businesses that sell products to customers directly. It can be one of the best business categories that can be used by online retailers, physical stores, etc.

If you use this category for your retail businesses, it can instantly improve your visibility and ranking on Google as it has a broad user base. As a result, you can grab the attention of your potential customers.

Category List for Retailer

Beauty Store
Specialty
Confectionary Store
Furniture Store
Pet Store
Pharmaceuticals
Supermarket
Discount store
Footwear retailers
Warehouse
Clothing
Food service
Personal care
Franchises

2. Food Service

This specific business category covers a vast range of food-related business, including catering services, cafes, restaurants, and many more. You can use this food service category for small eateries as well.

Besides this, if you run a restaurant that offers dining options, using this category can help your business reach those potential customers. As a result, it increases your restaurant’s revenue.

Category List for Food Service

Catering food and drink supplier
Country food restaurant
Dried seafood store
Fast food restaurant
Food and beverage consultant
Food and beverage exporter
Food bank
Food court
Fruit parlor
Fugu restaurant
Fujian restaurant
Fusion restaurant
Galician restaurant
German restaurant

3. Healthcare

The healthcare business involves medical services, including private clinics, hospitals, etc. This category will be perfect for all wellness related business. With it, reaching people who seek medical services and solutions gets easier.

Using the healthcare category, you allow people to get the idea of which industry you are in. With it, you can also showcase your expertise, experience, and provide valuable information to others.

Category List for Healthcare

Dentistry
Rehabilitation
Endocrinology
Hospice
Breast Imaging
Gastroenterology
Pathology
Dermatology
Ophthalmology
Genetics
Internist
Cardiovascular
Neurological
Preventive medicine

4. Manufacturer

The manufacturing industry is also vast, where you can find textiles, packaged food, technological equipment, etc. So, if you produce anything from scratch, this manufacturer's local business category is perfect for you.

If you list your production business in this category, you will be able to show your dedication to offering high-quality products. You can also highlight your product innovations and increase your visibility.

Category List for Manufacturer

Textile
Metal
Electronics
Paper manufacturing
Wood Workers
Apparel manufacturing
Appliance and Component Manufacturing
Non-metallic mineral
Automotive
Furniture
Chemical industry
Tobacco companies
Building materials
Food manufacturing

5. Raw Ingredient Supplier

Whenever we think of raw ingredient suppliers, the supply chain comes to our mind. It offers necessary materials to different industries and businesses. The raw ingredient producer can also use this category.

If deliver raw materials or related business, this category will be applicable for you. You can show your diversified offerings and become a destination for businesses to buy raw materials.

Category List for Raw Ingredient Supplier

Petroleum
Coal
Indirect raw materials
Non-metallic mineral products
Bauxite
Cotton
Limestone
Paper manufacturing
Iron ore
Energy
Metals
Wood

6. Business Service

Business service means administrative procedures and outsourcing of processes. Companies that belong to this type of service can easily choose a business category to help other companies optimize their business operations.

With it, you may highlight or pinpoint the exact services you provide to the customers. As a result, people will understand whether you are the right choice for them.

Category List for Business Service

Finance
Education
Construction
Beauty and wellness
Insurance
Transportation
IT
Caterers
Leasing
Advertising
Design
Entertainment
Management
Media

7. Education

The education business includes tutoring services, schools, training institutions, etc. It means for both informal and formal education businesses, you can choose this one from the list of Google My Business categories.

If you are involved in skill development online courses, this category can be an excellent option for you. It will help people understand how you support the students academically to ensure growth.

Category List for Education

Education activism
Secondary education
Engineering education
Legal education
Education awards
Vocational education
Environmental education
Literacy
Higher education
Early child education
International Education

8. Automotive

Automotive is related to vehicles, including repair services, selling, manufacturing, and many more. However, car dealers, vehicle repair shops, and vehicle manufacturers or producers mostly use this particular category.

Choosing this category will perfectly define your niche and help you connect with a broader group of people. So, the automobile enthusiasts are more likely to engage with your business.

Category List for Automotive

Mechanic
Break shop
Auto Electrician
Battery store
Ride share
Car rental
Car dealership
Auto locksmith business
Charging station
Auto dealing
Car wash
Automobile magazine
Oil change

9. Media

Media refers to the production and distribution of visual content through online or offline platforms. The digital media outlets and television channels of media add this as their primary or additional business categories.

If you provide crucial information services, this category will also be a great option for you. With it, you can showcase your storytelling quality and attract people.

Category List for Media

Multimedia and electronic book publisher
Internet marketing service
Marketing Agency
Marketing Consultant
Telemarketing service
Television station
Telecommunications service provider
Telecommunications engineer
Telecommunications equipment supplier
Faculty of media and information science

10. Arts & Crafts

Artisans, artists, and associated businesses like art galleries come under the Arts & Crafts. People who sell handmade artistic products can add Arts & Crafts as their category for local businesses.

Using this category stresses your craftsmanship and connects you with potential seekers of arts and crafts businesses. You can add this one either as a primary or secondary category.

Category List for Arts & Crafts

Candle Making
Pottery
Bookbinder
Home Decor
Painter
Calligraphy
Crochet
Customized t-shirt making
Quilting
Jewelry making
Basket weaving
Embroidery
Knitter
Sewing

11. Hotel

The event planning, food and beverages, and lodging primarily fall under the hotel or hospitality category. If you are engaged in any of these, it can be your primary local business category.

When you use this category, you can quickly highlight things like amenities, accommodation options, etc. As the hotel category covers a vast topic, you can use it as your primary category.

Category List for Hotel

Motel
Apartment hotel
Suites
Boutique hotel
Executive suite
Resorts
Penthouse
Presidential suites
Five-star hotel classifications
Double-room
Junior suites
Deluxe rooms

12. Restaurant

Bars, cafes, and similar businesses that serve food and drinks can be categorized as restaurants. You may either put it in primary and secondary business categories, according to your choice.

If you offer diversified culinary experience to people, this category is for you. But, the restaurant is a primary category. To be more specific, you may use other things as your secondary categories.

Category List For Restaurants

Ghost restaurant
Buffet
Fast Food
Bistro
Beverages
Pub
Casual
Fine Dining
Cafe
Food Truck
Family Style
Contemporary Casual

13. Accounting

The accounting businesses mean tax preparation, bookkeeping, and audit services. You can choose this as it is one of the best business categories if you help companies handle their financial affairs.

The consultants and freelancers can also use this category. If you are an entrepreneur offering services to managing businesses’ cash flow can opt for this accounting category as well.

Category List for Accounting

Expenses
Equity
Liabilities
Assets
Accounts receivable
Nominal account
Bank fees
Business interruption insurance
Account overdrafts
Petty cash balance
Professional services
Meals expenses
Employee benefits
Payroll

14. Agricultural

Agricultural refers to fishing, farming, and other related businesses. If you run an agricultural business online, this specific category can give you better exposure and help your business grow exponentially.

If you supply agricultural products directly to the consumers, using this category can help you catch the attention of people. Use this as your primary category and select other secondary categories.

Category List for Agricultural

Fruits
Fibers
Nuts
Cereals
Food crops
Oil seeds
Horticulture
Livestock
Apiculture
Floriculture
Subsistence agriculture
Sugars
Permaculture
Agriculture Pests

15. Agents

Agents are those who act on behalf of another person or group. like real estate, travel agents, etc. So, if you are doing any of these types of businesses, you may select the agents category.

Using this category will be beneficial for people who run intermediary services because it can help you reach more businesses. All in all, this category can help you gain a broader client base and foster transparency.

Category List for Agents

Media
Insurance
Retail
Personal care products
Marketing services
Chemical and gasses
Travel services
Legal services
Construction
Real estate
Nonprofit organization
Software services
Food service
Professional services

16. Cleaning Services

The cleaning service means outdoor and indoor cleaning services for industries, commercial, and residential spaces. Whether you work individually or run a business related to cleaning, use this specific category.

Using this as one of the additional business categories will be helpful to get immense exposure and reach potential clients. People will land on your page to get reliable cleaning solutions.

Category List for Cleaning Services

Upholstery cleaning
Carpet cleaning
Medical cleaning
Boat cleaning
Carpet cleaning
Green cleaning
Window cleaner
Disaster cleaning
HVAC duct cleaning
Laundry
Office cleaning
Gym cleaning
Spring cleaning

17. Distributor

This is a business model where the main job is purchasing in bulk and selling in small units. It means if you are in the supply chain industry or engaged in the wholesale trade, this can be your category.

You may highlight things with this category, like your distribution network. With this category, you can broader your reach and attract potential customers quickly.

Category List for Distributor

Distributors
Retailers
Business service
Food service
Health practitioners
Wholesaling
Beverage
Manufactures
Beauty and cosmetics
Electronics
Agents

18. Fashion

The businesses related to selling designer clothes, accessories, footwear, etc., are the fashion categories. So, if you run a modeling agency, you may use the category of local businesses and increase visibility.

When you use this as your primary category, your fashion-related business will get a high rank on Google. So this way, your potential customers get to know about your business and become a profitable client.

Category List for Fashion

Couture
Bohemian
Goth
Casual wear
Economy fashion
Formal
Sportswear
Classic style
Grunge
Fast fashion
Street style
Mass market
Ready-to-wear fashion brands
Footwear
Accessories

19. Information Technology

Information technology is a vast category of technology-related businesses. It may include system integration, software development, IT consulting, etc. If you operate in the technological field, choose this particular category.

It will catch the attention of people who are in need of technology solution providers, system integrators, or consulting firms. It can be used as a secondary category as well.

Category List for Information Technology

Analytics
Artificial Intelligence
Software Engineer
Cybersecurity
Systems Analyst
Cloud computing
Network administrator
Data scientist
Web developer
Archiving Software

20. Management Services

Management services are the supervision, inspection, quality control, consultation, accounting, regulating, in-service training, and other related services provided on a systematic basis to support and improve the operation of organizations.

If you run a digital marketing or consulting firm, choosing this category will be helpful because it will increase your visibility. Through this, your website traffic will improve as well.

Category List for Management Services

Health manager
Human resources
Marketing
Sales
Finance
Construction
Leader
General manager
Chief executive
Brand manager
Branch managerIndustrial management
Administration
Department manager

21. Shipping and Delivery

The goods' transportation from one location to another is called shipping and delivery service. These types of local businesses, including Freight companies, courier services, etc., can use this specific category.

Overall, if you are in the logistics sector, choosing this category will be helpful to connect with more businesses. With it, you may display your ability to provide high-quality shipping services.

Category List for Shipping and Delivery

Shipping and mailing service
Shipping company
Shipping equipment industry
Shipping service
Vehicle shipping agent
Delivery service
Flower delivery
Grocery delivery service
Meal delivery
Milk delivery service
Pizza delivery

22. Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism cover vast services of the global tourism industry. This category is applicable to tour operators, travel agencies, etc. But, if you want to be specific, choosing additional categories is needed.

The travel agencies can use it to convey their offerings to potential prospects. When people search for travel-related things, your business will pop up on the first page of search engine results.

Category List for Travel and Tourism

Business tourism
Cultural tourism
Ecotourism
Shopping tourism
Travel agents
Tour operator
Tour guide
Business travel
Adventure tour
Sports tourism
Cruises
Transportation
Camping
Attractions

What Are Google Business Categories?

Google business categories help businesses use different labels to describe their products or services. When creating a Google My Business listing, owners select relevant categories that help users in easy discovery and understand services provided by that business. This enhances visibility and connects you to customers who search for your product or services.

When you create a Google My Business listing, you will have a choice of selecting 10 business categories from the pre-set lists. It means you can choose one primary category and 9 secondary or additional business categories.

Here are some of the categories from Google My Business.

3D printing service
Abarth dealer
Abbey
Aboriginal art gallery
Bag Shop
Bakery Equipment
Balloon Artist
Bankruptcy Attorney
Bar Restaurant Furniture Store
Café
Cake Shop
Cambodian Restaurant
Dairy Store
Dance Club
Data Entry Service
E-Commerce Agency
East African Restaurant
Educational Consultant
Factory Equipment
Fair Trade Organization
Fashion Accessories Store
Gas Station
Gastroenterologist
General Store
Hair Salon
Hammam
Handicraft Exporter
Ice Cream Shop
Icse School
Imax Theater
Japanese Inns
Jeep Dealer
Jewelry Designer
Karate Club
Kerosene Supplier
Kite Shop
Labour Club
Land Allotment
Language School
Machine Shop
Madrilian Restaurant
Mailing Service
National Library
Naval Base
Nephrologist
Observatory
Oil Refinery
Open University
Pagoda
Painting Studio
Paper Store
Real Estate Agency
Recording Studio
Recruiter
Sanitation Service
Saturn Dealer
School Bus Service
T-shirt Store
Taco Restaurant
Tax Attorney
Unity Church
Urologist
Used CD Store
Variety Store
Vehicle Exporter
Venetian Restaurant
Water Mill
Waterproofing Company
Weaving Mill
Youth Care
Yoga Instructor
Yacht Club
Zoo
Zac
Zhe Jiang Restaurant

Failing to categorize your business can impact your business reputation negatively. Therefore, you must know how to select the most relevant and best business categories, which we will discuss in the next section.

How to Choose the Best Business Categories?

Correct categorization of business is crucial to help your potential customers find your company quickly in Google Maps and search results. Almost 93% of consumers use Google Maps to locate a business nearby.

While categorizing, your information must be accurate and live. Choose a business category for your business profile that aligns with your business goals. Besides that, determine the following things.

#1. Choose a Business Category with High Search Volumes

Selecting a business category with a high search volume is important to increase your visibility and catch the attention of customers. To get keywords, you may research and find the most relevant yet popular terms related to your business.

#2. Compare Competitor Business Categories

Closely analyze your competitor's business categories to get an idea of how they have done the categorization. It will also help you track whether they have included any additional business categories to maintain uniqueness.

#3. Select Best Business Categories with High Profitability

When the talk is about business, who does not think of high profitability? So, when you choose the best business categories, pick something that has the highest potential for growth to ensure the venture's sustainability.

That's it! If you keep these things in mind, your business will shine. But, before you choose a business category, knowing the reasons for selecting business categories is imperative. So, let's understand that.

Why Selecting Google Business Profile Categories Is Important?

As of 2024, there are more than 4000 business categories available on Google. Have you ever wondered why is there so many categories for any business profile listed on Google? It is because they provide value to your business.

Besides this, choosing the right category from the list of Google My Business categories can be beneficial in several ways. Some of them are mentioned below-

#1. Helps Provide Relevant Information

When selecting the right and best business categories, you are offering the necessary information about your business on Google. Like, you can be specific about what you provide.

For example, if you select 'Authentic Japanese Restaurant' instead of choosing a broader term such as 'Asian Restaurant,' it can help people narrow down the options.

#2. Gets More Customer Action

When online searchers identify the exact business they are searching for, it leads to more action from their end. It simply means that those people will directly contact you or come to your business.

For instance, instead of using generic categories like retail or food, you can be more specific with artisan bakery or handcrafted clothes. It can be a strategy for choosing business categories to encourage potential prospects to take action.

#3. Ranks Higher on Google

People who are in the business industry know that Google always ranks those pages higher with relevant keywords or specific terms. The best business categories can give a higher rank on Google search results.

Like, if your specialty is custom cake, including phrases like custom cake bakery can give you the exposure it needs and help rank at the top whenever people search for customized cake options.

#4. Offers Competitive Edge

Having the perfect categories for any Business profile is equal to gaining a competitive edge. It happens because when you categorize your business, it reflects your uniqueness and improves visibility.

For example, using unique categories, such as Gourmet food providers, will set your business apart from your competitors. It can attract more customers because you highlighted your unique offerings.

Now that you know the reasons to choose the best business categories, you must be wondering how you can optimize them. So, let's know how to do it in the next section.

How to Optimize Business Categories?

You need to optimize business categories to maintain the clear communication of your offerings. It improves your ranking on search engines and click-through rates.

With this, Google algorithm will tell people that you are a relevant search for your potential customers. So, let's know how you can optimize your business categories.

#1. Populate Your Business Profile

Filling out the entire business profile is crucial. Never leave any blank field since it may impact your ranking negatively. Also, do not put any false information since it will hamper your reputation.

#2. Fill Your Business Description

Google allows you to optimize business categories by writing descriptions of up to 750 characters. So, you can highlight all your achievements, the best products, and the names of the cities or towns in which you provide services.

#3. Keep Your Hours Updated

Keeping your hours updated is crucial because you want people to your business when you are open. It will not leave a good impression if your Google Business profile says you are open, but you are closed.

#4. Select Best Business Categories

Using the primary and secondary business categories that best describe your business is important. If you do not want to, limiting it to two to three categories is enough to drive more customers.

#5. Choose All Applicable Attributes

Your Google Business Profile allows you to select attributes to note down certain qualities in your profile. So, when you choose attributes, it highlights your unique aspects. However, check new attribute add-ons to illustrate more.

#6. Verify Your Business Location

Google Business Profile is developed on local search. So, local SEO only applies to local businesses. Therefore, verifying your address is important so that people can visit your store.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the best business categories that accurately represent your business plays a huge role in your success. It must be 100% complete with relevant photos and videos.

When you create the business listing and handle the primary and secondary business categories field, check everything twice with appropriate thought and care. For optimization, read the guide to learn how to do it to attract prospects.

FAQs

#1. What is the best strategy for choosing business categories?

There is only one strategy for choosing business categories, and that is understanding your core business. When choosing categories, be specific and do not overdo anything. Two to three relevant categories are enough.

#2. Will optimizing business categories help you rank higher and increase sales?

Yes, it is true that when you optimize business categories not only increases your rank on Google but also converts visitors into profitable customers. People trust your business more when you provide detailed and accurate information.

#3. How many business categories can you have on Google?

Google allows you to set 1 primary and 9 secondary best business categories (a total of 10) from a pre-set list. However, it is advisable not to go beyond 2 to 3 categories because excessive categories may create confusion.

#4. What should you choose between primary and secondary business categories?

While the primary categories hold more significance, secondary categories are also crucial to ranking and relevance. Therefore, pick primary and secondary business categories as per your needs.

#5. What is one of the best business categories?

Determining the best business categories may depend on various factors, such as your business type, recent trends, and market demand. But choosing something that aligns with your business and what you sell is very important.

#6. How does Google determine business categories?

Google determines primary business categories by evaluating your product line-up. It suggests additional business categories on your provided descriptions, business profile, product image, etc.

#7. How many categories a business profile must have?

It is best to start with a minimum of three to five categories for any business profile. However, two to three business categories are enough, even if you are running a new start-up.