I’m a virtual therapist, so I work from home and see clients virtually through Zoom. I’ve had google my business account for like 3 years, but I recently moved and it has really screwed up my account. I’m trying to change my address to my new address, but google now says that online only businesses can’t use google my business. I don’t want my address listed publicly and can’t figure out how to verify my business since they changed everything. If I say I’m a service business (like plumber etc) then I have to take a picture of my equipment, vehicle and utility bill to verify business address. If I say its a physical location then I have to take pictures of signage outside my home, the office in my home, etc (which obviously doesn’t exist). Has anyone else figured this out? There is no way to call google about it
This is an ongoing issue with Google Business. They have an opinionated point of view about how businesses work and anyone with a business model different to that can run into the issues you have. As others have suggested you need to kinda force your business to look like what they expect for it to work for you.
I haven’t dealt with Google My Business specifically as we try to avoid Google all together if possible, but you could try renting a co-working space. There are lots of solutions depending where you live, from a single mailbox, to an actual office with a receptionist.
For the equipment, I’d just take a picture of my home office with desk, computer, chair, etc. and hope for the best. Or rent an office for the verification period and use that.
Might want to consider other forms of advertising as well. Probably not a good idea to rely so heavily on one.