Published by the Zolyp team ·
Who counts as an individual practitioner?
Google defines a practitioner as a public-facing professional with their own customer base. Their profile name can include a title or qualification, such as Dr. or MD.
- Eligible: doctors, dentists, lawyers, financial planners, insurance agents and estate agents who customers can contact directly at the verified location during stated hours.
- Not eligible: support staff, and sales associates or lead generation agents working for a company.
- One profile each: a practitioner shouldn't create separate profiles for different specialisms.
Source: Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026
How should a practice and its practitioners be set up?
| Situation | What Google's guidelines say |
|---|---|
| Several practitioners at one location | The practice has one profile for the location. Each practitioner can have their own, named with only their own name, not the practice's. |
| One practitioner at a branded location | The practitioner and brand share one profile, named Brand: Practitioner name. Google's example is "Allstate: Joe Miller". |
| One practitioner with several specialisms | One profile, not one per specialism |
Source: Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026
Can a department have its own profile?
Yes, if it's public facing and works as a distinct entity, typically with its own customer entrance and categories. Google names departments within businesses, universities, hospitals and government bodies.
- The department's name must differ from the main business and from other departments.
- Its main category must also differ. Google's example: a bank listed as Bank, and its advice arm as Financial Consultant.
- Each department lists its own opening hours.
- A product section inside a shop, such as a hot food counter, doesn't count.
- Separate businesses at one site, such as a pharmacy inside a supermarket or a café inside a hotel, each get their own profile with a different name.
Source: Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026
How do you create a practitioner or department profile?
It's the same sign-up as any business, with Google's naming rules applied:
- Sign in to a Google Account, ideally one on your business email domain.
- Go to business.google.com/create.
- Enter the practitioner's or department's name, following the rules above.
- Choose the category that best describes that practitioner or department.
- Add the address, phone number and website for that person or department, then select Next.
- Select Finish, then choose a verification option.
- If Google says the profile is already verified by someone else, request ownership instead of creating another one.
Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Sign up for Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026
Common problems with practitioner and department profiles
Check these against Google's guidelines:
- A practitioner's profile includes the practice name. Use only the practitioner's name, unless they're the only practitioner at a branded location.
- A department uses the same category as the main business. Pick a category that's different.
- Support staff or sales agents have profiles. They aren't eligible.
- There are duplicates. Google says it may suspend accounts with several profiles for the same business in the same area.
- The practitioner can't be reached at the location during the listed hours. That's a condition of having a profile.
Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Sign up for Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026
Keeping each profile active
Disclosure: this is our product. A practice with several profiles has more to keep current. Zolyp writes and designs Google Business updates and events in your brand's style and publishes them to each connected profile once you approve. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.
Common questions
Can a dentist have a Google Business Profile separate from the practice?
Yes, if they're public facing and can be contacted at the practice during its hours. The practice keeps its own profile too.
Can I include Dr. or Esq. in my profile name?
Yes. Google's guidelines allow a title or degree such as Dr., MD, JD, Esq. or CFA on a practitioner profile.
Can our receptionist or office manager have a profile?
No. Google says support staff shouldn't create their own Business Profiles.
Can I make a profile for each of my specialisms?
No. Google says a practitioner shouldn't create multiple profiles to cover different specialisations.
What name does a solo insurance agent at a branded office use?
Brand, then a colon, then the agent's name. Google's example is "Allstate: Joe Miller".