How Do You Add Products to Your Google Business Profile?

By Bill Stilwell · Last reviewed October 16, 2026

The short answer

Local retail shops that sell physical goods can show products on their Google Business Profile (GBP). Small shops can add items by hand with the product editor. Shops with a barcode scanner or a compatible point-of-sale system can connect it through Google’s Local Inventory app. Google says products must follow its Shopping ads policy, many regulated products aren’t allowed, and a violation can remove your whole product catalog. Service businesses should list services instead.

What this means

Products are items you sell, shown on your profile with details like a photo and price.

Google offers two main ways:

Product editor. You add each product by hand. Google says it’s for local shops that sell physical goods and either don’t sell online, sell items without barcodes, or don’t have up-to-date stock data.
Local Inventory app. It connects your point-of-sale system or barcode scanner to Google so in-store products can show on Search, Maps, and the Shopping tab. Google says the app used to be called Pointy. It needs products with manufacturer barcodes, and you manage products in Google Merchant Center.

Say Riverbend Hardware, a small local hardware store, wants to show its best-selling paint brands and a few seasonal items. With only 20 items, the product editor works fine. A bigger store with a few thousand barcoded items would use the Local Inventory app.

Now say Lakeview Plumbing wants to list “Water heater installation.” That’s a service, not a product. It belongs in the services section (see 14.1.7 Services).

Why it matters

Shoppers check stock before they drive over. Seeing an item on your profile can bring someone in.
Rule-breaking products cost the whole catalog. Google says products that violate its policy may lead to removal of your entire product catalog.
Regulated items aren’t allowed. Google’s guidelines list alcohol, tobacco, gambling, financial services, pharmaceuticals and unapproved supplements, and health or medical devices as not allowed.
Wrong prices create problems. A price on Google that doesn’t match the store frustrates customers and can be a truth-in-advertising issue (see 11.3.2 Pricing Disclosures).

Who this applies to

Local retail shops that sell physical goods, in eligible countries. Google’s guidelines list the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland for products. The Local Inventory app page also lists Australia. Your profile must be verified and in an eligible business category.

Skip this page if you sell services only. Use 14.1.7 Services instead.

Pay extra attention if you mainly sell restricted items, like tobacco or guns. Google says those products aren’t shown, so this feature may not be a good fit.

How to do it

Decide whether you sell products or services. If it’s services, stop here and go to 14.1.7 Services.
Check that your profile is verified and your category fits a retail shop (see 14.1.8 Categories).
Read Google’s Shopping ads policy and remove any regulated items from your list.
Pick your method. A small number of items without barcodes: product editor. Many barcoded items and a compatible point-of-sale system: Local Inventory app.
Product editor: sign in with the account that manages your profile, open the profile, select Edit products, fill in the form, and select Publish. If your profile is linked to a Merchant Center account, Google may send you there instead.
Local Inventory app: connect your point-of-sale system or barcode scanner, then manage products in Merchant Center. If you make your own labels, Google says to put both the manufacturer barcode and your label on the item and scan both at checkout.
Use your own clear product photos (see 14.1.9 Photos).
Keep prices and details accurate. Update or delete items when they change. In the product editor, select the product, then edit it or delete it from the menu.
Check your products once a month, and right away after a price change.

What proof to keep

A list of products you’ve published, with the date and price
Screenshots of the product section on your profile
Any Merchant Center or Local Inventory app settings
Notices from Google about rejected products

Keep these with your marketing records.

Common mistakes

Adding services as products. It confuses customers. Use the services section.
Listing regulated items. It can cost you every product on your profile, not just that one.
Stale prices. Old prices lead to unhappy customers at the counter.
Stock photos from the manufacturer without permission. Use your own photos or ones you’re allowed to use.
Setting it and forgetting it. Sold-out or discontinued items make your profile look neglected.
Assuming the feature exists everywhere. Google limits products to certain countries and business types.

When to get help from a pro

Attorney or industry specialist: if you sell age-restricted, health, or other regulated products. Questions to ask:

Can I show any of my products on Google, and which ones must stay off?
What price and claim rules apply to my products?

Your point-of-sale provider: to confirm whether it works with Google’s Local Inventory app.

Bill’s note

[Bill: add a short story or lesson here. For example, a retail client who got foot traffic from products on their profile, or a service business that wrongly listed services as products.]

If you’d rather have this done for you, SiteSmarty handles Google Business Profile setup.

How I did this for SiteSmarty

[Date I did this:]
[What I actually did, step by step: whether SiteSmarty uses products or services on its profile and why]
[What it cost and how long it took:]
[What surprised me or what I’d do differently:]
[Screenshot or photo to add, with private info blurred: the products or services section of the SiteSmarty profile]
[Result so far:]

Questions people ask

Can a service business add products to its profile? Google’s product feature is for retail businesses that sell physical goods. Service businesses should use the services section.

What products aren’t allowed? Google’s guidelines list alcohol, tobacco, gambling, financial services, pharmaceuticals and unapproved supplements, and health or medical devices, and products must follow the Shopping ads policy.

What is the Google Local Inventory app? It connects a store’s point-of-sale system or barcode scanner to Google so in-store products can show on Search, Maps, and the Shopping tab. It used to be called Pointy.

Do I need Google Merchant Center to show products? Not for a few items added by hand with the product editor. The Local Inventory app uses Merchant Center to manage products.

Audit check

Question: If the business sells physical goods, are its products accurate, allowed under Google’s policy, and kept current, and does a service business use services instead?
Pass looks like: Retail shop with accurate products, prices, and photos. No regulated items. Products reviewed monthly. Service businesses list services, not products.
Fail looks like: Services listed as products. Regulated items listed. Old prices or discontinued items. Rejected products ignored.
Evidence to collect: Screenshot of the products section, the product list with dates and prices, and any Google notices.

Where this fits

Do this first: 14.8.1 Google Business Profile Verification, 14.1.8 Categories, 7.2.8 Product-Based Business

Do this next: 14.9.3 Posts and Updates

Sources

Google Business Profile Help, "About product editor" (checked October 16, 2026)
Google Business Profile Help, "Showcase in-store products on Google Search and Maps" (checked October 16, 2026)
Google Business Profile Help, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google" (checked October 16, 2026)
Google Business Profile Help, "Edit your Business Profile" (checked October 16, 2026)

This page explains general rules and Bill's own experience. It is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Talk to a qualified professional about your situation.