BY BUSINESS TYPE
Departments of a larger business
Can a department of a hospital, store or dealership have its own profile?
Yes, Google's guidelines say departments within businesses, universities, hospitals and government institutions may have their own Business Profiles.
The rule: what Google says
Google's guidelines say departments within businesses, universities, hospitals and government institutions may have their own Business Profiles. Google says publicly-facing departments that operate as distinct entities should have their own page. It also says the exact name of each department must differ from the main business and from other departments. The guidelines say not to create more than one page for each location of a business, and they point to departments as one place where separate pages may be allowed. Auto dealers have specific and separate guidelines. Google may suspend or disable profiles that don't follow its guidelines.
Sources: support.google.com/business/answer/3038177 · support.google.com/business/answer/4569145
How to tell if it applies to your profile
Google says such departments typically have a separate customer entrance and should each have distinct categories. A department's hours may sometimes differ from those of the main business. The category that best represents a department must differ from the category of the main business and of other departments. In Google's bank example, the main business Wells Fargo has the category Bank, and the department Wells Fargo Advisors has the category Financial Consultant. In its dealership example, the main business South Bay Toyota has the category Toyota Dealer. The department South Bay Toyota Service & Parts has the category Auto Repair Shop, plus the category Auto Parts Store.
What to fix before you appeal
Before an appeal, Google tells owners to make sure the profile follows all the guidelines. Google says a business name should reflect the business's real-world name, as used consistently on its storefront, website and stationery and as known to customers. For a business with departments, give each department's hours on that department's separate profile and the main business's hours on the main profile. Appeals can only be submitted once. Do not create a new Business Profile for the same business when appealing. An appeal can include optional evidence, and any documents submitted should show a business name and address matching the profile being appealed.
Sources: support.google.com/business/answer/4569145 · support.google.com/business/answer/3038177
Published 20 October 2026 · All guides