# Service area business

Category: [Local SEO](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/local-seo/) › [Business Profile & Maps](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/local-seo/business-profile-maps/) · Also known as: Service Area

A **service area business** (SAB) is a business that visits or delivers to customers directly and does not serve customers at its own address. Google gives a plumber or a pet walker as examples. In local SEO the term refers to how such businesses set up their Google Business Profile. Hybrid businesses serve customers at their address and also visit or deliver, such as a shop with a delivery service.

## What does Google specify?

If you do not serve customers at your business location, Google says to remove the address and list only service areas. Rules apply.

- A profile can have up to 20 service areas.
- The overall area should not extend more than about two hours of driving time from where the business is based.
- Areas are defined by city, postal code or another type of area. A radius cannot be set.

Hybrid businesses can show their address and their service areas at the same time. Google describes the service-area profile as a way for customers to find the business and see the areas it serves in Search and Maps.

## Example

An electrician works only at customers' homes. The profile hides the workshop address and lists the cities and postal codes where the business takes jobs.

## Link to the website

The website should name the same areas as the profile so that the information matches. Whether separate pages for each location make sense depends on the offer. That is a practice recommendation, not a Google requirement.

## Common mistakes

- **Leaving the address visible.** If the business does not serve customers at its location, Google says to remove the address from the profile.
- **Choosing areas that are too large.** Google allows up to 20 service areas whose combined boundary should not be more than about two hours of driving time from where the business is based.
- **Expecting a radius.** Areas are defined by city, postal code or another area type. A radius cannot be set.
- **Listing a storefront that is not one.** Without permanent on-site signage the business is not eligible as a storefront and should be listed as a service area business.
- **Offering age-restricted products without a storefront.** For goods such as alcohol, cannabis or weapons, Google requires a storefront.

## FAQ

**What is a service area business?** A business that goes to its customers, with no customer visits at its address.

**Do service area businesses show up on Google Maps?** Yes, through their Business Profile and the areas listed in it.

## Related terms

- [Google Business Profile](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/google-business-profile/index.md)
- [Local SEO](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/local-seo/index.md)
- [Local pack](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/local-pack/index.md)
- [Location pages](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/location-pages/index.md)
- [NAP (name, address, phone)](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/nap/index.md)
- [Business directory](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/business-directory/index.md)

## Sources

- [Manage your service areas – Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/9157481)
- [Google Business Profile for service businesses – Google Business Profile Help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/10514743)
- [GBP for service-area businesses – BrightLocal (secondary)](https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/gbp-for-service-area-businesses/)

---

Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/service-area-business/