Get Your Google Business Profile Hours Right: A Simple Guide for Every Business

Why Accurate Hours Matter

1. Happy Customers Find You When They Need You

Imagine a potential customer searching online for help and giving you a call to find you’re closed. Not ideal, right?

Listing your hours clearly on your GBP shows exactly when you’re available. This reduces frustration and leads customers to trust that you’ll be there when they need you.

2. You Build Trust and Transparency

A complete GBP sends a simple, but very important message: “We’re here for you.” 

Whether you’re a local contractor or a consultant, showing your hours builds credibility. It reassures customers that you’re organized and ready to serve them during those times when they’re most likely to call or drop in.

3. You Get Found When It Matters Most

Google’s algorithms are designed to connect searchers with businesses that are open at the time of the query. That means if your business hours are accurately listed, Google can prioritize your profile during those busy periods. 

On the other hand, if your hours are missing, Google might assume you’re open 24/7. This might boost your ranking after hours but potentially hurt your daytime visibility….

For most businesses, being found when your customers are actively looking is a winning strategy.

When to List Your Hours (and When You Might Want to Think Twice)

Granted, leaving your hours off is tempting if you’re looking to capture after-hours searches. 

But there’s a trade-off.

Omitting your hours may give you a temporary boost when searches happen outside your normal business hours BUT it also risks misleading customers expecting you to be available around the clock.

The alternative is to list your hours as they really are. This helps Google prioritize your profile during the times you’re actually open, so potential customers know exactly when they can reach you.

What should YOU do?

In our experience, for most businesses the benefits of transparency and proper daytime visibility far outweigh any short-term gains from being assumed open 24/7.

So 24/7 Open Hours… Good or Bad Idea?

But what about businesses that can genuinely operate round the clock? Let’s have a proper look at whether 24/7 hours are right for your business.

It might work for:

• Emergency services: Businesses like roadside assistance, emergency plumbing, or urgent repair services truly benefit from a 24/7 schedule. Customers searching at odd hours need to know that help is always available.
• Convenience stores or 24-hour diners: For retail or food service operations that cater to late-night or early-morning crowds, advertising 24/7 availability can be a huge plus.
• Medical and health services: Some clinics or urgent care centers that operate around the clock need to convey that they’re always on call.

It might backfire (badly) for:

• Businesses without true 24/7 support: If you’re not equipped to handle queries or walk-ins at all hours, listing yourself as open around the clock can lead to customer frustration. Imagine a client calling at 9 p.m. only to find out you’re not really there to help!
• Businesses who rely heavily on daytime rankings: Even if being “open” 24/7 gives you a slight boost in after-hours searches, it may dilute your ranking during your peak hours… when most of your customers are actually looking for your service!

Ultimately, by being honest about your hours you make sure that customers who click on your profile know exactly what to expect. So, if your business can genuinely offer round-the-clock service, listing 24/7 makes perfect sense; otherwise, stick to your actual hours!

Tips for Perfecting Your GBP Opening Hours

• Keep it updated: Business hours can change, whether it’s seasonal adjustments, holiday schedules, or special events. Make sure your GBP ALWAYS reflects your current hours.
• Use special hours for holidays: Set holiday or special event hours to avoid confusing your customers.
• Be clear and concise: Write your hours in a simple, easy-to-read format. Double-check for any errors that might cause confusion.
• Consider different locations: If you have multiple service areas or locations, tailor the hours for each one so that every branch of your business provides accurate information.
• Double-check your time zone: It might seem basic, but making sure your GBP is set to the correct local time is crucial for meeting customer expectations.

How to Add Holiday Hours to Your Google Business Profile (GBP Holiday Hours)

Google allows you to set special hours if your business temporarily adjusts its hours of operation or remains closed for up to 6 days in a row.

You can schedule these special business hours for:

• Holidays
• Special events
• Other exceptional circumstances

Here’s how to update your Google Business Profile holiday hours:

1. Access your Google Business Profile:

• With Google Search: Select “Edit profile”.
• With Google Maps: Select “Edit profile” and then “Business information”.

2. Open the “Hours” section:

• Near the top of your profile, click on the “Hours” tab.
• Next to “Special hours”, click the Edit (pencil) icon.

3. Select the date:

• To set a custom date, click “Add a date” and then enter the date for the holiday.
• If a suggested date is provided, simply click “Review” to confirm it.
• To change an already entered date, select that existing date.

4. Update your holiday hours:

If you’re open for the day:

• Uncheck the “Closed” box.
• Enter your opening and closing times.
• Need multiple sets of hours for the same day? Click “More” and then “Add hours +” to add additional time slots.

If you’re closed for the day:

• Make sure the “Closed” box is checked.

5. Save your changes:

• Once your holiday hours are updated, click “Save”.
• Your new hours will now appear in the “Hours” tab under “Business information” (or directly in “Edit profile” under “Special hours”).

Mastering Your Google Business Profile Hours

Getting your Google Business Profile hours right isn’t just about being found on Google… it’s about building trust and ensuring every customer finds you ready and available when they need you most!

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

A complete and accurate Google Business Profile helps you get found, attract more leads, and stand out locally.

Book a Free Consult