What Is LocalBusiness Schema?
Updated 4 November 2026
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LocalBusiness schema is structured data that labels your business details, name, address, phone, and hours, in a format Google reads. It can make a page eligible for Local Business rich results in Search and Maps. Google requires only two properties, name and address, and recommends others like telephone, opening hours, and price range. It helps Google display your details clearly. It does not create a Google Business Profile or, on its own, rank you in the local pack.
What does LocalBusiness schema do?
LocalBusiness schema tells Google what your business is and where to find it, using the shared schema markup vocabulary. You state the name, address, and other facts in code, so Google does not have to guess them from the page.
When those details are clear, Google can present them well. Its documentation, updated September 2026, says that when people search for businesses, results may show a prominent knowledge panel with a business's details.
That is the point of this markup. It makes your on-page facts machine-readable, so Search and Maps can display them accurately.
Google recommends writing that code as JSON-LD, a self-contained block of structured data in one script tag, instead of labels woven through your visible HTML.
Which properties does LocalBusiness schema use?
LocalBusiness schema uses two required properties and a set of recommended ones. Google asks for only the name and the address; the rest are optional but useful.
| Property | Status | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| name | Required | the business name |
| address | Required | the full postal address |
| telephone | Recommended | the contact number |
| openingHoursSpecification | Recommended | opening hours |
| geo | Recommended | latitude and longitude |
| priceRange | Recommended | a rough price level |
| aggregateRating, review | Recommended (only for sites reviewing other businesses) | ratings and reviews |
Source: Google Search Central, Local Business structured data, updated September 2026.
Pick the most specific type you can. Google advises defining each location as a LocalBusiness and using a precise subtype where one fits, such as Restaurant, DaySpa, or HealthClub. A Kuala Lumpur cafe is better marked as a CafeOrCoffeeShop than a plain business.
Does LocalBusiness schema replace a Google Business Profile?
No, LocalBusiness schema and a Google Business Profile are separate things, and the schema does not replace the profile. This is a common point of confusion.
Your listing in Google Maps and the local pack comes from a verified Business Profile, not from markup. Adding LocalBusiness schema will not create that listing or rank you locally by itself. That is our reasoning from how the two systems work, not a line from Google's documentation.
The two support each other instead. The schema helps Google read the details on your own website, while the Business Profile powers your map presence.
Keeping both accurate, and matching, is what pays off.
Why accuracy matters more than the markup
LocalBusiness schema only helps when it matches what visitors actually see on the page. Marking up a phone number or address that is not on the page, or is out of date, undermines the trust the markup is meant to build.
The details in the code should mirror the details on the page, the same NAP consistency that local ranking depends on. A pattern we repeatedly see on local sites is a LocalBusiness block still carrying an old address or phone number after the business moved, quietly contradicting the visible page.
Keep in mind that schema earns eligibility, not a guarantee. Google says it does not promise that features built on structured data will appear. So treat the markup as clear, honest labeling, not a switch that forces a richer result.
Frequently asked questions
Is LocalBusiness schema a ranking factor?
No. Structured data, including LocalBusiness schema, does not directly raise your Google ranking. Its job is to make your details machine-readable and your page eligible for Local Business rich results. The benefit is clarity and presentation, not a rank boost. Clearer, accurate details can still earn more trust and clicks, which is a real gain at the same position.
Do I need LocalBusiness schema if I have a Google Business Profile?
They do different jobs, so having both is ideal. A Google Business Profile powers your listing in Maps and the local pack, while LocalBusiness schema helps Google read the business details on your own website. The profile is the more important of the two for local visibility, but the schema reinforces your on-page facts and keeps them consistent with your listing.
What properties are required for LocalBusiness schema?
Only two: name and address. Google treats the rest, such as telephone, opening hours, geo coordinates, and priceRange, as recommended rather than required. Including the recommended ones gives Google a fuller, more useful picture, so a complete markup is worth the effort. Every value you add should also appear on the visible page.
Which LocalBusiness type should I use?
Use the most specific subtype that fits your business. Google advises defining each location as a LocalBusiness and choosing a precise type where one exists, like Restaurant, Dentist, or HealthClub. A specific type describes you more accurately than the generic one. If no subtype fits, the plain LocalBusiness type is fine to use.
How do I test my LocalBusiness schema?
Use Google's Rich Results Test. It reads a page or a code snippet and reports which structured-data types it found and any errors. Validate before you rely on the markup, and re-check after any redesign, since template changes can strip or break the code. Treat it as a routine check, not a one-time setup.
Can wrong LocalBusiness details hurt me?
Yes. Markup that does not match the visible page violates Google's structured-data policies and can lead to a manual action. Stale details, like an old address after a move, also mislead both Google and the customers trying to reach you. The safe rule is to mark up only what genuinely appears on the page and keep every detail current.
Label your business so Google reads it right
Storming Solutions runs SEO, AEO, and GEO for Malaysian businesses from Kuala Lumpur. We would rather mark up less and keep it true than carry a block that contradicts the page. The code should always match your real name, address, and phone.
Not sure whether your site carries LocalBusiness schema, or whether it still matches your current details? Ask us through the contact page, or read why consistent business details matter next. Our SEO, AEO, and GEO service makes sure the details in your code match the business people actually reach.