Google Business Profile Category Finder for Trades
Your primary category is the single most powerful field on your Google Business Profile, and Google says so directly: “the categories you select affect your local ranking on Google.” Pick the trade you actually do below and you get the exact category name to set as primary, the additional categories worth adding, and the ones that will quietly cost you. Every name here was checked against a real copy of Google’s list — no invented categories.
Read this first: it is a curated list, not Google’s complete one
Google’s full category list runs to roughly 4,000 entries covering every industry it indexes, from abbeys to zoos. What is on this page is 195 categories across 21 groups — the ones home-service and local-trade businesses actually choose between, picked by hand. We have not reproduced the whole list, and we have not invented a single entry to pad it out: every name here was cross-checked character-for-character against a published 2026 copy of Google’s full list, and anything we could not verify was left out rather than guessed at.
Google adds, renames and retires categories without announcing it, so the category picker inside your own Business Profile is the only source of truth. Check the exact wording there before you save.
Where the full list lives: Google does not publish a browsable copy anywhere — its own help page, Manage your business category, explains the rules but lists no categories. The complete list is only visible inside the picker as you type. Community-maintained mirrors exist — we cross-checked against this public 2026 copy — but those are third-party and not Google.
One primary, a short list of additional categories worth considering, and the mistake that trade makes most often. The advice is ours; the category names are Google’s.
Plumber
Primary categoryPlumber
One category covers repair, installation and emergency service calls. Do not split those into separate profiles or separate categories.
Consider as additional categories
Drainage service — only if drain clearing is a service you sell, not a tool you own
Septic system service — only if you pump, install or repair septic
Water softening equipment supplier — if you fit softeners
Gasfitter — if you are licensed for gas
Watch out: Do not add Bathroom remodeler unless you genuinely remodel bathrooms — it puts you in a different competitive set and invites a re-verification question you cannot answer.
Electrician
Primary categoryElectrician
The broadest correct category for residential and commercial electrical work.
Consider as additional categories
Electrical installation service — new installs and fit-outs
Electric generator shop — standby generator sales and installs
Electric vehicle charging station contractor — EV charger installs
Lighting contractor — lighting design and install work
Watch out: Solar energy company is a different business, not a bolt-on. Add it only if solar is something you actually quote.
HVAC contractor
Primary categoryHVAC contractor
Correct when you do both heating and cooling. If you truly only fix air conditioning, Air conditioning repair service describes you more precisely and Google tells you to pick the most specific fit.
Consider as additional categories
Air conditioning contractor
Heating contractor
Furnace repair service
Air duct cleaning service — only if you own the equipment and sell the service
Watch out: Adding all four AC categories plus all three heating ones does not make you more findable. It makes your profile a list of synonyms, which is exactly what Google's guidelines tell you not to do.
Roofing contractor
Primary categoryRoofing contractor
The single roofing category. Repair, replacement, shingle, tile and metal all sit under it — there is no metal-roofing or storm-damage category.
Consider as additional categories
Siding contractor — if you sell siding as its own job
Gutter service — install and repair
Insulation contractor
Skylight contractor
Watch out: Storm-chasing profiles get suspended for address problems more often than category problems. If you have no permanent premises in the city, run a service-area profile rather than inventing an address.
Fencing contractor
Primary categoryFence contractor
This is the exact wording, and it catches people out: Google's category is “Fence contractor”, not “Fencing contractor”. Type “fencing” into the picker and you get Fencing salon and Fencing school — the sport.
Consider as additional categories
Deck builder — if you build decks as well
Railing contractor
Fence supply store — only if you sell materials to the public
Watch out: There is no gate-specific category. Gate work belongs under Fence contractor, described in your services list rather than added as a category.
Concrete contractor
Primary categoryConcrete contractor
Driveways, patios, slabs, sidewalks and stamped work all live here. There is no “Driveway contractor” category, so do not go looking for one.
Consider as additional categories
Masonry contractor — brick, block and stone
Paving contractor
Excavating contractor — if you own the machine and sell the hours
Watch out: Asphalt contractor and Concrete contractor are different trades to Google and to customers. Pick the material you actually pour as primary.
Landscaper
Primary categoryLandscaper
Right when design-and-build is the money. If most of your revenue is recurring mowing and treatment, make Lawn care service the primary instead — it is the search people actually type.
Consider as additional categories
Lawn care service
Lawn sprinkler system contractor
Snow removal service — seasonal, but real
Landscape designer
Watch out: Landscape architect is a licensed title in most states. Picking it because it sounds more senior is the kind of claim that fails at re-verification.
House cleaning service
Primary categoryHouse cleaning service
The residential category. If your revenue is commercial contracts, the primary you want is Janitorial service.
Consider as additional categories
Janitorial service — commercial and office contracts
Carpet cleaning service — only if you own the machine
Window cleaning service
Pressure washing service
Watch out: There is no “Commercial cleaning service” in Google's list, no matter how many blog posts tell you to pick it. Janitorial service is the one.
Locksmith
Primary categoryLocksmith
One category, and it is the whole trade.
Consider as additional categories
Emergency locksmith service — if you genuinely run 24/7
Key duplication service
Safe & vault shop
Security system installation service — if you fit alarms and access control
Watch out: Locksmith is one of the most aggressively policed verticals on Google Maps because of a long history of lead-gen spam. Expect a stricter verification, and never list an address you do not occupy.
Pest control service
Primary categoryPest control service
A single category covers insects, rodents and termites. There is no exterminator category and no termite category.
Consider as additional categories
Animal control service — raccoons, squirrels, wildlife exclusion
Wildlife rescue service — only if that is genuinely what you do
Watch out: Adding Animal control service when you only spray for ants puts you in front of people with a raccoon in the attic. They will call, you will decline, and the profile earns the wrong signals.
Tree service
Primary categoryTree service
Removal, trimming, pruning and stump work all belong here.
Consider as additional categories
Arborist service — if you hold a certification worth advertising
Debris removal service — if you sell the haul-away separately
Snow removal service — for the winter half of the year
Watch out: There is no “Stump grinding service” category. Put stump grinding in your services list and your business description, not in a category you invented.
Junk removal service
Primary categoryJunk removal service
This one genuinely exists, which surprises people who have been told to settle for Garbage collection service.
Consider as additional categories
Debris removal service — construction and post-storm clear-outs
Dumpster rental service — only if you actually drop containers
Moving service — if you also move people
Watch out: Garbage collection service reads to Google as municipal or contracted waste pickup. It is a poor primary for a two-guys-and-a-truck operation.
Painter
Primary categoryPainter
Straightforward, with one oddity: Google's list also contains a near-identical entry simply called “Painting”. Pick Painter and do not agonize over it.
Consider as additional categories
Dry wall contractor — if you hang and finish board
Plasterer
Pressure washing service — prep work you also sell on its own
Watch out: Google spells drywall as two words: “Dry wall contractor”. Type “drywall” into the picker and you will conclude the category does not exist.
Flooring contractor
Primary categoryFlooring contractor
Correct when you install at the customer's property. Flooring store is the showroom category and implies somewhere customers can walk in.
Consider as additional categories
Carpet installer
Tile contractor
Wood floor installation service
Wood floor refinishing service
Watch out: If you have no showroom, do not use Flooring store as primary. A storefront category on a service-area profile is a mismatch Google's reviewers look for.
Garage door company
Primary categoryGarage door supplier
It is the only garage-door category Google offers, and it says “supplier” even when repair and spring replacement are all you do. Use it anyway — Google's instruction is to pick the closest available category, because you cannot create your own.
Consider as additional categories
Door supplier — if you also fit entry doors
Handyman/Handywoman/Handyperson — only if you genuinely take general work
Watch out: There is no “Garage door repair” category. If a tool or a blog offers you one, it is not reading Google's actual list.
Pressure washing service
Primary categoryPressure washing service
Covers soft washing too. There is no separate soft-wash category.
Consider as additional categories
Window cleaning service
Gutter cleaning service
House cleaning service — only if you do interiors as well
Watch out: Adding Roofing contractor because you soft-wash roofs is a genuine misrepresentation. Clean it, describe it in your services, but do not claim the trade.
Window cleaning service
Primary categoryWindow cleaning service
One category, and it is exactly what people search.
Consider as additional categories
Pressure washing service
Gutter cleaning service
Janitorial service — if you hold commercial contracts
Watch out: Window installation service is a completely different trade. It is one line away in the picker and it is easy to click by mistake.
Auto repair shop
Primary categoryAuto repair shop
Right for a fixed-premises shop. For a mobile mechanic with nowhere for customers to visit, Mechanic is the better primary and pairs properly with a service-area profile.
Consider as additional categories
Brake shop
Oil change service
Tire shop — only if you stock and sell tires
Transmission shop — only if you rebuild them
Watch out: Every specialist category you add is a promise. A shop listing Transmission shop that sends every rebuild out will collect one-star reviews about exactly that.
Appliance repair service
Primary categoryAppliance repair service
The general category. Add the specific ones only where you want the specific calls.
Consider as additional categories
Refrigerator repair service
Washer & dryer repair service
Small appliance repair service
Appliance store — only if you sell units
Watch out: Appliance store on a van-based repair business is the classic storefront-versus-service-area mismatch.
Pool service company
Primary categoryPool cleaning service
The right primary for a weekly maintenance route. If your revenue is equipment repair, Swimming pool repair service fits better.
Consider as additional categories
Swimming pool repair service
Hot tub repair service
Swimming pool contractor — only if you build pools
Swimming pool supply store — only if you have a shop
Watch out: Swimming pool contractor means construction. Choosing it for a cleaning route puts you against builders on searches you cannot service.
Handyman
Primary categoryHandyman/Handywoman/Handyperson
Written exactly like that in the picker, slashes and all. Searching “handyman” does find it, so do not panic at the formatting.
Consider as additional categories
Carpenter
Painter
Dry wall contractor
Plasterer
Watch out: General contractor is not a synonym for handyman. In most US states it names a license, and Google can ask you to evidence it at verification.
Dog grooming
Primary categoryPet groomer
Covers dogs, cats and mobile grooming alike. There is no mobile-specific category.
Consider as additional categories
Pet sitter
Dog day care center — only if you actually run day care
Dog trainer
Pet boarding service
Watch out: If you groom out of a van, hide your address and set a service area. A residential address on a public profile is both a suspension risk and a safety one.
Mobile car detailing
Primary categoryCar detailing service
The correct primary whether you are mobile or fixed.
Consider as additional categories
Car wash — only if you have a site customers drive to
Auto window tinting service — if you tint
RV detailing service
Boat detailing service
Watch out: Car wash implies a location. On a mobile-only profile it is the wrong signal and it competes you against tunnels charging fifteen dollars.
Category names that catch people out
These are the names people type into the picker, get nothing, and conclude Google has no category for their trade. In every case it does — under a different name.
What people search for
The actual Google category
Why it matters
Fencing contractor
Fence contractor
Searching “fencing” in the picker returns Fencing salon and Fencing school — the sport, not the trade.
Drywall contractor
Dry wall contractor
Google spells it as two words, so a search for “drywall” comes back empty.
Handyman
Handyman/Handywoman/Handyperson
The full name carries both slashes. Searching “handyman” still finds it.
Commercial cleaning service
Janitorial service
There is no commercial-cleaning category at all.
Stump grinding service
Tree service
No stump category exists. Put stump grinding in your services list.
Garage door repair
Garage door supplier
The only garage-door category, and it is worded as a supplier even for repair-only businesses.
Solar energy contractor
Solar energy company
Also available: Solar panel maintenance service.
Generator installer
Electric generator shop
Worded as a shop, but it is the generator category.
Waterproofing company
Waterproofing service
One word different, and the wrong one returns nothing.
Moving company
Moving service
Moving and storage service exists too, if you store as well as move.
Security system installer
Security system installation service
The longer form is the real one.
Driveway contractor
Concrete contractor
Or Asphalt contractor / Paving contractor, depending on what you actually lay.
Five things about categories that owners get wrong
1. The primary category does most of the work
Google gives the primary its own field and its own instruction — “Select a primary category that best describes your business” — and confirms that categories affect local ranking. In Whitespark’s annual Local Search Ranking Factors survey, Business Profile signals are the largest group of factors a business controls, and primary category is consistently the strongest single factor inside that group. If you change nothing else on this page, get the primary right.
2. Pick the most specific category that genuinely fits
Google’s example is blunt: “instead of ‘Salon,’ choose ‘Nail salon.’” The trade version is the same. Contractor is a real category and it is almost always the wrong one — Roofing contractor, Fence contractor or Concrete contractor tells Google and the customer what you do. Specific beats broad every time.
3. Additional categories are promises, so keep the list short
Google’s guidelines say to “choose the fewest number of categories it takes to describe your overall core business,” and its category page says “do not select a category for every product or service.” Every extra one puts you in front of a different set of searchers with a different job in mind. Add a category only for work you would quote and take today — not work you would like to do one day, and not work you subcontract out.
4. The category has to match what the business actually does
Categories are a claim about your business, and Google’s guidelines are built around representing the business as it exists in the real world. Picking General contractor because it sounds bigger, or Landscape architect because it sounds more qualified, is the kind of claim that fails when someone checks — and profile misrepresentation is a suspension reason, not a slap on the wrist.
5. Changing it can move your rankings either way — and can trigger re-verification
Google’s own help page carries a warning most owners never read: “If you add or edit an existing category, you might be asked to verify your business again.” A category change is not a free experiment. Change one thing at a time, write down the date, and wait a few weeks before you judge it. If you change the category, the business name and the service area in the same week, you will never know which one did what.
How to change your category
Google’s documented steps, as of the date on this page: go to your Business Profile, select Edit profile, then next to “Business category” select Edit. Type into the Primary category box and pick from the list that appears — you have to choose an existing entry, because you cannot type a category of your own. Use Add another category for additional ones, Remove to drop one, then Save. Google’s current instructions are on its Manage your business category help page; if the interface has moved since we wrote this, believe Google.
195 categories in 21 groups. Use the search box above to filter, or read straight through.
Plumbing, gas and water treatment 10
PlumberThe primary category for almost every plumbing business, including emergency and repair-only outfits.
Plumbing supply storeOnly if customers can walk in and buy parts.
Drainage serviceAdd it if you actually clear and jet drains, not just because you own a snake.
Septic system service
Gasfitter
Gas installation service
Hot water system supplier
Water softening equipment supplier
Water filter supplier
Water purification company
Electrical, solar and generators 9
ElectricianThe primary for a residential or commercial sparky.
Electrical installation service
Electrical repair shop
Lighting contractor
Electric generator shopThere is no category called “Generator installer” — this is the one.
Electric vehicle charging station contractor
Solar energy companyGoogle has no “Solar energy contractor”. This is the installer category.
Solar panel maintenance service
Solar energy equipment supplier
Heating, cooling and air quality 12
HVAC contractorThe right primary if you do both heating and cooling.
Air conditioning contractor
Air conditioning repair serviceA better primary than HVAC contractor if you genuinely only repair AC.
Air conditioning system supplier
Air conditioning store
Heating contractor
Heating equipment supplier
Furnace repair service
Furnace store
Boiler supplier
Air duct cleaning service
Dryer vent cleaning service
Roofing, siding and building envelope 11
Roofing contractorCovers repair, replacement and metal roofing alike — there is no separate metal-roofing category.
Roofing supply store
Siding contractor
Stucco contractor
Gutter serviceFor install and repair. Distinct from Gutter cleaning service.
Gutter cleaning serviceCleaning only.
Insulation contractor
Chimney sweep
Chimney servicesNote the plural. It sits alongside Chimney sweep in the picker.
Skylight contractor
Sheet metal contractor
Windows, doors, glass and garage doors 9
Window installation service
Window supplier
Window treatment store
Window tinting service
Glass repair service
Glass & mirror shop
Garage door supplierThe only garage-door category Google offers. It says “supplier” even if you only repair and service.
Door supplier
Shower door shop
Fencing, decks and outdoor structures 10
Fence contractorThe category is “Fence contractor”, never “Fencing contractor”. Typing “fencing” into the picker returns the sport.
Fence supply storeOnly if you sell materials to the public.
Deck builder
Railing contractor
Carport and pergola builder
Gazebo builder
Patio enclosure supplier
Sunroom contractor
Awning supplier
Garage builder
Concrete, masonry, paving and site work 9
Concrete contractorFlatwork, driveways, slabs, stamped — all of it. There is no “Driveway contractor”.
Ready mix concrete supplier
Masonry contractor
Masonry supply store
Marble contractor
Paving contractor
Asphalt contractor
Excavating contractor
Demolition contractor
Landscaping, lawn care and trees 11
LandscaperDesign-and-build work. If your money is in mowing, Lawn care service describes you better.
Gardener
Lawn care serviceMowing, feeding, weed control — the right primary for a mow-and-blow route.
Lawn sprinkler system contractor
Landscape designer
Landscape architectA licensed profession in most US states. Do not pick it if you are not one.
Landscape lighting designer
Landscaping supply store
Tree serviceRemoval, trimming and stump work all live here — there is no stump-grinding category.
Arborist service
Snow removal serviceSeasonal work still deserves a category if you actually take the calls.
Cleaning services 10
House cleaning serviceThe primary for residential maid and housekeeping businesses.
Janitorial serviceGoogle has no “Commercial cleaning service”. This is the commercial-contract category.
Janitorial equipment supplier
Carpet cleaning service
Upholstery cleaning service
Tile cleaning service
Leather cleaning service
Window cleaning service
Pressure washing serviceCovers soft washing too — there is no separate soft-wash category.
Water tank cleaning service
Damage restoration and waterproofing 3
Water damage restoration service
Fire damage restoration service
Waterproofing serviceNot “Waterproofing company” — that name is not in the list.
Pest control and wildlife 3
Pest control serviceOne category covers insects, rodents and termites. There is no exterminator or termite category.
Animal control service
Wildlife rescue service
Locksmiths and security 8
LocksmithLocksmith listings draw extra verification scrutiny from Google. Expect to prove the address.
Emergency locksmith service
Key duplication service
Locks supplier
Safe & vault shop
Security system installation serviceNot “Security system installer”.
Security system supplier
Car security system installer
Junk removal, waste and hauling 7
Junk removal serviceYes, this really is a category — you do not have to settle for Garbage collection service.
Garbage collection service
Debris removal service
Dumpster rental service
Waste management service
Moving serviceGoogle has no “Moving company”.
Moving and storage service
Painting, drywall, carpentry and interiors 12
PainterThe one to use for a painting business.
PaintingA second, near-identical entry sits right next to it in the picker. Pick Painter and move on.
Dry wall contractorGoogle spells it as two words. Searching “drywall” in the picker finds nothing.
Plasterer
Interior construction contractor
Interior fitting contractor
Carpenter
Cabinet maker
Cabinet store
Countertop contractor
Countertop store
Paint store
Flooring 11
Flooring contractorThe primary if you install at the customer's property.
Flooring storeImplies a showroom customers can visit. Do not use it as primary if you have no storefront.
Carpet installer
Carpet store
Tile contractor
Tile store
Wood floor installation service
Wood floor refinishing service
Floor refinishing service
Floor sanding and polishing service
Wood and laminate flooring supplier
General building, remodeling and handyman 10
Handyman/Handywoman/HandypersonThe full name, slashes and all. Searching “handyman” does find it.
General contractorIn most states this implies a license Google can ask you to evidence. Do not pick it to look bigger.
ContractorA bare catch-all. Almost always the wrong choice — Google tells you to pick the most specific category that fits.
Remodeler
Kitchen remodeler
Bathroom remodeler
Home builder
Construction company
Mechanical contractor
Stair contractor
Auto repair and service 21
Auto repair shopThe primary for a fixed-premises shop.
MechanicThe better primary for a mobile mechanic with no shop for customers to visit.
Car repair and maintenance service
Truck repair shop
Auto body shop
Auto bodywork mechanic
Auto dent removal serviceWhere paintless dent repair belongs.
Auto painting
Brake shop
Tire shop
Transmission shop
Oil change service
Auto tune up service
Auto electrical service
Auto air conditioning service
Auto radiator repair service
Auto glass shop
Auto glass repair service
Towing service
Auto parts store
Small engine repair service
Car washing, detailing and trim 7
Car detailing serviceThe primary for a mobile detailer.
Car washImplies a fixed site customers drive to.
RV detailing service
Boat detailing service
Auto window tinting service
Auto upholsterer
Auto restoration service
Appliance repair 7
Appliance repair serviceThe primary for a general appliance repair business.
Small appliance repair service
Refrigerator repair service
Washer & dryer repair service
Appliance parts supplier
Appliance store
Used appliance store
Pools, spas and hot tubs 6
Pool cleaning serviceThe primary for a weekly maintenance route.
Swimming pool repair service
Swimming pool contractorBuilding and installing pools, not cleaning them.
Swimming pool supply store
Hot tub store
Hot tub repair service
Pet grooming and pet care 9
Pet groomerCovers mobile grooming. There is no mobile-specific category — set a service area instead.
Pet sitter
Dog walker
Dog day care center
Dog trainer
Pet trainer
Pet boarding service
Cat boarding service
Kennel
Questions
What is the right Google Business Profile category for a fencing contractor?
Fence contractor. Google's category list has no entry spelled “Fencing contractor”, and typing “fencing” into the category picker returns Fencing salon and Fencing school — which are the sport. Set Fence contractor as your primary category. Add Deck builder only if you build decks, Railing contractor only if you install railings, and Fence supply store only if the public can buy materials from you. There is no gate category at all, so gate work belongs in your services list rather than in a category.
How many categories should I add?
As few as describe the business. Google's guidelines for representing your business say: “Choose the fewest number of categories it takes to describe your overall core business,” and its category help page says “Do not select a category for every product or service.” Google does not publish a maximum in that documentation, and we are not going to invent one — the number the interface lets you save is the real limit. A practical test: add an additional category only for work you would quote and take today.
Does the primary category matter more than the additional ones?
Yes, and by a wide margin. Google gives the primary its own field and its own instruction — “Select a primary category that best describes your business” — and states plainly that “the categories you select affect your local ranking on Google.” In Whitespark's annual Local Search Ranking Factors survey, Google Business Profile signals are the largest group of factors a business actually controls, and primary category is consistently ranked the single strongest factor inside that group. Additional categories help you appear for related searches; they do not carry the same weight.
Can changing my category hurt my rankings?
It can move them either way, and Google's own documentation carries a warning most owners never see: “If you add or edit an existing category, you might be asked to verify your business again.” That means a category edit can put your profile back through verification. Change one thing at a time, write down the date you changed it, and give it a few weeks before judging the result — if you change the category, the business name and the service area in the same week, you will never know which one moved the needle.
Why is there no category for what I do?
Because Google's list is finite and you cannot extend it. Google says outright: “You can't create your own category,” and “If the specific category you want isn't available, select a general category that describes your business.” Real examples from the trades: there is no stump-grinding category (use Tree service), no commercial-cleaning category (use Janitorial service), no garage-door-repair category (use Garage door supplier), and no soft-washing category (use Pressure washing service). Describe the specific service in your services list and your business description instead.
Do additional categories dilute my primary category?
Google publishes nothing that says extra categories weaken the primary, so we will not repeat that claim as fact. What Google does say is to choose the fewest categories that describe your core business and not to add one per service. The concrete risks are easier to reason about than dilution: every additional category makes your profile eligible for a different set of searches and a different competitor set, it can change the label Google shows on your profile, and it is one more claim about your business that has to hold up if you are asked to re-verify. That is reason enough to keep the list short.
Is this Google's complete category list?
No, and we would rather say so than pretend. Google's full list runs to roughly 4,000 entries covering every industry it indexes. This page carries 195 of them, hand-picked for home-service and local trades and grouped into 21 families. Every name was cross-checked character-for-character against a published 2026 copy of the full list before it was added, and names we could not verify were dropped rather than guessed at. Google adds, renames and retires categories without announcing it, so the picker inside your own Business Profile is the only source of truth.
One thing this tool deliberately does not do: it does not look at your listing. Nothing here reads, audits or changes a real Google Business Profile — there is no lookup, no account connection, and no data leaves this page. You set the category yourself, in Google, in about a minute.
What Tradeloper does do is the part that keeps working after you have set the category: it emails every customer a review request when the job is done, follows up once if they do not reply, and tracks your Google review count and star rating daily. Starter ($19/month) is review collection: email review requests with automatic follow-ups, daily Google review tracking, negative-review alerts and click tracking.
Pro ($49/month) adds everything that gets you found — local rank tracking and the heatmap, Google and Facebook profile scores, job pins, AI social and photo posts, the reviews widget, AI-drafted replies to your Google reviews, reactivation and batch send.
Review collection starts at $19/month; the get-found toolkit — local rank tracking, profile scores, job pins, AI posts and the reviews widget — is Pro at $49/month.