Definition
A Service Area Business (SAB) is a company that provides services directly at the customer's location rather than in a storefront open to the public: plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, cleaning services, delivery services, etc. Google Business Profile allows these businesses to create a listing without displaying a physical address, defining instead a geographic service area (cities, counties, or radius). Local SEO for a SAB differs from a storefront business: the address is not publicly displayed, Local Pack positioning depends more on the declared service area, and the content strategy must target each served location.
Key Points
- Headquarters address is not publicly displayed on the GBP listing
- Service area can cover cities, counties, or a radius
- Creating local pages per served area is essential for SEO
Practical Examples
Plumber without a commercial location
An independent plumber creates their GBP listing as a SAB, declares a service area covering 15 municipalities, and creates a dedicated page on their site for each municipality with unique local content. They appear in the Local Pack for each targeted city.
Cleaning service
A cleaning company defines a 30km service area around its headquarters. It doesn't show its address on its GBP listing but appears in searches for 'cleaning + city' for all municipalities in its area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, SABs can appear in the Local Pack. Google uses the declared service area and local signals (reviews, citations) to determine relevance. However, SABs generally appear slightly less easily than storefront businesses in highly localized results.
If you don't receive clients at your premises, Google recommends hiding your address and defining only a service area. Displaying an address when you don't receive clients may be considered a GBP guideline violation.
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Last updated: 2026-02-07