The Apple Business Connect guide for local businesses.
Apple Business Connect is the free tool that controls how your business appears in Apple Maps — and it is the requirement for running Apple Maps Ads. Here is how to claim it and set it up properly.
Apple Business Connect is Apple's free platform for managing how a business appears across Apple Maps, Siri, Wallet, and Spotlight. You claim your place, verify ownership, and control the categories, hours, photos, and place card actions customers see. It is also the prerequisite for Apple Maps Ads — you cannot advertise on a place you have not claimed and verified.
How to claim and set up Apple Business Connect
Create your Apple Business Connect account
Sign in at businessconnect.apple.com with an Apple Account you control long-term — not a personal account belonging to an employee who might leave. Use a business email you will still have in five years.
Find and claim your place
Search for your business. If Apple already has a place record (most established businesses do), claim it rather than creating a duplicate. Duplicates split your data and confuse customers.
Verify ownership
Apple verifies through options such as a phone call to the number on the listing or documentation review. Verification is what unlocks editing and advertising, so do it before anything else.
Set the most specific category available
Category determines which searches you are eligible to appear in. Choose the narrowest accurate option — "Sushi Restaurant" rather than "Restaurant", "Yoga Studio" rather than "Gym".
Fix hours, including holidays
Wrong hours are the single most damaging listing error. Set regular hours, special hours for holidays, and any separate hours for kitchen, service desk, or drive-thru.
Add photos that match the real place
Upload a clear storefront shot so people recognize you from the sidewalk, plus interior and product photos. Skip stock imagery — it reduces trust at the exact moment of decision.
Turn on place card actions
Add the actions your customers actually use: call, directions, order, book, menu, or website. Every extra step between the tap and the action costs you the visit.
Keep it current with Showcases
Apple Business Connect lets you publish updates and offers to your place card. Refresh them regularly — a stale card looks like a closed business.
The listing checklist we run for every client
Work through these before spending anything on ads. A clean listing makes every paid tap worth more.
Business name matches your signage exactly — no keyword stuffing
Primary category is the narrowest accurate option
Phone number rings a line someone answers during posted hours
Address and pin location are precise — drop the pin at the actual door
Storefront, interior, and product photos uploaded and current
Holiday hours set months in advance
Place card actions (call, directions, book, order) all working
Description explains what you do in plain language, no marketing filler
Ready to advertise?
Once your place is verified and clean, Apple Maps Ads put it at the top of the map for nearby searches. New advertisers can qualify for a $150 Apple Maps Ads credit.
Apple Business Connect questions
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