For most locksmith profiles the best primary category is Locksmith — use it when: lockouts, rekeying, lock changes. Most trades are service-area businesses: the category tells Google what you do, and your service areas (up to 20) tell it where. Neither needs keyword-stuffing.
Open the free tool for a locksmith → tick what you really offer and get a copy-ready setup sheet
Primary category
- Locksmith — Lockouts, rekeying, lock changes
Secondary (additional) categories
Add one only if the condition is genuinely true at this location. Fewer, accurate categories beat a full list of nine.
- Key duplication service — only if: key cutting counter who else uses it
- Security system installation service verify — only if: access control / alarms who else uses it
1 category is marked verify: it may not appear in every account or country. If you can't find it in Google's dropdown, skip it rather than picking something close but wrong.
Categories to avoid
These are often added to locksmith profiles but usually describe a different or broader business:
- Hardware store
- Security guard service
Address or service area?
Can be either: show the address if customers come to you, add service areas if you also travel to them, or hide the address if you only work on-site. Service-area vs storefront rules.
Starter services to add
Categories say what you are; services say what you do. Good first entries:
- Emergency lockout
- Lock change & rekey
- Car key replacement
Check before you change anything
Search “locksmith” on Google Maps in your own area, open the top few profiles and note their primary category (shown under the business name). Use what's common as a sanity check, not a template — your categories must describe your business. Ready to switch? How to change your category safely.
Profile problems?
Suspended, stuck in verification, or not showing on Maps? See the free fix guides: suspended profile · verification failed · not on Maps · name rules.