The essentials
- Definition: attributes are declared or observed characteristics of the business (accessibility, payments, services, atmosphere, identity) shown on the listing.
- Two origins: declared by you, or "subjective" ones added by Google from reviews and customer answers.
- Impact: some act as filters in Maps ("open now", "wheelchair accessible", "delivery"); all of them add to relevance.
- Best practice: fill in every attribute that is true, and check the ones Google adds.
The attributes of a Google Business Profile listing are factual or descriptive pieces of information shown as short labels: "Wheelchair accessible", "Contactless payment", "Free Wi-Fi", "Outdoor seating", "Women-owned", "Delivery". They answer the practical questions customers ask themselves and act as filters in Google Maps. Filled in carefully, they add to the listing's relevance; left empty, they cede the ground to the attributes Google infers on its own.
The types of attribute
| Family | Examples | Who fills them in |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Entrance, toilets, car park, wheelchair-accessible seating | You |
| Services and options | Delivery, collection, drive-through, dine-in, booking, online appointments | You |
| Payments | Cards, contactless, cheques, cash, meal vouchers | You |
| Amenities | Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, toilets, air conditioning, car park | You |
| Business identity | Women-owned, LGBTQ+ friendly, veteran-owned (depending on the country) | You |
| Clientele and atmosphere | Good for children, good for groups, dogs allowed, quiet, casual | You and Google |
| Subjective attributes | "Popular for lunch", "Great cocktails", "Fast service" | Google, from reviews and questions put to customers |
| Health and safety | Appointment required, staff vaccinated (in some periods) | You |
The list offered depends on the primary category: a restaurant sees menu and atmosphere attributes, a plumber service attributes (online quotes, emergency call-outs), a shop collection options.
Why they count
- Search filters : in Maps, users filter by "open now", "accessible", "delivery", "dogs allowed". A business without the attribute doesn't appear in the filtered result.
- Specific queries : "restaurant with outdoor seating Lyon", "walk-in hairdresser": Google matches the query against the declared attributes.
- Decision : a customer checking accessibility or card payment before setting off chooses the listing that answers.
- AI assistants : when someone asks Gemini for "a restaurant with wheelchair-accessible outdoor seating near the station", the attributes are the source of the answer.
How to set them up
- Open the listing (search your name on Google, signed in to the managing account), then "Edit profile" > "More" or the "Attributes" section.
- Go through each family and tick everything that is true. Explicitly untick what is false where the option exists ("Not wheelchair accessible" saves a customer a wasted journey).
- Check the section of attributes added by Google and report any that are inaccurate.
- Review the list after any category change: new attributes appear.
- Keep it consistent with the site and the other directories.
Subjective attributes: what Google infers
Google asks visitors ("Is this place quiet?") and analyses reviews to produce attributes such as "Popular for dinner" or "Casual atmosphere". You can't edit them directly, but you influence them through the detailed reviews you ask for (see collecting quality reviews) and through the listing's description. A subjective attribute that is false or awkward can be reported.
The most useful attributes by business type
| Business | Attributes not to forget |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, café | Outdoor seating, booking, dine-in / takeaway / delivery, good for children, dogs allowed, vegetarian options, payments |
| Retail | In-store collection, delivery, online shopping, accessibility, car park, contactless payment |
| Tradesperson, home services | Online quotes, emergency call-outs, online appointments, area served |
| Health, wellbeing | Accessibility, online appointments, toilets, car park, by appointment only |
| Accommodation, tourism | Wi-Fi, car park, pets, accessibility, breakfast, pool |
Attributes, services and description: don't confuse them
| Section | Example | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Attributes | Standardised characteristics, yes/no | Checkboxes defined by Google |
| Services / Products | Your offerings, with a description and a price | Free-form entries |
| Description | A written presentation of the business | Free text, 750 characters |
The three complement each other and are covered in optimising hours, services and photos and in the fifteen listing optimisations. Checking them is part of the local search audit.
How GreenRed helps
Rather than juggling several tools, GreenRed's Google Business Profile module brings these metrics together in a single dashboard, compares them over time and tells you which actions come first. You can try it free, with no card, from the Pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you find attributes in Google Business Profile?
In the listing, through "Edit profile" then the "More" tab (or an "Attributes" section depending on the interface), sorted by family: accessibility, service options, payments, amenities, identity, clientele. The list offered depends on the business's primary category.
Do attributes influence ranking in the local pack?
Indirectly. They add to relevance on specific queries ("restaurant with outdoor seating", "walk-in hairdresser") and determine whether you appear in Maps' filtered results. They don't carry the weight of the primary category or reviews, but their absence excludes the listing from certain searches.
Why does Google show attributes I didn't fill in?
Google adds "subjective" attributes from reviews and from visitors' answers to its questions ("Is this place good for children?"). You can't edit them directly, but you can report the false ones and influence the next ones through detailed reviews and a precise description.
Should you declare a negative attribute such as "not wheelchair accessible"?
Yes, where the option exists. Accurate information saves a customer a wasted journey, and therefore a negative review, and shows a listing that is seriously managed. Google has no penalty for a negative attribute; it does, in practice, for inaccurate listings.