™Claim your free NextDoorScore listing (and get your Google Business Profile in order)
Your business may already have a NextDoorScore page
If your business showed up when NextDoorScore ran a Google local search in St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park or St. Joseph, it already has a public page on NextDoorScore. That page shows your Google rating, review count, the position you appeared in for that search and on what date, and your profile score. Residents use these pages to compare businesses before they call.
Claiming your page is free. It doesn't change where you appear, and it doesn't transfer control of your Google Business Profile to us or to anyone else.
What you get when you claim
- Confirmation that the listing is yours. We review every claim before it's approved.
- A private owner dashboard that shows how your score breaks down across the six published factors: local visibility, local profile, reviews, technical SEO, content coverage and entity consistency.
- Your measurable gaps. These are specific, observed differences between your business and the businesses that appeared above you in the same search, such as missing hours, missing photos, missing service pages or a lower review count. Every gap is tied to something we actually observed. We don't estimate traffic or revenue.
- The option to connect Google so the dashboard can use your own Business Profile data, using only the permissions shown when you authorize. You can revoke access any time from your Google Account.
How to claim, step by step
- Find your business. Use the search above or open your business's page and click Claim This Listing.
- Confirm it's the right listing. Check the name, address and phone number.
- Submit your claim. We review it, which helps keep a competitor or a stranger from claiming your page.
- After approval: connect Google if you want to, then review your private audit.
- Optional: unlock the full walkthrough report for a one-time $49.99. It's not required to keep your free listing.
Claiming NextDoorScore ≠ claiming Google. You probably need both
Your Google Business Profile is the listing that appears in Google Maps and the local "map pack." It's owned and managed through Google, not through NextDoorScore. If you haven't claimed and verified it, that's the single most valuable thing to do this week. Google's own guidance says verified businesses are more likely to show up in local results.
To claim an unclaimed Google Business Profile:
- Search for your business name and city on Google Maps.
- Open the listing and select Claim this business (or Own this business?).
- Follow Google's verification steps. Google chooses which methods are offered. Options can include a phone call, text, email or a video recording.
If someone else already owns the profile (a former employee, an old agency, a previous owner):
- Go to business.google.com/add and enter your business name and address.
- Choose your business. You'll see "Someone else may manage this Business Profile."
- Select Request access, fill out the form and submit.
- The current owner is emailed and has 3 days to respond. If they don't, you may get the option to claim the profile through the link in your confirmation email. Google notes that option isn't always available.
Service-area businesses (plumbers, HVAC, roofers and others who work at the customer's location without a storefront) follow a different path. Google asks you to contact its support and describe the issue as "Transfer ownership of listing."
Steps summarized from Google Business Profile Help, “Request ownership of a Business Profile”. Google changes these flows, so check the live help article before you start.
What we won't do
- We won't sell you a better position on NextDoorScore. Positions come from the observed Google search.
- We won't ask for your Google password, and claiming never gives us ownership of your Google Business Profile.
- We won't promise a Google ranking. Google says plainly that there's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.
Who claims their listing
Plumbers, HVAC companies, electricians, roofers, insulation contractors, tree services, appliance repair shops, pest control companies, pet groomers, restaurants, and every other business type in our St. Cloud-area comparisons. Claiming takes a few minutes.
Want help acting on the gaps?
Some owners want to fix the gaps themselves. Others want someone to handle it. NextDoorScore offers monthly Google Business Profile management plans: GBP Core Starter at $199/month and GBP Growth Accelerator at $399/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is claiming my NextDoorScore listing really free?
Yes. Claiming and the owner dashboard are free. The full walkthrough report is an optional one-time $49.99 purchase, and monthly management plans are separate and optional.
Does claiming change my position or score?
No. Your position comes from the observed Google search and your score follows the published methodology. Claiming lets you see the breakdown and confirm your details.
Does NextDoorScore take control of my Google Business Profile?
No. Claiming your NextDoorScore page doesn't transfer ownership or control of your Google Business Profile or any other third-party listing.
My business isn't listed. Can I add it?
Listings come from observed Google searches. If your business doesn't appear, search for it on the find-my-business page. Making sure your Google Business Profile is verified and complete is the best way to start showing up in local searches.
How do I claim my Google Business Profile if someone else owns it?
Go to business.google.com/add, find your business, select Request access, and submit the form. The current owner has 3 days to respond. If they don't, Google may let you claim the profile.
What's in the $49.99 walkthrough?
A guided walkthrough of your private audit: the measured gaps between your listing and the businesses above you, and what to fix first.