With the Business Profile APIs, you can create a platform for your merchants to manage their business on Google. On your platform, you can allow your partners to search for listings that match their business's name, address, and phone data. They can establish ownership of a location, as well as accurately place the business's physical location by latitude and longitude. ## Before you begin Before you use the Business Profile APIs, you need to register your application and obtain OAuth 2.0 credentials. For details on how to get started with the Business Profile APIs, see [Basic setup](https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/basic-setup). ## How to work with address data To work with address and geolocation data on your platform, you may use two different sets of APIs and resources: the Business Profile APIs and the Maps API. ### Commonly used Business Profile resources The [`GoogleLocations`](https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/googlelocations-api-guide) API lets the merchant see in advance if a location has already been claimed in Business Profile. If not, it allows the merchant to immediately request access to it. The [`PostalAddress`](https://developers.google.com/my-business/reference/businessinformation/rest/Shared.Types/PostalAddress) object represents the physical address of a business. ### Commonly used Google Maps resources The [Maps JavaScript Places Widgets](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference/places-widget) are commonly used in partner workflows to create an interactive map. In addition, the following Maps APIs are also useful: - Return place predictions with [Place Autocomplete](https://developers.google.com/places/web-service/autocomplete) and [Place Details](https://developers.google.com/places/web-service/details). For pricing details, see [SKU: Autocomplete (included with Places Details) -- Per Session](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing/understanding-cost-of-use?__utma=236542612.573697022.1545861194.1545861265.1545861265.1&__utmb=236542612.0.10.1545861265&__utmc=236542612&__utmx=-&__utmz=236542612.1545861265.1.1.utmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=91275353&_ga=2.77608016.-573697022.1545861194#ac-with-details-session). - Query for place information with [Place Search](https://developers.google.com/places/web-service/search). For pricing details, see [SKU: Find Place](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing/understanding-cost-of-use?__utma=236542612.573697022.1545861194.1545861265.1545861265.1&__utmb=236542612.0.10.1545861265&__utmc=236542612&__utmx=-&__utmz=236542612.1545861265.1.1.utmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=91275353&_ga=2.77608016.-573697022.1545861194#find-place). - Provide geocoding and reverse geocoding of addresses with [Geocoding](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/geocoding/start). For pricing details, see [SKU: Geocoding](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing/understanding-cost-of-use?__utma=236542612.573697022.1545861194.1545861265.1545861265.1&__utmb=236542612.0.10.1545861265&__utmc=236542612&__utmx=-&__utmz=236542612.1545861265.1.1.utmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=91275353&_ga=2.77608016.-573697022.1545861194#geocoding). ## One or zero matches When a partner searches for matching listings for a location, their goal is to narrow their search results to one or zero matches. This means the location either fits their search criteria or doesn't yet exist in Business Profile, respectively. Where there are one or zero matches, use the [`accounts.locations.create`](https://developers.google.com/my-business/reference/businessinformation/rest/v1/accounts.locations/create) method to create a new listing, or follow the [`GoogleLocations`](https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/googlelocations-api-guide) guide to claim ownership of the existing listing. If Google is unable to geocode the address, the location creation fails and the API response includes a request for `LatLng` data. For information on how the merchant can provide their `LatLng` data, see [Manual adjustment of geolocation data](https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/search-matching-listings#adjustment-geolocation-data). Once the `LatLng` coordinates are determined, the new listing is created. ## Partial and multiple matches When a business owner or the partner's operations team searches for listings that match a location, the information they type might result in only a partial match, or they might receive multiple matches to their search query. To narrow the search results down to one or zero matches, partial and multiple matches are manually resolved by two Maps API use cases. ### User refines their search When a user of the partner platform searches for a location and is faced with multiple partial matches, they can resolve the issue in one of the following ways: - Analyze the partial matching addresses and select the correct one. - Edit or retype parts of the address to be more accurate and narrow their results to one or zero matches.  A user is confronted with several partial matches in response to their address search. ### User selects from one or more full matches In some cases, multiple locations might fully match the user's search address. For instance, a user might enter the following address into a partner platform: `Burung kolibri, Collmin Sq., GRN No. 1, Wonokromo, Jawa Timur 60983, Indonesia` Suppose the following responses are returned, all of which match the address given: - Kasperson Printer Center, an unverified location. - Bengo Seguro, a verified location. - Garush Productions, an unverified location. The user needs to manually select the matching business. To ensure consumers are provided with accurate directions to the business, the latitude and longitude (`LatLng`) data for these locations might need to be adjusted to provide higher accuracy. For information on how users can enter their `LatLng` manually, see [Manual adjustment of geolocation data](https://developers.google.com/my-business/content/search-matching-listings#adjustment-geolocation-data). ## Manual adjustment of geolocation data Businesses can add the latitude and longitude (`LatLng`) coordinates of their business to increase the accuracy of their listing on Business Profile. New businesses might not know their `LatLng` coordinates, so they can instead manually drop a pin with the [Maps JavaScript Places Widget](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference/places-widget) to establish accurate `LatLng` coordinates.  A single address resolves to three locations 1,500 feet apart. To accurately associate the business address with its `LatLng` coordinates, manual adjustment of each location's coordinates is needed. ## Quality of search results Search results vary widely based on the accuracy of the address that is searched for and by geographic region. Developing regions often show fewer Maps places and inconsistent compliance with Google address formats. This leads to lower-quality search results and an increased need for manual address formatting and Maps API use.