The policy outlines two main types of businesses:
Service-area businesses: These companies deliver to customers but do not have a physical business location.
Hybrid businesses: These operations have a physical location and offer delivery or mobile services.
Service Area Limitations
Google maintains its existing restrictions on service areas, including:
A maximum of 20 service areas per business
Service boundaries limited to approximately 2 hours of driving time from the business base
Service areas must be defined by city, postal code, or specific geographic region rather than radius
Impact On Businesses
This update affects certain types of businesses:
Mobile alcohol delivery services
Cannabis delivery services
Weapons dealers without a physical store
Vendors of age-restricted products that only deliver
The new rules require these businesses to have a physical storefront to keep their Google Business Profiles.
This change aims to ensure proper age checks and compliance with sensitive product and service regulations.
What This Means
The policy update addresses concerns about selling age-restricted products through delivery-only businesses.
This change mainly impacts new delivery services for cannabis and alcohol, which have grown in some cities.
Featured Image: Alexandre.ROSA/Shutterstock