LocalBusiness Finder
Not sure which type of LocalBusiness you should use in your structured data? Use our handy tool below to help you decide.
Choosing Your LocalBusiness Type
Getting your business seen online starts with telling Google exactly what you are. This might sound a bit techy, but it’s actually about using the right “business type” to describe your company. Think of it like giving Google a super-specific label for your shop or service.
While Google focuses on “LocalBusiness” and “Organization,” it understands a whole lot more. It’s really important to choose the closest match to your business as possible. Why? Because the more specific you are, the better Google can match your business to what people are searching for. This can lead to higher rankings, more visibility and a better user experience.
LocalBusiness is for businesses which have physical addresses.
Organization is for businesses which don’t necessarily have a physical address.
These are both broken down into more specific types. As mentioned above, you need to choose the most specific type for your business. This is where our handy LocalBusiness Finder tool comes in. Just input your business type and it will find possible matches that you can use in your structured data!
You can also read more in our article “How To Choose Your LocalBusiness Type” for more information.
LocalBusiness FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about LocalBusiness vs Organization and structured data:
Yes! Many businesses wear multiple hats, and Google loves it when you're clear about all of them! For example, if your pub also serves fantastic food, you can be both a "BarOrPub" and a "Restaurant." You'd tell Google this by listing both types like this: "@type": ["BarOrPub", "Restaurant"]
If you don't have a physical address that you want to share publicly, or if your business operates remotely, it's often best to stick with the more general "Organization" type or one of its subtypes.
Plumbers, Electricians and other tradespeople who visit people's homes can be the more specific LocalBusiness types of Plumber, Electrician etc, but if you don't have a publicly available address for your business, then I'm afraid you'll have to stick with the generic Organization type.
If you're a taxi driver, you'll need to use Organization, unless you have a cab office which you own or run as your base.
No matter which type you are, always make sure your structured data follows Google's guidelines. For LocalBusiness, you absolutely must include your name and address. For Organization, there aren't any strict requirements, but it's a good idea to include as much relevant information as you can.
If you're interested in learning more about structured data, you can buy the book "The Structured Data Guide for Beginners" (just click the Book link at the top of this page) or you can book bespoke training with Kelly Sheppard, a structured data expert and the founder of The Structured Data Company.