How To Handle Citations For Home-based Businesses?

Handling citations for home-based businesses requires a slightly different approach to maintain privacy while still boosting local SEO. Since home-based businesses often don’t want to display their residential address publicly, it's important to focus on citation sources that allow you to hide your address while still verifying your presence in a specific service area.

Start by creating or claiming your Google Business Profile and selecting the "service-area business" option, which lets you define the areas you serve without showing your home address. For other citation sites, look for directories that support service-area businesses or allow address suppression. Always ensure your Name, Phone number, and Website (NAPW) are consistent across all platforms, even if the address is hidden.

Additionally, use a business phone number (not a personal one) and a professional email address to help build trust. If possible, consider using a virtual office or coworking space address—but only if it's allowed by the platform and aligns with your business operations. Consistency, accuracy, and professionalism are key to managing citations effectively, even without a physical storefront.