Getting reviews for your new business on Google is one of those things that sounds easy and feels impossible. You’ve got happy customers, you’re doing good work — so why is your Google Business Profile sitting there with zero stars next to it? Don’t worry. Almost every new business starts exactly here, and there are proven, honest ways to build up those first reviews fast.

Here’s the thing most new owners get wrong: they wait. They assume reviews will trickle in on their own. They won’t — at least not at first. In my experience, you need to actively (and politely) ask, and you need to make it ridiculously easy for people to leave one. Let’s get into exactly how.

How do I get reviews for my new business on google?

Below you’ll find a complete, practical breakdown of this topic: how it works, what to watch out for, and how to get the best outcome. We’ve kept the jargon out and focused on what actually helps — the kind of honest, experience-based advice that’s hard to find in official documents.

Set Up Your Google Business Profile Properly First

Before you ask for a single review, make sure your profile is complete and verified. An unverified or half-finished profile puts people off and can even mean reviews don’t show up properly.

• Claim and verify your profile at Google Business Profile — verification usually happens by postcard, phone, or video.
• Fill in everything: opening hours, services, photos, a proper business description. Profiles with photos get noticeably more engagement.
• Pick the right categories — your primary category has a big effect on who finds you.
• Add your services and products so reviewers can mention specifics, which makes reviews more useful.

Google’s own guidance on managing your Business Profile is worth a read while you set things up.

The Simple Formula: Ask at the Right Moment

Timing is everything. The best moment to ask for a review is right after a customer has had a great experience — when they’re happy, relieved, or impressed. Not three weeks later in a random email. Think about your own business: when do customers feel best about what you did?

For a café, it’s as they leave smiling. For a plumber, it’s when the heating’s back on. For an online shop, it’s a few days after delivery when they’ve tried the product. Build the ask into that moment.

How to ask without being awkward

Most people are happy to leave a review — they just never think of it. A simple, genuine ask works far better than a scripted pitch. Something like: “I’m really glad you’re happy with it. Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It genuinely helps a small business like ours.” That’s it. No pressure, no bribery (which is against Google’s rules anyway).

Make It Effortless: Links, QR Codes and Follow-Ups

Every bit of friction costs you reviews. Your job is to get the customer from “happy” to “review posted” in under a minute.

1. Get your short review link. In your Business Profile dashboard you can generate a direct link that opens the review form. Put it everywhere: email signatures, invoices, your website footer, order confirmation pages.
2. Use QR codes. A QR code on the counter, on receipts, on a tent card at the table, or on the van — customers scan it and land straight on your review form. Free to generate, and they work brilliantly for in-person businesses.
3. Follow up by email or text. A short thank-you message a day or two after the purchase, with the review link included, catches people who meant to do it and forgot. Keep it to two or three sentences.
4. Train your team. If you have staff, make the ask part of the routine — “If you enjoyed your visit, a Google review would mean a lot to us.” Consistency beats one big push.

What NOT to Do (Google Takes This Seriously)

A quick word of warning, because I’ve seen businesses learn this the hard way. Google removes fake reviews and can suspend profiles that game the system. Avoid all of the following:

• Never buy reviews. They’re usually obvious, they get removed, and they can get your profile penalised.
• Don’t offer discounts or freebies in exchange for reviews. Google’s policy prohibits incentivised reviews, even “leave a review for 10% off”.
• Don’t review your own business or ask family to post fake ones from the same location.
• Don’t set up a review station (a tablet in-store just for reviews) — Google can flag reviews all coming from one device/IP.

Respond to Every Review — Especially the Bad Ones

Here’s something many new businesses miss: responding to reviews matters almost as much as getting them. Future customers read your responses to judge what you’re like to deal with. A thoughtful reply to a critical review can actually win you business.

For positive reviews, a short personal thank-you is enough — mention something specific if you can. For negative ones: stay calm, don’t get defensive, apologise for the experience (not necessarily admitting fault), and invite them to contact you directly to sort it out. Never argue publicly. Readers side with the calm, professional business owner every time.

How Many Reviews Do You Actually Need?

There’s no magic number, but a few honest benchmarks: getting your first 5–10 reviews gets you past the “is this place real?” barrier. Around 20–50, with a solid average rating, you start looking established next to competitors. Beyond that, it’s about staying fresh — a steady trickle of recent reviews beats 200 ancient ones, because customers (and Google) notice recency.

So don’t aim for perfection on day one. Aim for a system: ask every happy customer, make it easy, respond to everything. If you’re just getting started and still choosing what to sell or offer, our guide on the easiest businesses to start with under £1,000 might help — and if you’re trading in person, these tactics pair perfectly with a stall or shopfront like the ones in our guide to opening a market stall in London.

The reviews will come. The businesses that win at this aren’t the ones with clever tricks — they’re the ones that ask, every time, and make it easy. Start today with your next happy customer.

Making It Happen: Your Action Plan

Reading about it is the easy part — acting on it is where most people stall. Here’s a simple action plan to move from reading to doing within the next seven days.

Days 1–2: Get informed. Re-read the sections above that apply to your situation and note the two or three points that matter most. If anything touches official rules or thresholds — tax, employment law, licensing — verify the current position on GOV.UK rather than relying on memory. Rules change, and acting on outdated information is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes in business.

Days 3–4: Get your numbers straight. Almost every business decision improves with real figures in front of you. What will it cost? What will it save or earn? What’s the worst case? You don’t need a complex spreadsheet — a single page of honest estimates beats vague optimism every time. If the numbers don’t work on paper, they won’t work in practice.

Days 5–7: Take the first concrete step. Register, apply, call, book — whatever the first real-world action is, do it this week. Momentum matters more than perfection; you can adjust course once you’re moving.

Know when to get help. A good accountant, solicitor, or adviser pays for themselves when the stakes are real — tax positions, legal disputes, contracts, or any decision involving significant money. Free advice (including this article) gets you oriented; professional advice gets you protected. And the cheapest professional help is the kind you get before a problem, not after.

Finally, set a review date. Business decisions shouldn’t be fire-and-forget: put a reminder in your diary for three months’ time to check whether your approach is delivering what you expected, and adjust. The businesses that thrive aren’t the ones that never make mistakes — they’re the ones that review, learn, and adapt quickly.

Key Takeaways

• Start with the official guidance — GOV.UK covers most business topics clearly, and it’s free.
• Get your numbers straight before committing: costs, timelines, and worst-case scenarios.
• Professional advice from an accountant or solicitor pays for itself on high-stakes decisions.
• Review and adapt: set a diary reminder to revisit your approach in three months.