LocalBusiness Schema: The Complete Guide to LocalBusiness JSON-LD
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Roughly 46% of all Google searches have local intent — people looking for a nearby business or service.
About 76% of people who search for something nearby on their phone visit a related business within a day.
Generating valid LocalBusiness JSON-LD with this tool takes under a minute — no code required.
If you run a business with a physical location — a cafe, a law firm, a dental practice, a plumbing service — LocalBusiness schema is one of the highest-leverage technical SEO changes you can make. It tells Google exactly who you are, where you are, when you're open, and how to reach you, in a format search engines parse with zero ambiguity.
This guide explains what LocalBusiness JSON-LD is, the fields that actually matter, how to add it to your site correctly, and the mistakes that quietly break it. By the end you'll be able to generate valid markup in seconds and know exactly where to paste it.
What Is LocalBusiness Schema?
LocalBusiness schema is a type of structured data from the schema.org vocabulary that describes a brick-and-mortar business. You embed it in your page as JSON-LD — a small script of machine-readable JSON — so search engines can understand your business as an entity rather than guessing from plain text.
Once Google trusts that data, it can power the rich elements you see in local search: the business name, address, phone number, opening hours, star ratings, and the map pin in the local pack and knowledge panel. JSON-LD is Google's recommended format because it lives in one block and doesn't tangle with your visible HTML.
Why LocalBusiness Schema Matters for Local SEO
Search engines reward clarity. When your address, hours, and contact details are explicit and consistent, you reduce the work Google has to do — and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) signals across your site, your schema, and your Google Business Profile are a core local-ranking factor.
The practical payoff is visibility and trust. A result that shows hours, a phone number, and a price range earns more clicks than a bare blue link. For "near me" and after-hours searches, accurate openingHoursSpecification can be the difference between a customer calling you or your competitor.
The Fields That Actually Matter
You don't need every property schema.org offers. Focus on the ones Google reads and customers see:
- @type — use the most specific subtype that fits (e.g.
Restaurant,Dentist,Plumber) instead of the genericLocalBusiness; specific types unlock richer features. - name — your exact business name, matching your storefront and Google Business Profile.
- address — a full
PostalAddresswith street, city, region, postal code, and a 2-letter ISO country code. - telephone — in international format (e.g.
+1-512-555-0142) so click-to-call works. - url and image — your website and a logo or storefront photo; Google recommends an image for local results.
- openingHoursSpecification — per-day hours in 24-hour
HH:MMform, with closed days simply omitted. - geo — latitude and longitude as decimal degrees, pinning your exact location on the map.
- priceRange — a quick affordability signal such as
$$or$$ - $$$. - sameAs — links to your social and directory profiles to reinforce the entity.
How to Add LocalBusiness Schema to Your Site
1. Generate valid JSON-LD
Fill in your details above and the generator produces a clean schema.org object instantly. It groups identical opening days into single specifications and validates your coordinates and country code, so you ship correct markup, not a guess.
2. Paste the script into the page
Copy the <script type="application/ld+json"> block and add it to the HTML of the page about that location — usually your homepage or a dedicated location page. It can go in the <head> or near the end of the <body>; placement doesn't affect how Google reads it.
3. Match what's on the page
Google's guidelines require that structured data reflects content visible to users. Show the same address, phone, and hours on the page itself — don't mark up information a visitor can't see.
4. Validate and monitor
Run the URL through Google's Rich Results Test and the Schema Markup Validator. Both flag missing required fields and syntax errors. After deployment, watch Search Console for any structured-data issues.
Common LocalBusiness Schema Mistakes
- Using the generic type when a specific subtype exists — you leave features on the table.
- Inconsistent NAP between your schema, your page, and your Google Business Profile, which erodes trust.
- 12-hour or malformed times —
openingHoursSpecificationexpects 24-hourHH:MM. - Swapped or out-of-range coordinates — latitude must be between -90 and 90, longitude between -180 and 180.
- Marking up an invisible address, which violates Google's structured-data policies.
Avoid those five and your markup will validate cleanly and stay eligible for rich results. The generator above guards against most of them automatically.
Expert Tips
Pick the most specific business type
Google maps specific subtypes like Restaurant, Dentist, or Plumber to richer features than the generic LocalBusiness type. Choose the closest match in the dropdown to unlock the most relevant rich results.
Keep your NAP perfectly consistent
Your name, address, and phone in the schema must match your visible page content and your Google Business Profile exactly. Even small mismatches — "St" vs "Street" — weaken the trust signal that drives local rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LocalBusiness schema used for?
LocalBusiness schema gives search engines structured details about a physical business — its name, address, phone, hours, location, and price range. Google uses it to power local-pack listings, knowledge panels, and rich features like click-to-call and opening hours directly in search results.
Where do I put the LocalBusiness JSON-LD on my site?
Paste the generated <script type="application/ld+json"> block into the HTML of the page that represents that location, typically your homepage or a location page. It can sit in the <head> or before the closing </body> tag — both work equally well.
Do I need latitude and longitude in my schema?
They're optional but recommended. Adding geo coordinates pins your business precisely on the map and helps Google associate the listing with the right location, which is especially useful when your street address is ambiguous or new.
Is LocalBusiness schema a guaranteed ranking boost?
No structured data guarantees higher rankings, but it helps Google understand and trust your business and makes you eligible for rich results that earn more clicks. Combined with a complete, consistent Google Business Profile, it's a reliable foundation for local SEO .