What Is Bing Places for Business?
Bing Places for Business is Microsoft's free tool for claiming, adding and updating a business listing that can appear in Bing search and Bing Maps results.
Microsoft describes it as the place to “claim your business listing” and to get “instant data-backed insights and analytics” (Bing Places). It sits beside Bing Webmaster Tools, which handles website crawling rather than local listings; see how to verify your site in Bing Webmaster Tools. If you already have a Google listing, our Google Business Profile guide covers that one; Apple has its own, in claiming an Apple Business Connect listing.
Limitation of this guide: the sign-in area of Bing Places requires a login and we did not sign in. We could read only the public landing page and one Microsoft Support article. Screen names, verification methods and import options below are therefore described by purpose, not by exact label.
How to Set Up Bing Places for Business at a Glance
| Step | Action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prepare your business details and proof of connection | A single reference sheet of name, address, phone, website, hours |
| 2 | Open Bing Places for Business and sign in | Access to the management area |
| 3 | Search for an existing listing | A decision to claim it or add a new one |
| 4 | Claim the listing or add a new one | The listing is attached to your account |
| 5 | Complete verification | Bing recognises you as the owner or manager |
| 6 | Review the listing and check it in Bing | The public result matches your details |
Time: about 30 minutes plus any verification wait (our estimate). Tools: a browser and a business sign-in. Cost: the listing is free per the Bing Places site; advertising is separate and optional. Skill level: beginner.
What You Need Before Starting
- The legal or trading name, the full address (or service area if you travel to customers), a phone number you answer and the website address.
- Opening hours and the business category that best describes what you do.
- Access to the phone number or email you will use for verification.
- Logo and photos you own or have the right to use.
- The details already on your Google Business Profile and website, so they match; see how to set up a Google Business Profile.
Step 1: Prepare Your Business Details in One Reference Sheet
Write the details once and copy them exactly. Our advice: identical details everywhere avoid conflicting information between your listings and your website.
Process: use the same business name, address format and phone number everywhere. Match your website footer and, if you use it, your Organization schema. Decide your category before you start. Expected result: one sheet with every field. Common mistake: adding keywords to the business name; it misrepresents the business, and listing rules we could not read may reject it.
Step 2: Open Bing Places for Business and Sign In
Go to the Bing Places for Business site and choose Get started or Sign in. The landing page shows both (Bing Places).
Process: use an account that belongs to the business, not a personal account of an employee who may leave. Keep the sign-in details in your company password manager. We cannot confirm which account types are accepted because the sign-in screens are not public. Expected result: access to the management area. Common mistake: registering with an agency's account, which can make later transfer harder.
Step 3: Search for an Existing Listing Before You Add One
Look for your business first. A duplicate listing splits your data between two records, so check first (our advice; Bing's rules for duplicates are not public).
Process: search your business name and address inside the tool. If the system offers a match, that is the listing to claim; Microsoft Support's wording is “claim or update your business listing” (Microsoft Support). If none is found, plan to add a new one. Expected result: a clear decision. Common mistake: creating a new listing because the name differs slightly.
Step 4: Claim the Listing or Add a New One
Follow the on-screen prompts to claim the match or enter your reference sheet. Enter every field you have.
Process: enter name, address, phone, website, category and hours; add photos if the interface asks for them. Bing may also offer ways to bring in details from other platforms; because we could not see those screens, check the on-screen options and confirm every field after any import. Expected result: a draft or pending listing. Common mistake: accepting imported details without checking them for errors.
Step 5: Complete Verification
Complete whichever verification option Bing offers for your listing. Verification is how Bing can tie a listing to someone who controls it (our reading; the rules are not public).
Process: choose the method you can finish quickly with the contact details you control, and follow the instructions. If verification fails, do not create another listing; check that the details you supplied match what Bing has, and retry. If the on-screen route is blocked, use the Support or Help links in the footer of the Bing Places site; the Microsoft Support article we read does not describe verification. Expected result: the listing shows as verified or active in the tool. Common mistake: using a phone number that nobody can answer.
Step 6: Review the Listing and Check It in Bing
After verification, review every field and then search for the business on Bing and Bing Maps. Changes can take time to appear, and we did not measure how long.
Process: search the business name and city, open the result, and compare it with your reference sheet. Add the listing details to your online newsroom or contact page so the website agrees with the listing. Expected result: a public result that matches. Common mistake: never checking the public result.
How to Verify It Worked
- In the tool: the listing shows as verified or live and has no unresolved warnings.
- In Bing: a search for the business name and location shows your details; Microsoft says features may vary by region.
- Consistency: the name, address, phone and website match your website and other listings.
- Access: two named people can sign in or recover the account.
How to Choose Where to List First
| Situation | Recommended method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local business with customers searching on maps | Google Business Profile first, then Bing Places and Apple | Same details across all three |
| Business already listed on Google | Use the same reference sheet for Bing | Consistency is the goal |
| Online-only company without a public address | Check whether a service-area or online option exists on-screen | We could not confirm options without signing in |
| Multiple locations | Plan a consistent data file before entering any | Avoids duplicated listings |
| You want paid visibility | Treat advertising as separate | The listing itself is described as free |
For the Google and Apple comparison, see Google Business Profile vs Apple Business.
Percent share of search engine referrals measured by Statcounter, all platforms, September 2026
Source: Statcounter Global Stats, Search engine market share, September 2026, United States, all platforms.
Statcounter’s figures come from page views on websites that use its tracking code, not from the search engines’ own data, and are not Microsoft figures. They cover all searches, not map or local searches specifically.
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate listings | New listing created beside an unclaimed one | Claim the existing one; ask through the site's Support link about the duplicate |
| Verification not completing | Contact method not reachable | Use a method you can complete; retry with the same details |
| Wrong address or hours in Bing | Third-party data not yet replaced | Update in the tool and re-check later |
| Listing not accepted | Details mismatched or misleading | Use the real name and consistent details; ask through the site's Support link for the reason |
| Feature missing | Not available in your country or region | Microsoft says availability varies by country or region |
What Not to Do
- Do not list a business you are not authorised to manage. Consequence: you misrepresent who controls the business. Correction: get written authority first.
- Do not create duplicates. Consequence: split data. Correction: claim the existing listing.
- Do not use a virtual or false address to appear local. Consequence: it misleads customers and may breach listing rules. Correction: use a real address or service area.
- Do not buy reviews or ratings. Consequence: it misleads customers and is likely to break platform rules (we could not read Bing's listing rules). Correction: ask real customers for honest feedback.
- Do not assume an outcome. Consequence: unmet expectations. Correction: treat the listing as one data point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bing Places for Business free?
The Bing Places site says you can list your business on Bing for free. Advertising through Microsoft Advertising is a separate, optional product, and we did not check its pricing.
Do I need Bing Places if I have a Google Business Profile?
They are separate systems. Microsoft Support names Bing Places for Business as the tool for Bing Maps results. If customers use Bing, a consistent listing there is worth the short setup time.
Can I import my Google Business Profile into Bing Places?
We could not confirm this because the sign-in screens are not public. Check the on-screen options when you sign in, and verify every imported field afterwards.
How long does Bing take to show my listing?
We could not find Microsoft guidance on timing and did not measure it. Check after verification and again later.
Does a Bing Places listing help my website rank?
Microsoft does not say it does. Its purpose is accurate business information in Bing Maps and search results. Do not expect a ranking effect.
What if my business has no storefront?
We could not confirm service-area options without signing in. Look at the address and service area choices on-screen and enter only information that is true and verifiable.
Sources and Methodology
This guide is built from the public Bing Places for Business landing page and one Microsoft Support article, both read on October 9, 2026. We did not sign in, create a listing or test verification, so screen names, verification methods, import options and timing are not described in detail and no UI labels are quoted beyond Get started and Sign in. Statistics on the landing page are Microsoft's own. Microsoft says features vary by country or region. Check the current Support pages before relying on any step.
- vendor Microsoft, Bing Places for Business (landing page). Read October 9, 2026.
- official Microsoft Support, Add and manage your business listing. Read October 9, 2026.
- guide Media Morpheus, How to set up a Google Business Profile and Google Business Profile vs Apple Business, for the parallel listings.
- vendor research Statcounter Global Stats, Search engine market share in the United States, September 2026. Read October 10, 2026.