LocalBusiness Schema: How to Show Your Hours and Address Directly in Google
A practical guide to LocalBusiness schema: how to help Google display your opening hours, address and phone right in the search results.
You search Google for a restaurant's name and instantly see, under the result, something like "Open · Closes 10 PM," the address and a call button. That's not luck or magic: behind it sits a special piece of code called structured data, and for local businesses the schema that matters is LocalBusiness.
Many owners assume it's enough to write their hours somewhere on the site. But Google "reads" far better when you hand it the information in a standard format it understands exactly. In this article I'll explain, in plain terms, what LocalBusiness schema is, what it can and can't do, what it actually looks like, and how to add it to your site without breaking anything. No "guaranteed #1" promises - just what genuinely works.
What LocalBusiness schema actually is
LocalBusiness schema is a block of code (JSON-LD) you add to your page, where you "translate" your business details for Google: name, address, phone, hours, service area, social links.
The difference from ordinary text is that search engines don't have to guess. When you write "Mon-Fri 9-6" on the page, Google may or may not parse it. When you give the same thing through `openingHoursSpecification`, it knows for certain: day by day, opening time, closing time.
You also get specialized types: `Restaurant`, `BeautySalon`, `Dentist`, `HairSalon`, `Store` and more. Pick the one closest to your activity - it's more precise than the generic LocalBusiness.
What shows up (and what does NOT) thanks to schema
Let's be honest so you don't set the wrong expectations:
- Your hours, address and phone appear mainly through your Google Business Profile (formerly "Google My Business"), not strictly from the schema on your site. The profile is source number one for the right-hand panel and for Google Maps.
- LocalBusiness schema reinforces and confirms the same data. It helps Google tie your website to the real business and boosts trust in the consistency of your information.
- There's no guarantee Google will show a specific "rich result." Google decides on its own what to display, based on the query and the quality of your data.
The golden rule: keep the exact same NAP (Name, Address, Phone) and hours on the site, in the schema, and in Google Business Profile. Mismatches hurt you.
What the code looks like, briefly
Here's a simplified JSON-LD example you place in the `<head>` or before `</body>`:
- `@type`: the business type (e.g. `BeautySalon`)
- `name`, `telephone`, `url`, `image`
- `address` with street, city, postal code, country
- `geo` with latitude and longitude
- `openingHoursSpecification`: for each block, the days, `opens` and `closes`
A few practical rules:
- Write times in 24h format ("09:00", "18:00").
- If you're closed on a day, simply leave it out.
- For a split schedule (lunch break), add two separate blocks for the same day.
- The address in the schema must match, letter for letter, the one in Google Business Profile.
Concrete steps to put it in practice
1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile - it's free and it's the single biggest lever for showing up in Maps and local search.
2. Lock in one NAP: the exact same name, the same spelling of the address, and the same phone everywhere.
3. Add LocalBusiness schema to your contact page and, ideally, your homepage.
4. Test it with Google's Rich Results Test and the Schema Markup Validator. They flag errors and warnings.
5. Ask Google to re-index the page from Search Console.
6. Update holiday hours in BOTH the schema (`specialOpeningHoursSpecification`) AND Google Business Profile - otherwise customers show up to a locked door.
Don't want to touch code? That's fine
LocalBusiness schema isn't hard, but one missing comma breaks the whole JSON, and an address written differently from your Google Business Profile can scramble your signals. If you're not comfortable editing code, it's perfectly normal to ask for help - what matters is that it's done once, correctly.
At MPO Web Studio we build websites for local businesses across the country, remotely, and we put the correct schema in from the start: hours, address, phone, the right business type - all validated and synced with your Google profile. We can even prepare a free demo of your site before you pay anything, so you see exactly how it looks.
If you'd like a hand, or just a check of what you already have, message us on WhatsApp - we'll tell you honestly what's fine and what's worth fixing.
Frequently asked questions
If I already have a Google Business Profile, do I still need schema on the site?+
The profile is the main source for hours and address in Maps and the side panel. Site schema doesn't replace it, but it reinforces it: it confirms the site and the business are the same entity and keeps data consistent. Ideally you have both, with identical information.
Does LocalBusiness schema push me higher in Google?+
Not directly, and nobody can guarantee you a position. Schema helps Google understand your data correctly and raises the chance useful elements (hours, phone) appear next to your result. Ranking depends on far more: reviews, relevance, speed, content. Run from anyone promising "guaranteed #1."
How do I set holiday hours or days off?+
In the schema you use `specialOpeningHoursSpecification` with the exact date and times (or a closed marker). Just as important, update the same special hours in Google Business Profile, since that's where most customers look.
How do I check whether my schema works?+
Use Google's Rich Results Test and the Schema Markup Validator - paste the URL or the code and they'll show errors and warnings. Then request re-indexing in Search Console. Actual display in Google can take days or weeks.
Do I need latitude and longitude in the schema?+
They're not mandatory, but they help. You can grab them easily from Google Maps (right-click the location). The most important thing is still that the written address is identical everywhere; coordinates are added precision.
7 mistakes that drive clients away from your website
Leave your email and get the guide right here, instantly. No spam.
Want to see what your business's website could look like?
Message us on WhatsApp and we'll prepare a FREE demo website with your business name. See it first — decide after.