How to Set Up Google Business Profile

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Project

1. Go to Google Cloud Console and sign in with your agency Google account.
2. Click the project dropdown at the top and select New Project.
3. Name it something like FlameGrower GBP and click Create.
4. Wait a few seconds for the project to be created, then select it from the dropdown.

Step 2: Enable the APIs

FlameGrower uses 3 separate Google APIs — all three must be enabled:

1. From the left sidebar, go to APIs & Services → Library.
2. Search for and enable each of these:
   • My Business Account Management API
   • My Business Business Information API
   • Business Profile API (may also appear as "Google My Business API")
3. Confirm all three show as Enabled under APIs & Services → Enabled APIs and services.

Step 3: Request GBP API Access (Critical!)

1. Go to Google's GBP API Access Request page.
2. Fill out the request form. In the "Use case" section, explain:
   • You're building a reputation management platform (FlameGrower Reviews)
   • You need to read reviews and manage locations for your agency's business clients
   • Each client authorizes their own account via OAuth
3. Submit and wait for Google's approval email (typically 1–3 business days).
4. After approval, your quotas will show non-zero values, and API calls will work.

Step 4: Configure the OAuth Consent Screen

1. Go to APIs & Services → OAuth consent screen.
2. Choose External user type and click Create.
3. Fill in:
   • App name: FlameGrower Reviews
   • User support email: Your agency email
   • Developer contact: Your agency email
4. Click Save and Continue. Skip the Scopes page. On Test Users, add your own email and click Save and Continue.

Step 5: Create OAuth Credentials

1. Go to APIs & Services → Credentials.
2. Click + Create Credentials → OAuth client ID.
3. Choose Web application as the application type.
4. Give it a name like "FlameGrower Web".
5. Under Authorized redirect URIs, click + Add URI and enter:
   https://reviews.flamegrower.com/oauth/google/callback
6. Click Create.
7. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret — you'll paste them below on the Integrations page.

Step 6: Enter Credentials

Back on the Integrations page, paste the Client ID and Client Secret into the Google Business Profile section and click Save Settings.

Step 7: Increase API Quotas (Critical!)

1. Go to APIs & Services → Quotas.
2. In the filter, search for "Requests per minute".
3. Find and increase both of these to at least 30 RPM:
   • My Business Account Management API — Requests per minute
   • My Business Business Information API — Requests per minute
4. Click each one, choose Edit (pencil icon), set the new limit, and submit.
5. Quota increases usually take effect within a few minutes.

Step 8: Go to Production (Important!)

1. Go to APIs & Services → OAuth consent screen.
2. Click Publish App.
3. Google may require verification depending on the sensitive scopes requested — follow their prompts.