If you’re are a garage door company or locksmith getting ready to run Google Ads or Local Services Ads, there is an important step that often gets missed early on, and delays the launch of ads.

Before your ads can run, Google requires you to complete something called Advanced Verification.

This is not something you can skip or work around. If your business falls into one of these categories, it needs to be done in order to get your campaigns live.

Understanding it upfront will save you time, prevent delays, and help you get advertising quicker.

What Advanced Verification Is

Advanced Verification is a required approval process for certain local service industries that Google considers higher risk. This includes garage door companies in the United States and locksmiths in both the United States and Canada.

Google uses this process to confirm that your business is legitimate and operating as advertised.

They are verifying:

• Your business is real
• Your location is valid
• Your ownership and identity are accurate
• Your services match what you claim publicly

If you do not complete this step, your ads will not run. It is as simple as that.

Why Google Requires This

These industries have had long-standing issues with fake listings, call centers posing as local businesses, and misleading pricing.

Google responded by tightening control over who is allowed to advertise.

The goal is to:

• Reduce fraudulent advertisers
• Improve trust in search results
• Ensure customers are contacting real businesses

For legitimate operators, this creates a barrier to entry. That is not a bad thing. It removes a lot of low-quality competition from the auction.

What You Need Before You Start

Most delays happen because businesses are not prepared when they begin the process.

Here is what you should have ready.

Basic Business Information

• Legal business name
• Physical address
• Phone number
• Website
• Google Ads account ID

Legal Documentation

• State business registration
• DBA documentation if applicable
• Professional license if your state requires one

Supporting Proof

• A website that clearly represents your business
• Branding that matches your business name
• Any additional documentation that proves you operate locally

Google will compare everything you submit with public records and your online presence. If things do not match, the process slows down.

The Video Verification Step

In many cases, Google will require a live video call, or a submitted video.

This, while annoying, is a normal ask, and sometimes just part of the process.

During the call, you may be asked to:

• Show your business location or service vehicle
• Display tools or equipment related to your work
• Confirm your identity
• Answer basic questions about your business

The goal is to verify that you are a real operator and not a lead generation middleman.

How to Complete the Process

The steps are straightforward, but attention to detail matters.

1. Submit the Advanced Verification request through Google Ads
2. Enter your business and account details
3. Upload all requested documents
4. Respond quickly to any follow-up emails
5. Complete video verification if requested
6. Wait for final approval

Incomplete or inconsistent information is the most common reason this process drags out.

Timeline Expectations

Unfortunately, this is not an instant approval situation.

Typical timelines look like this:

• Fast approvals can take 2 to 4 weeks
• Most fall into the 4 to 8 week range
• Some take 2 to 3 months or longer if there are issues

If additional verification or corrections are needed, expect delays. This is why it’s so important to tackle this well before you want to go live with ads.

One Important Note After Approval

Even after you are approved for Advanced Verification, your ads may still show as “limited” inside Google Ads.

This is normal for these industries.

It does not mean your account is still under review or that something is wrong. It is simply how Google labels these verticals internally due to their higher scrutiny.

If you are approved and your campaigns are set up correctly, your ads can still run and generate leads.

Common Reasons for Delays

There are a few patterns that show up repeatedly.

• Business name does not match legal records
• Address is unclear or tied to a virtual office
• Website does not clearly represent the business
• Missing or outdated licensing
• Inconsistent information across your website, Google Ads, and Google Business Profile
• Slow responses to Google requests

Everything needs to align. Google is checking.

Upon Getting Verified, That’s When the Real Work Begins

Getting through Advanced Verification is just step one. It gets you in the game, but it does not guarantee leads.

What matters next is how your campaigns are structured, how your budget is allocated, and how your account is managed over time.

If you are planning to run Google Ads after getting approved, LeadMax Partners can help. We’ve done it successfully for others, and we can do it for you. Contact us to set up an introduction call!