OpenAI recently introduced Businesses in ChatGPT, a new feature that lets businesses claim their profiles, update their information, and see how people find them through ChatGPT.
Naturally, we wanted to see how it works.
We searched for several of our clients across different industries. Some businesses appeared in the results, while others didn't. We also tried creating a new business profile and ended up on a waitlist.
Here's what we found.
ChatGPT Business Hub is a new platform where businesses can manage their information and see how they're being discovered through ChatGPT.
It's somewhat similar to Google Business Profile, although the features are different.
Businesses that qualify can use it to:
Personally, I find the reporting features particularly interesting.
We've been talking about AI search visibility for a while now, but measuring it hasn't been easy. Being able to see mentions and website clicks directly from ChatGPT could give businesses a better idea of how people discover them.
There are some limitations. The data is aggregated, and businesses can't see individual customer conversations or the exact questions people ask.
Not every business can create or claim a profile yet.
According to OpenAI's documentation, availability depends on the type of business, its location, and whether it meets the verification requirements.
Here's what we know about the current rollout:
| Business type | Current availability |
|---|---|
| Local stores and restaurants | Can claim existing U.S. listings. Creating new listings isn't generally available yet. |
| Online businesses | Eligible businesses can claim existing profiles or create new ones. |
| Ecommerce businesses | Eligible businesses can claim or create profiles and share product information. |
| Online service businesses | Eligible businesses can claim or create profiles, subject to verification. |
| Other physical businesses, such as gyms, clinics, and summer camps | OpenAI hasn't published a complete list of eligible industries. Availability may vary. |
Business Agents have additional requirements and are currently available to eligible ecommerce and online service businesses in the United States.
So, what happens when you actually try to add a business?
We started by searching for several CommonMind clients in ChatGPT Business Hub.
Most of the businesses we checked didn't appear in the results. However, we did find an existing entry for our client, a SaaS management platform.
When we searched for this client, ChatGPT displayed several matching businesses, including the correct company with its website.
After selecting the correct option, ChatGPT displayed a screen inviting us to claim the business.
The screen explained the available features and noted that we'd need to verify our authorization to represent the company.
We decided not to proceed with verification. Instead, we'll share the listing with our client so they can claim it directly.
One thing worth mentioning: finding a business in the search results doesn't necessarily mean its profile has already been claimed. It simply means there's an existing entry available to select.
Next, we tested the creation process another CommonMind client with multiple summer camp locations across New York and Maine.
Unlike our SaaS client, our local SEO client didn't appear in the search results.
However, ChatGPT offered us the option to create a new business.
After selecting Create, ChatGPT asked how customers usually interact with the business:
Since our client operates physical summer camp locations, we selected the first option.
Instead of asking for the business information, ChatGPT directed us to a waitlist.
We joined the waitlist, and ChatGPT displayed a message confirming that we're on it. OpenAI says it will email us when we can continue creating the business profile.
And that's where our test ended.
Our experience shows that even when ChatGPT offers the option to create a business, you might not be able to complete the process right away.
If your business already appears in Business Hub, here's how the process works according to OpenAI:
You must own the business or be authorized to represent it.
Agencies can also be given access to manage business profiles. For our clients, we'd generally prefer that they claim their businesses first and then grant us access if needed.
If your company operates multiple locations, keep in mind that Business Hub doesn't currently support managing them all from one central account.
This is probably the question most business owners will have.
And the short answer is: not necessarily.
OpenAI says that claiming a business doesn't guarantee better placement in ChatGPT recommendations.
ChatGPT can recommend businesses whether they've claimed their profiles or not.
Still, Business Hub could be useful. It gives businesses a way to manage their information and access data about how people discover them through ChatGPT.
Here are a few things worth keeping in mind:
| Question | What we know |
|---|---|
| Will claiming improve my ChatGPT rankings? | There's no guaranteed ranking benefit. |
| Does my business need to be claimed to appear in ChatGPT? | No. Unclaimed businesses can appear in recommendations. |
| Can I see how often my business appears? | Eligible, verified businesses can access mention and website-click data. |
| Can I see what customers ask ChatGPT? | No. Individual conversations and questions aren't shared. |
| Can every business create a profile? | Not yet. Some businesses may need to join a waitlist. |
| Can my marketing agency manage my profile? | Yes, authorized agencies can be granted access. |
It's still early, so we'll need more time to understand how useful these features will be in practice.
Even if you can't create or claim your business today, there are a few things worth doing.
1. Check whether your business is listed.
Visit ChatGPT Business Hub and search for your business. If it appears, review the claiming requirements and make sure you've selected the correct company.
2. Claim your profile or join the waitlist.
If your business is eligible, follow the verification process. Otherwise, join the waitlist if that option is available.
3. Keep your business information accurate.
Make sure your website clearly explains what you offer, where you operate, and how customers can contact you. If you have physical locations, keep your Google Business Profile and other relevant listings updated.
4. See how ChatGPT describes your business.
Try asking questions your potential customers might ask.
For example, a software company could check recommendations for its product category, while a summer camp could look at recommendations for specific programs or locations.
See whether your business appears and whether the information is accurate. Just remember that ChatGPT responses can vary, so a few searches won't give you a complete picture.
I think so.
The feature is still new, and our testing showed that not every business can take advantage of it immediately.
But having a way to manage business information and see how people discover your company through ChatGPT is a welcome development.
For now, I'd recommend checking whether your business is listed, claiming it if you're eligible, and joining the waitlist if you're not.
In the meantime, the fundamentals haven't changed. Accurate business information, a well-maintained website, and useful content still matter.
If you're interested in other ways to help customers discover your business through AI, take a look at our article on AI visibility for local businesses.