Glossary
Google Screened
Google Screened is a verification badge displayed on Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) indicating that a business has passed Google's background check, license verification, and insurance validation process. Unlike Google Guaranteed, which offers a financial reimbursement if a customer is dissatisfied, Google Screened is the badge level required for professional services — including law firms, real estate agents, and financial advisors — where background and license verification is the primary trust signal rather than a service guarantee. Businesses must complete a multi-step screening process that includes business-level background checks, individual practitioner license verification where applicable, and periodic re-verification. The badge appears as a green checkmark with the words 'Google Screened' on the provider's LSA profile, giving potential clients visual assurance of legitimacy before they initiate contact. For regulated professional services that rely on both reputation and compliance to win clients, the Google Screened badge serves as a competitive moat — providers who earn it appear more credible than unscreened competitors in the same market.