What we found checking 275 new Chicago businesses on Google
We looked up newly licensed Chicago businesses on Google, the way a new customer would. Here is what we saw, how we checked, and what it can't tell you.
Read what the video says
From our own checks, 2026. We looked up 275 new Chicago businesses on Google, the way a customer would. 118, about 2 in 5, had a problem we confirmed: customers may not find them, or can't reach them. What we saw most, out of 275: 59 didn't come up when we searched their name. 18 had no phone number on Google. 17 were listed as the wrong kind of business. 14 had another business or an old location at their address. These were new businesses. The same check works for any business. New or established, see what your customers see. Check my business, free, at sylvaniaconsulting.org.
The short version
275
New Chicago businesses we checked
151 (55%)
Had at least one thing that could stop a customer
118 (about 2 in 5)
Had a problem we confirmed: customers may not find them, or can't reach them
What we saw most
| Problem | Businesses out of 275 |
|---|---|
| Did not come up when we searched their name | 59 |
| Hours on Google that make them look closed or odd | 25 |
| No phone number on their Google listing | 18 |
| Listed as the wrong kind of business | 17 |
| Far fewer reviews than a similar business nearby | 17 |
| Another business showing at the same address | 8 |
| Only an old location showing | 6 |
One business can have more than one problem, so these don't add up to 151. Odd hours and fewer reviews are marked "Probably": the hours may be right, and review counts are a comparison, not an error.
Which businesses
These businesses got a new Chicago business license between late October 2025 and late September 2026.
The list comes from the City of Chicago's public business license data. We chose businesses that customers usually find on a map:
- beauty and personal care: 170
- auto services: 42
- fitness and wellness: 38
- home and local services: 23
- other: 2
We started with new businesses because the City publishes every new license, so we could check them all the same way.
The same check works for any business, new or established.
How we checked
- We looked up each business by its name and address in Google's business listings and searched its name, the way a new customer would.
- We noted what a customer would run into: not coming up, no phone, hours that look closed, the wrong kind of business, another business at the same address.
- Checks were done in 2026. The data was put together on October 6, 2026.
What this can't tell you
- It is one look at one moment. Listings change, and many new businesses are still setting up.
- We checked Google only. We did not check websites, Apple Maps or Bing for this study.
- A problem we saw is not proof that a business lost customers.
- These 275 are not a random sample, so the percentages describe these businesses, not every business in Chicago.
- We have not yet run the same study on established businesses, so these numbers say nothing about them.
- We don't name any business here.
New or established, see what your customers see.
Search your business name the way a customer would. Or let us look for you.
Check my business, free →