This is a very common question that we hear from local business owners. It depends on a variety of unique factors; however, I will provide ranges on how long it typically takes to rank in local search below. New Local Business: New local business in a low-competition niche should expert three to six months of SEO work New local business in a competitive niche should expect six to nine months of SEO work New local business in a highly competitive niche should expect nine to sixteen months of SEO work Existing Business with accurate listing on Google: Existing business in a low-competition niche should expect two to six months of SEO work Existing local business in a competitive niche should expect three to nine months of SEO work Existing local business in a highly competitive niche should expect six to twelve months of SEO work The important point to remember is that while there are certain guidelines that Google publicly discloses as the determination for positions on local search, in many cases, when you look at businesses that are ranked above you, it can be difficult to understand the reasoning. So, we ask you to consider the ranges listed above as guidelines. Reach out to us if you have questions about your business. We would be happy to send you a Google Maps report to show how you rank in your local area.