On 10 November 2026, OpenAI launched Businesses in ChatGPT in beta. For the first time, a business can claim the profile ChatGPT shows for it, correct its details, and see how often ChatGPT mentions it. OpenAI says ChatGPT reaches about 1.2 billion people every week (OpenAI’s own figure).
If you run or market a business, this is worth ten minutes of attention. Below is the full process, step by step, plus the limits nobody should skip: who can claim, what you can edit, and what claiming does not do.
At Webspecia, we help healthcare and local businesses get found in Google and in AI answers like ChatGPT through our SEO, AEO and GEO services. So we’ve pulled together everything confirmed so far about Business Hub: what OpenAI has said, what early testers are seeing, and what it means for businesses in India.
Beta note: Businesses in ChatGPT launched only a few days ago. Eligibility, countries and features are changing quickly, and early testers are reporting different screens. Re-check OpenAI’s help pages before you start. Where something comes from early testers rather than OpenAI, we say so.
What is “Businesses in ChatGPT”?
It is OpenAI’s new programme for business profiles inside ChatGPT. Think of it as roughly the ChatGPT equivalent of a Google Business Profile: a record of your business that ChatGPT may use when answering people’s questions about companies, products and services. A claimed and verified profile shows a blue check.
It has two parts:
- Business Hub: the dashboard where you claim and verify your business, edit your profile (website, description, category, logo, cover photo, delivery and return policies), add a product feed, and see Insights (aggregate numbers on how ChatGPT shows your business).
- Business Agents (optional): an AI assistant that answers customer questions about your business in a separate, clearly labelled chat. Currently limited to eligible US ecommerce and online service businesses.
Do not confuse this with “ChatGPT Business”, which is OpenAI’s paid workplace subscription for your team. It is a different product and you do not need it to claim a profile.
Who can claim a business profile?
OpenAI says eligible businesses located wherever ChatGPT is available can claim, and that eligibility depends on industry, location and verification checks. Claiming is initially aimed at businesses with a website.
| Business type | Can you claim today? |
|---|---|
| Online business with a website | Yes, where ChatGPT is available and the required verification is supported |
| Local store or restaurant | Only an existing US listing can be claimed for now. New local listings cannot be added |
| US ecommerce or online service business | Yes, and you can also apply for a Business Agent |
| Multi-location brand | Each brand and location is handled separately. Claiming the main brand does not claim its locations. Brands on a managed claim process have location profiles locked by default |
| Existing OpenAI Enterprise customer or ChatGPT advertiser | Claim through your OpenAI representative |
You must own the business or be authorised to represent it. OpenAI’s Businesses in ChatGPT policy also says not every business can claim: it may decline businesses that raise safety or integrity concerns, and it is holding back some categories until it has safeguards in place. It has not published which categories.
What about India?
OpenAI has not published a country list for Business Hub. Here is what early reports show:
- The online business with a website path is the realistic route. One Indian tester created a draft profile from India, passed the domain check, and saw India listed as a government ID country in Persona (the ID checker). That tester had not yet seen a final approval.
- Reports conflict. Other users have reported the Persona country field locked to the US, and one agency in South Asia reported being asked for US business details. Expect this to vary by account until OpenAI clarifies.
- The “physical location” path ends on a waitlist. Indian and other non-US testers who chose it were sent straight to a waitlist. So an Indian clinic, salon or restaurant should not expect a local listing today.
- The “Service” option is marked “Coming soon”. Agencies, consultants and other service businesses currently have to use the website path, if their business fits it.
- Business Agents are US-only for now.
So, for an Indian business, try the online business with a website path, and treat approval as uncertain.
Webspecia tip: If you’re an Indian business, claim your website-based profile now if the path is open to you, and get your website, Google Business Profile and directory listings consistent in the meantime. Those are the sources ChatGPT already relies on. Not sure where you stand? Book a free strategy call with our team.
Before you start: what to keep ready
Early users suggest keeping these ready (allow 20 to 30 minutes of hands-on work, plus waiting time):
- A ChatGPT account that will own the profile. A free account works. Use a company-owned account, not a personal one. The admin can later add teammates or give an agency access (each person uses their own ChatGPT account).
- A way to prove control, at least one of: access to your website’s DNS settings, the business phone number or email on the listing, or a Shopify store login
- A government-issued ID for the person managing the profile, and a device with a camera (early users report the ID step needs one)
- Business registration details that match official records exactly: legal name, address, and any registration or tax number
- Answers for delivery and return policies (the form asks for these even for service businesses)
- Your logo, cover photo and a short, accurate business description
Step-by-step: how to claim your business profile in ChatGPT
Step 1: Open Business Hub
Sign in to ChatGPT with the account that should own the business. Open Business Hub from the sidebar, or go to chatgpt.com/business-hub. If you got an email invitation, sign in with the address that received it.
Step 2: Search for your business
Search by name and look for the listing whose address and details match yours. A listing may already exist, because OpenAI can create listings from other sources, whether or not you claim them.
- Listing found: select it and choose Get started.
- No listing found: eligible online businesses may see a Create option. You are asked how customers reach you. Early testers saw three choices: a physical location (led to a waitlist), an online store or website (the path that reaches a draft profile), and a service (greyed out, “Coming soon”).
- “Contact support” shown: the listing is locked. You will need OpenAI’s help.
Step 3: Confirm the ChatGPT account
Confirm that the account you are signed in with is the one that should manage the profile.
Step 4: Choose a verification method
ChatGPT shows only the methods that apply to your business.
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Business phone | A code is sent by text or automated call to the number on the listing |
| Business email | A code is sent to the email address associated with the business |
| Website domain (DNS) | Add the TXT record shown to your DNS, then select Verify domain |
| Shopify store | Connect your Shopify store and approve permissions |
Tips:
- If you control your DNS, it is often the most reliable method, because it does not depend on the phone or email OpenAI has on file.
- Testers report the record name looks like openai-business-profile.yourdomain.com. Many DNS providers add your domain automatically, so enter only “openai-business-profile” in the host field.
- One tester reported the TXT value expired after about half an hour. Add it straight away, and request a new one if it fails.
- DNS changes can take minutes to a few hours to show up.
- Don’t remove the TXT record afterwards without checking.
Step 5: Wait for OpenAI’s review
OpenAI reviews the claim. No timeline is published. You get the decision by email, and OpenAI may ask for more information. You can cancel while it is under review.
Step 6: Complete identity verification with Persona
Next comes a separate identity check through Persona. It may ask for:
- a photo of a government-issued ID
- business registration details
- proof that you are authorised to represent the business
The blue check comes from this step, not from the claim. Until Persona is approved, you cannot edit the profile, add a product feed, see Insights or publish an agent.
Important: if you are creating a new profile (not claiming an existing one), OpenAI’s approval of the Persona check publishes it automatically, with no separate publish button. A published profile cannot be deleted (see below), so double-check every detail before you submit. Identity review can take days.
Step 7: Complete your profile
After verification you can edit:
- Website
- Business description (early users report a limit of roughly 300 characters with no counter. OpenAI does not document it)
- Business category
- Logo and cover photo
- Delivery and return policies
- Teammates and agency access
OpenAI reviews changes before they publish, so edits don’t appear instantly. Its policy requires information to be accurate and kept current: no false claims about prices, availability, qualifications or results, no fake reviews or endorsements, and no photos you don’t have rights to.
Step 8 (optional): Connect a product feed
If you sell products, you can share prices and availability by connecting Shopify or uploading a CSV or JSONL file that follows OpenAI’s product feed specification. Eligible Shopify products may already appear in ChatGPT through Shopify Catalog. The standard feed currently targets the US, and other markets need OpenAI to confirm the integration first. Feeds come with extra terms (including crawler access), so read them before you upload.
Step 9: Read your Insights
Insights shows aggregate totals for the past 28 days (testers also report a 7-day view):
| Metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Mentions | Online business: how often ChatGPT referenced your website. Local business: how often ChatGPT showed a result for your location. Your brand name alone does not count |
| Website clicks | Recorded clicks on links to your site in ChatGPT (not confirmed visits or sales) |
| Discovery topics | Grouped themes from conversations where your website appeared. Testers report the top five are shown |
| Profile views | Shown on the dashboard, but OpenAI has not yet defined how it is counted. Treat it with caution |
You don’t get individual prompts or conversations (including chats with your own Business Agent), competitor data, share of voice or rankings. Numbers appear only after passing privacy thresholds that OpenAI has not published, so a blank number doesn’t mean zero.
Step 10 (optional, US only): Set up a Business Agent
Eligible US ecommerce and online service businesses can build, test and publish an agent that answers customer questions, using only the instructions and product feed you provide. Customers choose to open it, and it runs in a separate, labelled chat. Being verified does not by itself make you eligible: OpenAI reviews the category and intended use separately.
Things to know:
- It cannot complete purchases, make bookings or look up a customer’s order. When a shopper is ready to buy, it sends them to your site.
- It must say it is an AI, must not invent products, prices or guarantees, must not use pressure tactics, and must not give advice that needs a professional licence.
- You see conversation themes, not transcripts.
- OpenAI reviews agents when created and updated, and can pause or remove them.
- You can sponsor your agent as the destination for ChatGPT Ads. Sponsored placements are labelled and kept separate from ChatGPT’s own answers. (For what this means for clinics, read What ChatGPT Sponsored Agents Mean for Healthcare Clinics.)
- You need an approved Persona check, and you must follow OpenAI’s Business Agents Policy.
What if someone else already claimed your business?
Open the profile, select the “•••” (more options) menu, choose Dispute ownership, and complete verification with Persona.
What claiming does NOT do
- No guaranteed ranking, placement or sales. OpenAI states this directly.
- Ads don’t buy better answers. Ads in ChatGPT are a separate paid product, and sponsored placements are labelled and kept apart from ChatGPT’s independent answers.
- No exclusive control. Profiles may include information from other sources, and OpenAI may edit or replace what you submit.
- Clicks are not visits.
- No central multi-location or multi-brand management yet. (Running several branches? See our local SEO strategies for multi-location clinics.)
- Published profiles can’t be deleted. Only unpublished drafts can. Testers report OpenAI Support cannot delete, unpublish or hide a published profile.
- No published merge process. OpenAI’s policy forbids creating duplicate profiles, and there is no documented way to merge them, so search carefully before you click Create.
- Read the terms. Early reviewers note that the terms let OpenAI create a listing whether or not you claim it, and include a display licence for basic details, confidentiality rules for Insights data, crawler-access terms for product feeds, and an indemnity clause. This is not legal advice: read them yourself or ask your lawyer.
- Don’t use a VPN or an account from an unsupported country to get around eligibility. That breaks OpenAI’s terms and can get the account blocked.
How much does it cost?
OpenAI lists no fee for claiming a profile or using Business Hub. An OpenAI executive told Digiday the tools are free for now and did not rule out paid options later. Some users report seeing ad-credit or paid-plan offers after submitting. You don’t need them.
Separate paid products, none of which is required to claim a profile:
- ChatGPT Business (workplace subscription): Standard seats are $25 per user per month billed monthly, or $20 per user per month billed annually, in most countries. Prices vary by country and currency.
- Ads in ChatGPT: a separate paid advertising product, available only in some markets. Read ChatGPT Ads in India: 5 Things Marketers Need to Know.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Can’t find your business | Search with the exact legal and trading name. Online businesses: look for Create |
| “Contact support” appears | The listing is locked. Contact OpenAI support |
| Physical-location path shows a waitlist | Local listings outside the US aren’t open yet. Join the waitlist with an email on your own domain |
| “Service” option greyed out (“Coming soon”) | That business type isn’t open yet |
| DNS verification fails | Check the host field wasn’t double-appended, confirm the TXT value matches exactly, request a fresh record if it has expired, and allow time for DNS to update |
| Code never arrives | Check the number or email on the listing. If outdated, use DNS |
| Persona rejects your ID | Match your legal name and address to official registration records exactly |
| Changes don’t appear | Edits are reviewed by OpenAI. Allow time |
| Insights are blank | You may not have reached the reporting threshold yet. Blank is not zero |
Why this matters for marketers and business owners
People increasingly ask ChatGPT who to trust and where to buy. Business Hub is OpenAI’s first official channel for businesses to tell ChatGPT who they are and see how often they come up.
A claimed profile gives you a verified, accurate record and basic visibility data. It doesn’t replace the fundamentals that decide whether AI tools recommend you: a clear, fast website, consistent business information everywhere, reviews and trusted mentions.
This is the work we do every day at Webspecia. Read our guides on AI Search Optimization (AEO/GEO), why ChatGPT recommends your competitor, and 10 proven ways to increase AI visibility.
For healthcare businesses: local clinics outside the US can’t claim a local listing yet, and OpenAI is holding back some business categories while it builds safeguards, so healthcare eligibility is not guaranteed even in the US. The most useful work today is making your own website, Google Business Profile and E-E-A-T signals clear, accurate and consistent. See Dynamic Discovery for Healthcare, or explore our healthcare marketing services.
Frequently asked questions
What is a business profile in ChatGPT?
A profile of your business inside ChatGPT, managed through Business Hub, that you can claim, verify and edit so ChatGPT has accurate details about you.
How do I claim my business in ChatGPT?
Open Business Hub, find your business and select Get started, verify using phone, email, DNS or Shopify, wait for OpenAI’s review, then complete the Persona identity check.
Is it free?
OpenAI lists no fee for claiming, and says the tools are free for now. Paid products like ChatGPT Business seats and ads are separate and not required.
Can I claim my business in ChatGPT from India?
Possibly, through the online business with a website path. One early tester created a draft from India, but others report the identity check locked to the US. Physical-location listings outside the US go to a waitlist. Treat it as uncertain for now.
Does claiming make ChatGPT recommend me?
No. OpenAI states that claiming does not guarantee higher placement or sales.
How do I get the blue check?
The blue check appears after your Persona identity verification is approved, not when your claim is approved.
How long does verification take?
No timeline is published. DNS changes can take minutes to hours, and identity review can take days.
Can I delete my business profile?
Only unpublished drafts. Testers report a published profile can’t be deleted or hidden, even by OpenAI Support.
Can I claim every branch?
Each location is claimed separately, and location claims are currently open only for existing US listings.
Do I need a paid ChatGPT plan?
No. A free ChatGPT account works, and no Ads account or Enterprise agreement is required.
Can Webspecia help me claim my business profile in ChatGPT?
Yes. Webspecia can check whether your business is eligible, prepare your profile details, and set up DNS verification with you. You stay the owner, and we’re added as an agency. We also work on the wider AI visibility that a profile alone can’t fix. Book a free strategy call.
Final thoughts
Businesses in ChatGPT is the first time OpenAI has given businesses an official way to manage how they appear in ChatGPT. It is still a beta, it is limited outside the US, and it guarantees nothing about rankings. But it is free to claim, and early claimants get clean, verified profiles before duplicates and disputes pile up. Claim yours if the path is open to you, keep your details accurate, and keep working on the fundamentals that AI tools actually rely on.
