Evidence Preparation Workflow

Fresh Last Updated: January 2, 2026

This workflow guides you through gathering, verifying, and preparing evidence for your GBP reinstatement appeal.

Evidence Preparation Flowchart

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Establish Your NAP

Before gathering any documents, establish the EXACT NAP you will use:

Field	Your Information	Where to Verify
Name		Business license, registration
Address		Utility bills, lease
Phone		Website, business cards

Consistency is Critical

Every document you submit must show the EXACT same NAP. Even "St." vs "Street" can cause rejection.

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Step 2: Gather Tier 1 Documents

Document	Where to Get	Notes
Business License	City/County Clerk	Include DBA filing if applicable
Tax Certificate	IRS, State Tax Office	Letter with EIN or state permit
Utility Bill	Electric, Water, Internet	Recent (within 3 months)
Insurance	Insurance Provider	Certificate of Liability

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Step 3: Gather Tier 2 Documents

Document	How to Capture	Requirements
Signage Photos	Stand outside, photograph sign	Must show NAP clearly
Vehicle Photos	Open doors, show interior	Must show specialized equipment
Business Cards	Scan or photograph	Must show address
Uniforms	Photograph branded clothing	Clear branding visible

Vehicle Photography Guide

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Step 4: Gather Tier 3 Documents (If Needed)

Use Tier 3 for:

• First appeal was denied
• High-risk industry
• Complex address situation
• Virtual office or shared space

Document	Purpose	How to Create
Lease Agreement	Proves right to address	Signed copy from landlord
Video Walkthrough	Undeniable proof	See script below
Additional Invoices	Shows ongoing operations	Recent customer invoices

Video Walkthrough Script

Duration: 60-90 seconds

Opening:

"This is [Business Name] located at [Full Address including City, State, ZIP]"

Required Shots:

Shot	Duration	What to Show
Street sign	5-10 sec	Street name visible
Building exterior	10-15 sec	Address numbers, signage
Entrance	10 sec	Door/entry with any signage
Interior	20-30 sec	Workspace, equipment
Equipment	15-20 sec	Trade-specific tools

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Step 5: Prepare Files

File Naming Convention

Document Type	File Name
Business License	01_Business_License.pdf
Tax Certificate	02_Tax_Certificate.pdf
Utility Bill	03_Utility_Bill_Jan2026.pdf
Insurance	04_Insurance_Certificate.pdf
Storefront Photo	05_Storefront_Sign.jpg
Vehicle Exterior	06_Vehicle_Exterior.jpg
Vehicle Interior	07_Vehicle_Equipment.jpg
Video	08_Business_Walkthrough.mp4

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Step 6: Final NAP Verification

Before creating your final package, verify EVERY document:

Document	Name Matches?	Address Matches?	Phone Matches?
Business License	[ ]	[ ]	N/A
Tax Certificate	[ ]	[ ]	N/A
Utility Bill	[ ]	[ ]	N/A
Insurance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Signage Photo	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Business Cards	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]

Fix Before Submitting

If ANY mismatch exists:

1. Get updated document, OR
2. Update GBP to match existing documents

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Step 7: Create Final Package

1. Create folder: [BusinessName]_GBP_Evidence
2. Add all prepared files
3. Right-click folder → Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder
4. Rename: [BusinessName]_GBP_Appeal_Evidence.zip
5. Test: Open ZIP, verify all files open correctly

Evidence Checklist

Minimum Required (Tier 1)

• [ ] Business License (NAP verified)
• [ ] Tax Certificate (NAP verified)
• [ ] Utility Bill - recent (NAP verified)
• [ ] Insurance Certificate (NAP verified)

Recommended (Tier 2)

• [ ] Storefront signage photo
• [ ] Branded vehicle exterior
• [ ] Vehicle interior with equipment
• [ ] Business cards or letterhead

For Difficult Cases (Tier 3)

• [ ] Lease or mortgage agreement
• [ ] Video walkthrough (60-90 sec)
• [ ] Additional business invoices

Package Preparation

• [ ] All files scanned in high quality color
• [ ] All files named descriptively
• [ ] NAP verified across ALL documents
• [ ] ZIP file created
• [ ] ZIP file tested (opens correctly)

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Utility in landlord's name	Use lease agreement + business invoice instead
No permanent signage (SAB)	Focus on vehicle, uniforms, letterhead
Work from home	Branded vehicle, uniforms, customer invoices, equipment
Document has old address	Get updated document or update GBP to match
Can't get certain document	Substitute with alternative proof of same type

Next Steps

With evidence package complete:

Proceed to → SOP 004: Submit Appeal

See Also

• SOP 003: Gather Evidence
• Complete Recovery Workflow
• Quick Reference: Checklists