Claimed vs. unclaimed makes the difference
Anyone can suggest an edit to a Yelp page, and moderators check those suggestions before they show. Once you claim the page, your own edits work differently. Yelp’s help page says claiming makes your updates take effect immediately. If you’ve been sending corrections as a visitor and waiting, claiming is the fix.
Hours people actually filter on
Customers use Yelp’s open now filter, and wrong hours can drop you out of those results. Set your typical week under Hours of operation. For anything temporary, like a holiday, a staff training day or summer hours, use Upcoming special hours instead of rewriting your regular week. The app shows regular and special hours together, which makes it easier to spot clashes.
Yelp says you can update hours as often as you need. It also wants them to match what customers see elsewhere: your website, the sign on your door, your menu. If those disagree, fix them too, because moderators check against outside sources.
The rules for name, phone and address
Yelp’s business information guidelines are stricter than many owners expect:
- Name. Short, and close to how an average person would say it. No store numbers, keywords or taglines.
- Phone. A direct local number. No extension field, no national call center numbers, and no third-party tracking numbers. Cell numbers may not be accepted, especially on unclaimed pages.
- Address. One page per location, with a full address. Service-area businesses without a storefront can use a ZIP code or service area, and Yelp discourages listing a home address unless you want it public.
- Website. Your own site only. Directories and social media pages don’t go here; leave it blank if you have no site.
Yelp’s moderators reject updates they can’t verify. They may also reformat a correct update to match Yelp’s style, so a small change in how your name appears isn’t necessarily an error.
Amenities and your story
Amenities, which Yelp also calls attributes, depend on your category. Yelp’s examples include accepted currency, alcohol service, whether dogs are allowed, Wi-Fi and gender-neutral restrooms. You can also add ownership attributes like woman-owned or veteran-owned. Some amenities, such as good for kids or noise level, are voted on by customers.
The From the Business area holds Specialties, History and Meet the Owner/Manager. Those changes appear right away, but moderators can still reject them later if they break guidelines. For owners with nine or more locations, Yelp lists Specialties and History as paid products.
When an edit isn’t the right tool
A move, a rebrand, or a permanent closure is more than a field edit. Yelp has a separate process for substantial business changes and a Mark my business as Closed option. Use those rather than quietly changing the address. Yelp treats each page as one location, so a move is a change to the page’s identity, not a typo fix.
If it doesn't work
- An edit was rejected: Yelp's moderators reject updates they can't verify. Make sure your website, storefront or menu shows the same details.
- You entered a call-tracking number: Yelp doesn't accept third-party tracking numbers. Use a direct local line.
- Your page isn't claimed and edits sit in review: claim it. Unclaimed pages only get suggested changes that moderators check first.
- You moved or closed: hours edits aren't enough. Mark the business closed, or follow Yelp's guidance on substantial business changes.
Questions owners ask
Can a customer change my hours on Yelp?
Customers can suggest changes to business info, and moderators check them. Yelp's guidelines say hours should match the business's website or other sources such as a storefront window, menu or flyer. Keeping those consistent protects your page from bad suggestions.
Should I list my home address if I work from home?
Yelp discourages residential addresses unless you want that address public. Businesses without a storefront, such as plumbers or dog walkers, may be exempt from the full address rule and can list a ZIP code or service area instead.
Can I add a store number or keywords to my business name?
No. Yelp's guidelines say to keep the name close to how an average person refers to the business, without store numbers, keywords, taglines, or details shown elsewhere on the page like neighborhood or category.
Sources
- How do I temporarily close my business or change my business hours? (biz.yelp.com)
- What are the guidelines for general business information? (yelp-support.com)
- The business information you should update on Yelp (business.yelp.com)
- How do I add "From the Business" information to my business page? (biz.yelp.com)
Checked 13 Nov 2026. When the platform changes its process we update this page and log it in What changed.