Google Maps Business Scraper: Complete Guide for Lead Generation (2026)

If you're in sales, marketing, or running an agency, you've probably thought: "There are thousands of businesses on Google Maps - how do I turn those into leads?" The answer is scraping. And I'm going to show you exactly how to do it.

I've scraped over 500,000 businesses from Google Maps in the last 2 years. I've tried everything: Python scripts, Chrome extensions, paid tools, offshore VAs clicking manually. Here's what actually works.

What is Google Maps Scraping?

Google Maps scraping is the process of automatically extracting business information from Google Maps listings. Instead of manually copying data from each business profile, a scraper does it in seconds.

What you can extract:

• Business name
• Phone number
• Address (full street address, city, zip code)
• Website URL
• Business hours
• Google rating (stars) and number of reviews
• Business category (e.g., "Plumber", "Dentist")
• GPS coordinates
• Social media links (if listed)

This data goes into a spreadsheet (CSV/Excel), and you've got a lead list ready for outreach.

Why Scrape Google Maps for Leads?

Because it's the most accurate, up-to-date source of local business data - period.

Compared to Buying Lead Lists:

I used to buy lead lists from D&B, ZoomInfo, and those "verified business databases". The data was garbage - 40% of phone numbers were disconnected, 30% of emails bounced.

Google Maps data is verified by real customers leaving reviews. If a business is on Google Maps with recent reviews, they're active and reachable.

Is Scraping Google Maps Legal?

The short answer: Yes, but with caveats.

Google's Terms of Service technically prohibit automated scraping. However, the data itself (business names, phone numbers, addresses) is publicly available information. Courts in the US have repeatedly ruled that scraping publicly accessible data is legal.

Key legal case: HiQ Labs vs. LinkedIn (2019) - 9th Circuit ruled that scraping public data does not violate the CFAA.

Best practices to stay safe:

• Don't overload Google's servers - Use reasonable rate limits (not 1,000 requests per second)
• Don't resell the data as a product - Use it for your own lead generation
• Respect robots.txt - Though Google Maps doesn't have one for business listings
• Comply with GDPR/privacy laws - If you're in EU or targeting EU businesses

3 Methods to Scrape Google Maps

Let me break down the three main approaches, from DIY to fully automated:

Method 1: Manual Copy-Paste (Don't Do This)

Time: 2-3 minutes per business | Cost: Free (your time)

This is what most people start with. You open Google Maps, search "plumbers in Austin", and manually copy each business's info into Excel.

Why it sucks:

• Mind-numbing work - you'll quit after 50 businesses
• Error-prone - typos, missed fields
• Doesn't scale - to get 1,000 leads, you need 50 hours

Verdict: Only do this if you need 10-20 leads max.

Method 2: DIY Scraper (Python/Selenium)

Time: 20-40 hours to build | Cost: Free (if you code)

If you're technical, you can build a scraper using Python + Selenium or Puppeteer. There are GitHub repos with starter code.

Pros:

• Free (once built)
• Full control over what data you extract
• Learn a valuable skill

Cons:

• Google actively blocks scrapers - you need proxies, CAPTCHA solvers, browser fingerprinting evasion
• Constant maintenance - Google changes their HTML structure every few months
• Your time costs money - 40 hours at $50/hr = $2,000

Verdict: Good for learning, terrible for consistent production use.

Method 3: Use a Purpose-Built Tool (Recommended)

Time: 5-10 minutes per search | Cost: $50-300/month

Tools like MapsLeadExtractor, Outscraper, or PhantomBuster handle all the technical complexity. You enter a search query, click "Extract", and get a CSV in minutes.

Pros:

• Works right now - no setup, no coding
• Handles CAPTCHAs, rate limits, IP bans automatically
• Stays updated when Google changes their platform
• Advanced features like email finding, defect detection

Cons:

• Monthly cost (though still cheaper than your time)
• Less control vs DIY (but 99% of users don't need that control)

Verdict: This is what professional agencies use. It just works.

What Data Can You Extract?

Not all scrapers extract the same data. Here's what's available on Google Maps and what tools typically capture:

Pro tip: Email addresses aren't directly on Google Maps, but advanced tools can find them by:

• Visiting the business website and scraping contact pages
• Using pattern matching (firstname@businessname.com)
• Cross-referencing with email databases
• SMTP verification to confirm validity

How to Qualify Leads After Scraping

Here's where most people screw up: they scrape 10,000 businesses and start cold-calling randomly. That's a waste of time. You need to qualify leads BEFORE outreach.

Step 1: Filter by Review Count & Rating

Good leads have:

• 10+ reviews (they're established and care about their reputation)
• 3.5+ star rating (they're not terrible, worth pitching)
• Recent reviews (active business, not closed)

Businesses with 0-5 reviews are often new or don't care about their online presence. Harder to convert.

Step 2: Check for Web Defects

This is the game-changer. Instead of calling every business, prioritize those with problems you can solve:

• No website: "You're missing out on 200+ monthly customers"
• Slow website (>3s): "53% of visitors leave before your site loads"
• No SSL: "Google shows 'Not Secure' warning to every visitor"
• Not mobile-friendly: "60% of your traffic can't navigate your site"

Step 3: Segment by Priority

Not all leads are equal. Create priority tiers:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I've made every mistake possible. Learn from my failures:

Mistake 1: Scraping Without a Target

Don't just scrape "all businesses in New York". Be specific: "Plumbers in Brooklyn with 10+ reviews and no website". Narrow targeting = higher conversion.

Mistake 2: Not Verifying Data

Just because a phone number is on Google Maps doesn't mean it works. Use phone verification tools or manually call the first 20 to check data quality.

Mistake 3: Ignoring GDPR/CCPA

If you're in Europe or California, there are privacy laws. Don't scrape personal data (individual people's info). Business contact info is generally OK, but consult a lawyer if unsure.

Mistake 4: Spamming Everyone

You scraped 10,000 leads - awesome! Don't blast all 10,000 with the same email. You'll get flagged as spam. Personalize outreach, segment by defect type, pace your campaigns.

Tools Comparison: Quick Reference

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Scale Smart

Don't try to scrape 100,000 businesses on day one. Start with 500 highly-qualified leads in ONE industry in ONE city. Master the outreach process. Get your first 5 clients. THEN scale.

The formula that works:

1. Scrape 1,000 businesses in target industry/location
2. Filter to 200 with web defects
3. Segment into A/B/C priority tiers
4. Call Priority A leads (no website) within 48 hours
5. Email Priority B/C leads over 2 weeks
6. Track conversion metrics
7. Refine and repeat

That's it. Google Maps scraping isn't rocket science, but it does require the right tools and process. Choose a tool that fits your budget and skill level, qualify your leads properly, and focus on businesses with real problems.