Why does the competition rank above me on Google?
The most common reasons they're above you
They have a more accurate primary category
The competitor's Google category directly matches the search, while yours is too general. This is one of the strongest local factors.
Their site is more relevant and faster
If the competitor has a page that clearly covers that service + city and you don't, Google sees them as a better answer to the search.
They have more relevant content
Pages for individual services (e.g. "drain unclogging") give an advantage over one general page that covers everything.
Their profile is more active
Regular photos, responses to reviews and new information on the profile signal Google that the business is alive.
What is often NOT the main reason
Owners often think the problem is the number of reviews or that the competitor "pays Google". In reality, relevance and authority decide much more often than the number of stars alone.
The number of reviews alone
A competitor with fewer but more relevant and newer reviews can be above you with hundreds of old ones.
The age of the business
A newer business with a better-optimized profile and site can overtake a business that has existed for decades but neglected its online presence.
What you can do to overtake them
Optimize the primary category
Check which category the competitor who ranks first uses and align yours to be precise.
Create service pages
Every important service deserves its own page that answers the question and contains the city where you work.
Strengthen site authority
Speed, quality content and local links increase the authority that also transfers to your Google profile.
Activate the profile
Add photos, respond to reviews and update information. A passive profile loses position.