What’s the difference between a personal profile and a business page?

A business page (as opposed to a personal profile) unlocks analytics dashboards showing reach, audience demographics, and post performance, along with access to paid advertising tools and a category/contact-button setup that personal profiles don’t have. This distinction exists because platforms like Meta structure their products around two different use cases: personal profiles for individual social interaction, and business pages (or professional accounts) for organisations that need to run ads, track performance, and be discoverable by category (e.g., ‘Restaurant’ or ‘Marketing Agency‘).

Business pages also typically display a contact button, opening hours, and a link to a website directly in the profile header, none of which a personal profile is built to show. Platforms generally provide business or professional account types for commercial activity, with exact requirements varying by platform rather than a personal profile, since personal accounts are meant for individual, non-commercial use.

Converting to a business account is generally straightforward and free, and it may be needed for certain advertising and business features, depending on the platform.