Register your business for texting (A2P 10DLC)

Get carrier approval to send business texts from your local number, and avoid the mistakes that get registrations rejected.

US carriers require every business that texts from a local number to register first. It's called A2P 10DLC. Until you're approved, your texts won't send, even though your number works for calls. Approval usually takes several days and sometimes a few weeks, so start early.

Before you start

• Time: about 30 minutes to fill in, then a wait for carrier review.
• You'll need:
  • Your legal business name exactly as it appears on your EIN paperwork, and your EIN (format 12-3456789). Sole proprietors without an EIN, ask us first.
  • Your business address, phone (format +15551234567) and a business email on your own domain if you have one.
  • A live website on https that clearly shows your business name and what you do.
  • A privacy policy and terms page on that site, with texting language (see below).
  • A form where people opt in to texts, with a consent checkbox. See Collect text consent and handle opt-outs.
• Registration has carrier fees, charged to your usage credits.

Steps

1. Go to Phone System > Setup, then click Verification under Manage Phone System.
2. Read the Verification checklist: register your brand, then your campaign (the kind of texts you'll send).
3. Step 1: A2P Brand Registration. Enter your business details exactly as they appear on official records, and click Submit Business Verification. It shows Under Review, which typically takes 1 to 7 business days.
4. Step 2: A2P Campaign Registration. This step stays locked ("Complete business verification first") until your brand is approved, so come back once it is. Then describe your texts:
   • Use case: for most coaches, appointment reminders and client care. Only add marketing if you'll send promotions.
   • Description: who sends, who receives, why, and what kind of content. For example: "Maple Coaching sends appointment confirmations and reminders to clients who opt in when booking a session."
   • Opt-in description: how people agree. For example: "Clients tick an optional, unchecked box on our booking form at maplecoaching.com/book."
   • Sample messages: two or three real examples. Start each with your business name and include "Reply STOP to opt out".
5. Review everything once more for mismatched names, then submit.
6. Watch the status on the same tab. The progress bar moves from Business to Campaign to Active.

Check it worked

• Verification shows SMS send-eligible ("SMS sending is approved for this workspace").
• Step 1 and Step 2 say Approved and Step 3: Messaging Approved says Active.
• Send one test text to your own mobile from Conversations. It should start with your business name.

If something's off

• A field won't save: check the format. EIN needs the dash, phone needs +1 and 10 digits, state is two letters, and the website must start with https://.
• Rejected with a code: see Fix a rejected texting registration.
• Approved but texts still fail: approval is one of several checks. You also need a default sending number, usage credits, and a recipient who opted in. See Find out why a text didn't send.
• Your number is toll-free: use toll-free verification instead.
• Want help with the wording? Send us a request before you submit. A second look costs less than a rejection.