A2P Registration & Account Setup

Everything that happens behind the scenes to get your business approved for compliant text messaging.

Before you send a single text from our platform, your business must be registered with the carriers through a process called 10DLC registration. We handle this entire process for you. This page explains what's involved so you know what to expect. New to A2P? Start with the compliance overview.

1. The Three Layers of Registration

A2P registration has three layers. Think of it like getting a driver's license: you prove who you are (brand), say what you'll be doing (campaign), and get a vehicle registered to you (number).

Layer 1

Brand Registration

Registers your business identity with The Campaign Registry (TCR). Carriers use this to verify you are a real, legitimate business.

What's submitted

  • Legal business name (must match your EIN / IRS records exactly)
  • EIN (Employer Identification Number)
  • Business address (must match IRS records)
  • Business website (must be live and functioning)
  • Business type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, etc.)
  • Industry / vertical
  • Contact name, email, and phone
Layer 2

Campaign Registration

Registers the specific types of messages you plan to send. Each use case (marketing, reminders, follow-ups) is a separate campaign.

What's submitted

  • Campaign use case (e.g., marketing, appointment reminders, customer care)
  • Sample messages (2-5 examples of actual texts you'd send)
  • Opt-in method description (how people agree to receive your texts)
  • Opt-in keywords (e.g., YES, START, JOIN)
  • Opt-out keywords (e.g., STOP, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE)
  • Help keyword response (what happens when someone texts HELP)
  • Message flow description (when and why messages are sent)
Layer 3

Number Assignment

Your registered phone number(s) are linked to your approved brand and campaign. Carriers then allow your messages through.

What's submitted

  • 10DLC number provisioned through Twilio
  • Number linked to your verified brand
  • Number assigned to your approved campaign(s)
  • Throughput limits set based on your Trust Score

2. Trust Scores & What They Mean

When your brand is registered, TCR assigns a Trust Score from 0-100. This score directly determines how many messages you can send per day. You don't choose your limits — the carriers decide based on your score.

LowScore: 1-24

Daily Throughput

~2,000 messages/day per campaign

Typical Business

New businesses, sole proprietors, businesses with limited online presence.

MediumScore: 25-49

Daily Throughput

~10,000 messages/day per campaign

Typical Business

Established small businesses with a website and some online footprint.

HighScore: 50-74

Daily Throughput

~50,000-100,000 messages/day

Typical Business

Well-established businesses with strong online presence and clean records.

Very HighScore: 75-100

Daily Throughput

~250,000+ messages/day

Typical Business

Large, well-known brands with extensive history and public verification.

Most of our clients land in the Low-Medium range. That's completely normal and more than enough for a dealership sending appointment reminders, follow-ups, and marketing campaigns to a local audience. If you need higher limits, we can submit a Trust Score appeal with additional business documentation.

3. What We Need From You

We handle the entire registration process. All we need from you is a few pieces of business information. Items marked required must be accurate on the first submission to avoid delays.

Legal Business Name

required

Exactly as it appears on your IRS documents. Not your DBA, not your brand name — the legal entity name.

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

required

Your 9-digit federal tax ID. If you're a sole proprietor without an EIN, you'll use your SSN, but we strongly recommend getting an EIN.

Business Address

required

Must match your IRS records. PO boxes are not accepted. This is verified against public databases.

Business Website

required

Must be live and accessible. The website should clearly identify your business. Having a privacy policy and terms of service helps your Trust Score.

Contact Information

Name, email, and phone number for the primary business contact. This is used for verification, not shared publicly.

Opt-In Language Approval

We'll need to add compliant opt-in language to your lead forms and website. We'll provide the exact wording — you just need to approve it.

Sample Messages

We'll draft sample messages for your campaigns and send them for your review. These are submitted to carriers during registration.

4. The Registration Process (Step by Step)

From start to finish, registration typically takes 2-4 weeks. Most of that time is carrier review — the actual work on your end takes about 5 minutes.

1

You provide business info

Day 1

We send you a short intake form. You fill in your legal business name, EIN, address, and website. Takes about 5 minutes.

2

We submit Brand Registration

Day 1-2

We register your business with The Campaign Registry (TCR) through Twilio. Your business details are verified against public databases.

3

Trust Score assigned

Day 2-5

TCR scores your brand on a 0-100 scale. This determines your daily sending limits. Most small businesses land in the Low-Medium range — that's normal and sufficient for most use cases.

4

We register your campaigns

Day 5-10

We submit your messaging use cases (marketing texts, appointment reminders, etc.) with sample messages, opt-in descriptions, and message flow details.

5

Campaign review & approval

Day 10-21

Carriers review your campaigns. This can take a few days to a few weeks depending on the carrier and use case. We monitor and handle any resubmissions.

6

Numbers assigned & ramp-up begins

Day 21+

Once approved, we link your phone number(s) to your campaigns and begin the sending ramp-up. You're live and compliant.

5. Common Rejection Reasons & How We Avoid Them

Business name mismatch

Fix: Legal name on registration doesn't match EIN records. Use your exact legal entity name, not your DBA or marketing name.

Website doesn't match

Fix: Website is down, doesn't mention the business, or has no privacy policy. Ensure your website is live and clearly identifies your business.

Vague opt-in description

Fix: "People sign up on our website" isn't specific enough. Describe the exact form, page, or keyword that triggers opt-in.

Sample messages missing opt-out

Fix: Every marketing sample must include opt-out language like "Reply STOP to opt out."

Prohibited content

Fix: Certain industries (cannabis, gambling, firearms, etc.) face additional restrictions or outright bans. We'll flag these early.

Missing consent flow

Fix: You must describe HOW someone opts in. Carriers want to see the form, the checkbox language, or the keyword flow.

We pre-check all of this before submission. If anything doesn't look right, we'll flag it and work with you to fix it before submitting — not after.

Tools & Platforms Involved

Twilio (messaging infrastructure)The Campaign Registry (TCR)Our CRM Platform (campaign management)AT&T / T-Mobile / Verizon (carrier approval)

Related Pages

A2P Messaging & SMS ComplianceSMS Campaign Rules & Sending LimitsCRM Configuration & WorkflowsClient Onboarding Roadmap