# A2P 10DLC registration (Messaging Compliance)

> Register your business and texting campaign for US A2P 10DLC, review the exact credit quote, fix rejections, and activate your numbers for SMS.

Canonical: https://help.spacebrain.ai/chat-and-voice/a2p-10dlc-registration/
Last modified: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z

Before your business can send text messages from a US local phone number, US carriers need to know who you are and what you'll send. This process is called A2P 10DLC registration. This guide walks you through it in Spacebrain, from business details to an active sending number.

> **Note — This is not legal advice**
>
> Spacebrain helps you submit a registration. It can't tell you which laws apply to your texts. Carrier approval doesn't mean every message is lawful or that every recipient agreed. If you're unsure about consent rules for your business, ask a qualified advisor.

## What A2P 10DLC means [#what-a2p-10dlc-means]

* **A2P** means application-to-person: texts sent by a business system rather than typed on a personal phone.
* **10DLC** means a standard 10-digit US local phone number.

Carriers register two things: your **business** (called a brand) and your **campaign** (what you send and how people agree to receive it). Once both are approved, you attach your numbers to the campaign. Until then, Spacebrain blocks SMS sending.

## Before you begin [#before-you-begin]

**Who can do what:**

* People with Inbox edit access can fill in and save the application.
* Paying, submitting, activating numbers, and appeals need an admin with messaging management access. Editors see: **An administrator with messaging management access must pay and submit registration. Editors can prepare the application.**
* Chat & Voice requires a paid plan.

**What to have ready:**

* Your exact legal business name and EIN or tax ID, as they appear on official records. Sole proprietors don't need an EIN.
* A live business website, a contact email and phone, and a physical street address.
* An active **US local** number owned by your workspace. Toll-free and international numbers use different registration processes. See [Phone Numbers and Power Dialer](/chat-and-voice/phone-outreach-and-compliance/).
* A clear description of the texts you'll send, and two or more real example messages.
* Proof of how people opt in: a signup page URL, the exact consent wording, and your confirmation text.
* Working privacy policy and terms pages.
* **Purchased credits** to pay the registration. Trial and plan credits can't pay carrier fees. You can buy credits during registration.

## Where to find it [#where-to-find-it]

Open **Chat & Voice → Messaging Compliance**.

At the top you'll see:

* A **Phone safety & health** card showing registration, service connection, and delivery health for your workspace.
* **Before you register**, a short summary of fees, timing, and requirements. Read it before you start.
* A status alert. **SMS sending is blocked** explains what's missing. **Carrier registration is ready** means carrier requirements are met; your workspace funding and safety checks still apply.

Below that, a four-step strip shows your progress: **Business**, **Campaign & consent**, **Price & submission**, and **Numbers**. Select a step to jump to it.

## Step 1: Your business [#step-1-your-business]

In **1. Your business**, fill in:

1. **Business type**: **Private company**, **Public company**, **Non-profit**, **Government**, or **Sole proprietor (no EIN)**.
2. **EIN / Tax ID** (not needed for a sole proprietor). If one is already saved, leave it blank to keep it.
3. **Legal business name** – exactly as registered.
4. **Brand name customers see** – the name people will recognize in your texts.
5. **Contact email**, **Contact phone**, and **Website**.
6. **Street address**, **City**, **State / province**, **Postcode**, and **Country** (United States or Canada). Use a physical address, not a PO box.
7. **Industry**.

Extra fields appear for some business types:

* **Public company:** **Stock symbol**, **Stock exchange (for example NASDAQ)**, and **Business verification email**.
* **Sole proprietor:** **Legal first name**, **Legal last name**, **Representative mobile phone**, and a checkbox confirming they agree to receive a verification text.

Select **Save business details**. Spacebrain checks your entries. You'll see either **Application checks passed** or **Fix these before submitting** with a list of problems. Problems also appear under the matching fields.

> **Note — Sole proprietors verify by text**
>
> After a sole-proprietor business is submitted, a **Verify the representative's mobile phone** section appears. An admin ticks **I am authorized to send this verification text.**, selects **Send verification code**, enters the code under **Verification code**, and selects **Verify code**.

## Step 2: What you send and how people consent [#step-2-what-you-send-and-how-people-consent]

In **2. What you send & consent**:

1. **Use case** – the main type of texts, such as **Customer care**, **Marketing**, **Account notification**, or **Mixed**. Sole proprietors are set to **Sole proprietor**. If you choose **Mixed** or **Low volume mixed**, tick every type under **Message types included**.
2. **How people opt in** – **Website form**, **Text keyword**, **Paper form**, **Facebook lead form**, **QR code**, **Kiosk**, or **Verbal**.
3. **What this campaign sends** – describe your texts in plain words.
4. **How consent is collected** – describe step by step how someone agrees.
5. **Opt-in evidence URL** – where a reviewer can see your signup form or consent wording.
6. **Opt-in confirmation text** – the first text someone gets after opting in.
7. **STOP reply** and **HELP reply** – what people get when they text STOP or HELP.
8. **Privacy policy URL** and **Terms & conditions URL**.
9. **Opt-in keywords**, **Opt-out keywords**, and **Help keywords** – filled in with common defaults. Change them only if you need to.
10. **Sample message 1** and **Sample message 2** (up to five). Use real examples that include your brand name.
11. Tick **Messages contain links** (then add an **Example link used in messages**) or **Age-gated content** if they apply.
12. Confirm the four statements, including that people explicitly opt in and can reply STOP or HELP.

Select **Save campaign & consent**. It's available once your business details are saved.

### Worked example: a consent description [#worked-example-a-consent-description]

For a dental clinic sending appointment reminders, a clear **How consent is collected** might read:

> Patients enter their mobile number on our online booking form at example.com/book and tick an unchecked box that says "I agree to receive appointment reminder texts from Bright Smile Dental. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help." The form links to our privacy policy and terms.

The matching **Sample message 1** might be: "Bright Smile Dental: Reminder of your appointment on Tue 3 Oct at 2:30pm. Reply C to confirm. Reply STOP to opt out."

## Step 3: Review the price and submit [#step-3-review-the-price-and-submit]

In **3. Review price & submit**:

1. Select **Review application & get exact quote**. Spacebrain saves everything, runs the checks, and asks for a quote only if they pass.
2. Read the quote. It shows the exact number of credits, what it covers, and the monthly renewal after the prepaid period. **Quote status** shows the state, and a quote in the **quoted** state shows when it expires.
3. If you don't have enough purchased credits, buy them here. See [Buy missing credits during registration](#buy-missing-credits-during-registration).
4. Tick the box to accept the exact charge and the renewal policy. Fees already paid to providers aren't refundable, including for rejected reviews.
5. Select **Pay & start registration**. You'll see **Registration started. Follow the verification and review status.**

If your business still needs to be verified, the campaign waits. When the business shows **Verified**, return here and select **Continue registration**. If you decide not to go ahead, **Cancel unused funding** returns funds that haven't been used yet.

Registration usually takes several business days. Approval isn't guaranteed. The page checks for updates automatically; you can also select **Refresh status**.

### Buy missing credits during registration [#buy-missing-credits-during-registration]

While a quote is open, admins see **Credits available for registration**. If you're short, the page shows how many more credits you need.

1. Select the **Buy** button that shows the number of credits needed. If you started a purchase earlier, it reads **Resume credit purchase**.
2. In **Buy registration credits**, complete the payment. A minimum purchase may apply, and unused purchased credits stay in your account.
3. When you see **Credits added. Review and accept the registration quote to continue.**, go back to the quote, tick the acceptance box, and select **Pay & start registration**. Buying credits does not accept the quote for you.

If you see **Payment is processing. Check payment status below; do not pay again.**, select **Check payment status** rather than paying twice.

## Step 4: Activate your phone numbers [#step-4-activate-your-phone-numbers]

When the campaign shows **Approved**, open **4. Activate phone numbers**:

1. In **Choose a workspace number**, pick an active US local number. Sole-proprietor campaigns support one number.
2. Select **Activate number**. You'll see **Number activation requested. Sending starts after provider confirmation.**
3. Wait for the number's status to show **Carrier assignment ready**. Until then it shows **Activation or provider check pending**.
4. Check that the alert at the top says **Carrier registration is ready**, then send a test text to a phone you own.

If a number can't be used, a red note explains why. For example, **This is a toll-free number. It needs toll-free verification.** or **This number does not support the required two-way SMS product.**

To stop a number sending under this campaign, select **Release from campaign**. Sending from that number is blocked right away.

No numbers yet? You'll see **No active phone numbers found.** Buy a number from **Chat & Voice → Phone Numbers**, then come back.

## Registration statuses [#registration-statuses]

| Status                                                        | What it means                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Draft**                                                     | Not submitted yet.                                           |
| **Submitting**                                                | Being sent to the provider.                                  |
| **In review**                                                 | Carriers are reviewing it. You can't send yet.               |
| **Verified**                                                  | Your business is approved.                                   |
| **Approved**                                                  | Your campaign is approved. Activate your numbers next.       |
| **Rejected** / **Failed**                                     | Not approved. Read the reason shown on the card.             |
| **Needs reconciliation**                                      | Something needs support to check. Don't pay or submit again. |
| **Suspended**, **Expired**, **Deactivating**, **Deactivated** | The campaign can't send. Read the message on the page.       |

## Fix a rejected campaign [#fix-a-rejected-campaign]

If your campaign is **Rejected**, the reason appears on the campaign card. Depending on the rejection, admins may see a correction section:

1. Choose a **Review type**: **Correct sample messages**, or **Appeal after an external correction** (for example, after fixing your signup page). For an appeal, explain **What changed and why should the campaign be reviewed again?**
2. Select **Get review quote**.
3. Review the new quote and pay with **Pay & start registration**.

A correction or appeal needs a new paid review, and monthly campaign billing continues during it. Fix your public pages before you appeal.

## Change or stop your registration [#change-or-stop-your-registration]

* **Reload saved draft** discards unsaved edits in this tab.
* **Deactivate campaign** permanently stops the campaign. Sending stops right away and future renewal is cancelled once the provider confirms. Fees already paid aren't refunded.
* **Start a replacement business application** or **Start a replacement campaign** creates a new draft and keeps your history. These are only available when no numbers are attached, so release numbers first. A replacement needs a new quote.

Renewal credits are collected shortly before each campaign anniversary. If renewal can't be funded, the campaign is deactivated.

## If something goes wrong [#if-something-goes-wrong]

| What you see                                               | What to do                                                                       |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **SMS sending is blocked**                                 | Read the reason under the alert and finish the step it names.                    |
| **Fix these before submitting**                            | Fix each item listed, then save again.                                           |
| **This quote expired. Request a new quote before paying.** | Select **Review application & get exact quote** again.                           |
| **You have unsaved changes.**                              | Save the business or campaign section before asking for a quote.                 |
| **Registration submissions are paused**                    | You can still prepare and save. Try submitting later.                            |
| **The provider request needs reconciliation.**             | Don't pay or submit again. [Contact support](/troubleshooting/contact-support/). |
| Number stuck on **Activation or provider check pending**   | Wait for provider confirmation, then select **Refresh status**.                  |
| Rejected for consent                                       | Make your signup page show the exact consent wording, then appeal.               |

## FAQ [#faq]

### Does submitting mean I'm approved? [#does-submitting-mean-im-approved]

No. **In review** means carriers are still checking. You can send only after your campaign is **Approved**, your number is active, and the alert says **Carrier registration is ready**.

### Does approval mean everyone on my list has agreed to texts? [#does-approval-mean-everyone-on-my-list-has-agreed-to-texts]

No. Registration approves your program. You still need each person's consent, and you must honor STOP requests everywhere you send texts, including agents, campaigns, and automations.

### Is buying a number the same as registering? [#is-buying-a-number-the-same-as-registering]

No. Buying or porting a number is separate, and number fees and message fees are charged separately from registration.

### Can I register a toll-free number here? [#can-i-register-a-toll-free-number-here]

No. Toll-free and international numbers use different processes.

## Next step [#next-step]

Once a number is active, set up how it handles calls and texts: [Phone Numbers and Power Dialer](/chat-and-voice/phone-outreach-and-compliance/).