How to Register an A2P Sole Proprietor Brand for 10DLC

Sole Proprietor brand registration is the 10DLC path for U.S. and Canadian individuals who operate under their own name, have no formal business entity or Tax ID (EIN), and have one employee. It lets you send compliant SMS and MMS over 10-digit long codes.

Important: If you have a Tax ID, you are not eligible for a Sole Proprietor brand. Register a Low Volume Standard brand instead.

Why register

• Send SMS and MMS over carrier-compliant 10DLC routes.
• Better deliverability and fewer spam-filter problems.
• Avoid carrier penalties for unregistered traffic.
• Basic throughput suitable for low-volume campaigns.

Eligibility requirements

• No Tax ID. If you have an EIN, use a Low Volume Standard brand.
• One number per campaign. Sole Proprietor accounts with multiple local numbers can hit error 30034 because each number must be linked to an approved A2P 10DLC campaign.
• OTP verification. You confirm identity with a one-time password.
• Valid details. Accurate business name, first and last name, email, phone, and physical address.
• U.S. address only. P.O. boxes are accepted; non-U.S. addresses are not.
• Operate under your legal name. No LLC or corporation suffixes.
• Carrier-matched contact details. The mobile number and email must match carrier records.

Brand compliance checklist

Carriers reject brands that fail these standards.

Verify your message category

Forbidden categories include:

• Debt relief, consolidation, and forgiveness programs (even first-party).
• Lead generation and marketing using bought lists, shared databases, or unclear opt-ins.
• Promotional campaigns for lending and investment brands. These can only send transactional notifications.
• Websites that mention sharing data with affiliates or third parties.

Avoid deceptive advertising

Your website must not include false claims, missing disclosures, misleading information, hidden fine print, or unverified comparative claims.

How to register

Step 1: Open the Trust Center

1. Open Settings in your sub-account.
2. Select Phone System under Business Services.
3. Click the Trust Center tab.

Step 2: Determine profile needs

Check the brand name at opencorporates.com first to confirm it has no EIN attached.

1. Click Start Registration under A2P Messaging (SMS).
2. Select United States or Canada.
3. Choose No, the business I'm registering does not have a tax ID.
4. Click Continue.

Step 3: Add business details

Enter the legal name of the organization sending messages, or your own name if there is no organization. Do not include LLC or anything that suggests you are more than a sole proprietor. Click Continue.

Step 4: Add business address

1. Select your country.
2. Select your state, province, or region. The address must match the CP 575 form (U.S. only).
3. Enter a valid street address. Do not put a P.O. box in the street address line.
4. Enter your city, postal/zip code, and click Continue.

Step 5: Authorized representative contact

The representative is anyone who can answer questions about the brand. Each brand needs unique contact info.

• Add first and last name.
• Add an email. Don't reuse one across more than five brands. Use a public-domain email like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo — not Google Workspace or other private domains.
• Add a phone number. Don't reuse it across more than five brands.
• Pick a job position from the list, or choose Other and type one.
• Click Continue.

Step 6: Use case acknowledgement

Only one number can be linked to a Sole Proprietor campaign. Your default number gets linked automatically; you can swap it after approval. Check the fees acknowledgement box and click Continue.

Step 7: Brand details

• Enter the legal name (or your name).
• Pick the closest matching business industry.
• Enter a phone number for OTP. Do not use a number obtained through Sparkforge or any VoIP provider. U.S. or Canadian mobile numbers only. The same mobile number can be used on up to three Sole Proprietor registrations.
• Click Continue. You will receive an OTP to that number; reply Yes.

Step 8: Campaign details

Sole Proprietor will be pre-selected as the campaign use case. In the description, explain what messages you'll send, who receives them, and how often. Don't copy the example verbatim — carriers reject duplicates.

Example: "This campaign sends appointment confirmations and reminders to customers who book on the website and opt in to receive promotional and notification SMS from company_name."

Sample messages

Provide two samples. Each must include the lead's name, your name, the business name, and opt-out language.

Hi John! This is Jane from company_name. Our appointment for July 20 at 11:00 AM is confirmed. Please reach out to (phone number) if you need to reschedule. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Then check any boxes that match your messages: embedded links, phone numbers, age-gated content, lending content. Click Continue.

Step 9: User consent

Opt-in method

Pick one: Website Form, Paper Form, Facebook Lead Form, QR Code, Kiosk, or Verbal. Add the opt-in form URL — it must be publicly accessible.

Opt-in flow and confirmation

Describe how contacts opt in (for example: "End users opt in via the website form at [link] by entering their phone number and checking a consent box"). Then enter the confirmation message users receive after they opt in. It must include your business name and STOP keyword.

You have successfully opted in to receive notifications and promotional SMS from company_name. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Website compliance checklist

1. Live, public website with no broken links or "under construction" pages.
2. Business name and consistent branding across the domain, content, and policies.
3. Clear description of services or products.
4. Visible, current Privacy Policy and Terms pages.
5. Easy-to-find opt-in form with CTIA-compliant language.
6. Explicit SMS opt-in consent — not implied.
7. Sample messages match website content and use case.
8. Social icons link to your real brand pages.
9. Age gating where required (alcohol, tobacco, restricted content).
10. Social media or app store listings used only as backup if no full website.
11. DBAs or alternate names visible in the footer or policies.

Check every item, click Review Application, address any flagged items, then Submit Application.

Step 10: Persona verification

After submission, complete Persona's third-party identity verification. This is one-time per sub-account.

1. Click Start Verification.
2. Click Begin Verifying.
3. Select your government ID's country.
4. Choose the ID type and take a clear photo (front and back if asked).
5. Take a live selfie when prompted.

Tips to pass

• No VPN.
• Verify from the same country as your ID.
• Use a physical ID, not a scan, screenshot, or printout.
• No glare, reflections, or blur. All text must be readable.

Frequently asked questions

Can I update brand details after submission?

Minor edits work. Major changes may require re-registration.

Can I use a VoIP, Google Voice, or Sparkforge number for OTP?

No. OTP requires a real U.S. or Canadian mobile that can receive SMS. VoIP, CPaaS, Sparkforge, and app-based numbers all fail.

Can I send promotional messages as a Sole Proprietor?

Only first-party, properly opted-in promotional content. Lead generation, affiliate or shared-list marketing, and lending or investment promotions are off-limits. Match your use case to your website and opt-in flow.

Do I need a website?

Not strictly, but approval rates are much higher with a live site, clear service descriptions, Privacy Policy, Terms, and a visible opt-in form.

What throughput should I expect?

Sole Proprietor campaigns are low-volume. Limited throughput compared to Standard brands. Not built for scaled marketing.

How long does approval take?

Typically 24-72 hours, depending on carrier verification.