A2P Sole Proprietor Brand Registration

This simplified guide will help you navigate through the registration process for A2P (Application-to-Person) Sole Proprietor Brands.

Effective August 31, 2023, all 10DLC phone numbers used to send SMS and MMS messages to U.S. phone numbers must be fully registered to an approved campaign under a brand.

Requirements for Sole Proprietor Registration

Sole Proprietor brands are designed for individuals and small businesses in the United States and Canada who don't possess a business Tax ID (such as an EIN). To qualify for Sole Proprietor registration, you must meet the following criteria:

No Tax ID: If you have a Tax ID, you should opt for a Low Volume Standard Brand instead.
OTP Verification: Confirm your identity using a One-Time Password (OTP) verification step.
Valid Details: Ensure that your Starter Brand includes accurate and valid information, including your business name, first name, last name, email address, phone number, and a valid U.S. address (including P.O. boxes).

Please note: only addresses in the U.S./Canada are permitted for Sole Proprietor registration.

Follow these steps to determine the right registration path for your A2P brand:

If your business has a Tax Number (EIN for the US, CCN for Canada, etc.), choose "Yes, my business has a US EIN."
If your business doesn't have a Tax Number but operates from a valid Business Address in the US/Canada, select "No, my business doesn't have a US EIN" (Sole Proprietor Brand Registration).
If your business lacks a Tax ID and its address isn't in the US/Canada, unfortunately, A2P Brand Registration isn't possible. In such cases, consider using Toll-Free numbers after completing the registration process. Explore Toll-Free Number Registration.

Fees for Sole Proprietor Registration

The following fees apply for Sole Proprietor brands:

One-time Sole Proprietor Brand registration fee: $4.41 (Starter Brands converted by Twilio are exempt from this fee)
One-time Campaign vetting fee: $16.55 (existing Campaigns are exempt from this fee at this time)
Monthly Sole Proprietor Campaign fees: $2.25 (applicable to both existing and new Campaigns)

Limitations of Sole Proprietor Registration

Sole Proprietor brands have specific limitations:

One Sole Proprietor Campaign per Brand.
One Phone Number per Campaign.
A throughput limit of 1 Message Per Second (1 MPS).

How do I register?

Step 1 - Enter business details. Follow the screenshots below:

1. Click on Settings > Phone numbers > Trust Center

2. Click on Start Registering Now

3. Click on No, the business I'm registering does not have a tax ID

The client must answer the following two questions accurately to ensure they are directed to the appropriate brand option.

4. Business details

Enter either the business name or the individual's name. Ensure that the business name does not include LLC or any other terms implying it is more than a sole proprietorship.

Rejected examples: ABC Company LLC

You can check the brand name at https://opencorporates.com/ to make sure the business name does not have an EIN

5. Address

Enter the valid address linked to the business.

6. Contact info

Step 2 - Brand details

1. Business Use case

Notice how brand type only shows “sole prop” as a selection option. This is because of how we answered the questions under profile needs. The brand type and campaign type have been selected for us. We only need to check the box below and click “continue.”

2. Brand Details

Please provide your business name or full name as the brand name.
- Enter either the business name or the individual's name. Ensure that the business name does not include LLC or any other terms implying it is more than a sole proprietorship.
- Rejected examples: ABC Company LLC
- You can check the brand name at https://opencorporates.com/ to make sure the business name do not have an EIN
Choose an industry from the dropdown list for "business industry." If you can't find an exact match, select the industry type that best describes your business.
Ensure your phone number is a US or Canadian mobile number capable of receiving SMS. Note: Each phone number can be used for a maximum of three A2P Brand registrations with TCR.
- DO NOT use the number you bought for the sub-account

Keep an eye out for an SMS from TCR requesting your approval. Simply reply "Yes" to give the green light for your brand to start messaging.

That completes the steps to submitting a sole prop brand. The next step is the campaign submission. Instructions provided under A2P 10DLC Campaign Approval Best Practices

Once the Brand is approved, the campaign will be automatically submitted for review.

Important Note: The mobile number is critical in the registration process and is used for sending a One-Time Password (OTP) verification request, which you must respond to with "Yes". This must be a valid US or Canadian mobile number where you can be reached. It cannot be a number that you've acquired from a CPaaS provider such as LeadConnector/Twilio
The mobile number can only be used a maximum of three times across all A2P Brand registrations with TCR. If you are registered for A2P 10DLC with another vendor using this mobile number, that counts towards this limit.⚠️

Important Note: Your mobile number is crucial for the registration process and will be used for One-Time Password (OTP) verification. Ensure it is a valid U.S. or Canadian mobile number, as it can only be used a maximum of three times across all A2P Brand registrations with TCR.

Your email address and business address can only be used a maximum of 10 times across all A2P Brand registrations with TCR. If your customer is registered for A2P 10DLC with another vendor, that counts towards this limit.

Why Did My Sole Prop Registration Fail?

If your Sole Proprietor registration failed, here are some common reasons:

Using custom variables: Ensure you use actual names and the correct company name.
Opt-out language not included: Include opt-out language in message templates.
Usage limits: Avoid using the same email, phone number, or address in more than ten A2P Sole Proprietor registrations. Avoid using the same number for OTP verification in more than 3 cases.
Invalid email: Use a public domain for your email (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) as private email domains are typically not eligible for Sole Prop Brand registration.
Invalid phone number: Use a direct line (hard number) rather than a Google Voice or other VOIP number for OTP verification.

Please Note: If your brand doesn't qualify for Sole Proprietor registration (e.g., you have a registered Tax ID or are not located in the U.S. or Canada), your submission will continue to fail. In such cases, consider registering as a Standard Brand instead.