The name describes the sender and the number
“Application-to-person” describes a business sending texts through software to a person. “Ten-digit long code” describes the regular phone number used to send them.
For example, an electrical business uses software to send a customer a booking confirmation from its business number. That is the kind of texting this registration covers.
The name sounds technical, but the owner’s part is mostly about supplying accurate business information and explaining the intended messages.
Registration has two parts
Businesses register with The Campaign Registry, usually through their texting provider.
| Part | What it describes | Information to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | The legal business sending texts | Legal business details and tax ID |
| Campaign | The reason for sending texts | Use case, sample messages, and how people agree to receive them |
Here, “campaign” means the texting use case. It does not have to mean a promotional offer.
Describe what customers will actually receive. If the intended use is appointment communication, prepare samples that reflect appointment communication. Explain how customers agree to those texts rather than leaving that part for someone else to guess.
Skipping registration stops delivery
Registration is not an optional finishing touch after the system launches.
Unregistered 10DLC business texts to US numbers are blocked. Twilio began fully blocking that traffic on September 1, 2023, and US carriers enforce registration.
That matters when you are planning a text reply or follow-up system. Write the messages and prepare the business details, but treat carrier approval as a dependency before texting goes live.
Different business and number types
A business without an EIN can use the Sole Proprietor brand option. It has lower limits: one campaign and one phone number.
Toll-free numbers follow a separate toll-free verification process. They do not use 10DLC registration.
What to do about it
- Ask your texting provider whether it handles the brand and campaign registration, and which business details it needs.
- Write the sample messages and the wording that shows how customers agree to texts before you apply.
- Treat carrier approval as a dependency, and do not promise a texting go-live date until it clears.
Questions
Does a sole proprietor need an EIN for this option?
No. The Sole Proprietor brand option is available to businesses without an EIN, with the limits described above.
Does using a toll-free number remove verification?
No. It changes the verification route. Toll-free numbers have their own process rather than the 10DLC registration used for regular ten-digit numbers.