📝 Overview
Before you can send SMS messages to customers through Marketing Suite, US phone carriers require your business to complete A2P 10DLC registration. This process verifies your business identity and confirms that your website meets carrier compliance standards. Without an approved registration, your business cannot send or receive SMS messages through US phone numbers.
💡 Note: Canadian businesses can use SMS messaging immediately without registration.
⏱️ Registration Timeline
The general approval timeline is 1-4 weeks, though most businesses see approval within 1 week. In some cases, carriers request revisions within 2 weeks. Timelines vary based on your provider and submission completeness.
✅ Pre-Registration Checklist
Before you start the registration process, confirm that you have all of the following:
Your legal business name exactly as it appears on your IRS records
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) — find it on your IRS CP 575 letter, tax returns, or bank documents
A publicly accessible privacy policy page on your website with SMS compliance language
A publicly accessible terms and conditions page on your website describing your SMS program
Every web form that collects phone numbers has separate opt-in checkboxes for transactional and marketing SMS
Your business is not in a prohibited category (see prohibited industries below)
🛠️ Starting Your A2P Registration
To begin the registration process:
Go to Administration > SMS Configuration in Marketing Suite
You'll be guided through a registration form with two sections: Brand and Campaign
📋 Privacy Policy Requirements
Your website must have a publicly accessible privacy policy that describes how your business handles customer data in the context of SMS messaging.
Required Language
Your privacy policy must include all of the following statements:
No sharing of SMS data: "Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, excluding aggregators and providers of the text message services."
Opt-in disclosure: "By providing your number, you consent to receive automated informational and promotional messages."
Opt-out instructions: "You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP" to our number. We will send a confirmation message to acknowledge your request."
Help instructions: "Reply HELP for assistance."
Rates disclosure: "Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies."
Additional Privacy Policy Details
Your privacy policy must also state:
What types of messages customers may receive (e.g., appointment reminders, promotional offers)
How customer data is stored and protected
How customers can request their data be deleted
What to Avoid
Do not include any of the following in your privacy policy:
References to SMS messaging from a different business or brand
Language that grants blanket permission to share customer phone numbers with unrelated third parties
Outdated or placeholder text that does not reflect your actual data practices
⚠️ The URL you provide must link directly to the privacy policy page, not to a homepage or a general legal page.
📋 Terms and Conditions Requirements
Your website must have a publicly accessible terms and conditions page that covers your SMS messaging program.
Required Language
Your terms and conditions must include all of the following:
Program description: "By opting in, you agree to receive [Your Business Name] notifications and alerts."
Standard phrases: "Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages."
SMS instructions: "Text HELP for help or STOP to cancel."
Additional Terms and Conditions Details
Your terms must also include:
A description of what messages customers will receive
Your business contact information
What to Avoid
Do not include any of the following in your terms and conditions:
Language that prevents customers from opting out of messages
Terms that contradict standard carrier opt-out mechanisms (STOP/HELP keywords)
Outdated terms referencing a messaging program your business no longer operates
☑️ Web Form Consent Checkboxes
Every web form on your website that collects phone numbers must include separate opt-in checkboxes for transactional and marketing SMS. This proves to carriers that customers explicitly consent to receive messages.
Checkbox Requirements
Two separate checkboxes — one for transactional, one for marketing
Unchecked by default — customers must actively choose to opt in
Clearly labeled with the required language (see below)
Links to your privacy policy and terms of service next to each checkbox
Not required to submit the form — customers must be able to submit without opting into SMS
Example Checkbox Text
Transactional SMS: "I agree to receive text messages from [Your Business Name] regarding appointment reminders, quotes, or service updates. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. See our [Privacy Policy] and [Terms of Service]."
Marketing SMS: "I agree to receive occasional promotional messages from [Your Business Name]. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. See our [Privacy Policy] and [Terms of Service]."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Carriers often reject registrations when:
A statement near the submit button says "By clicking Submit, you agree to receive marketing communications" — this implies consent comes from submitting, not from the checkboxes
Consent language is buried in fine print instead of in checkbox labels
A single checkbox covers both message types instead of separate checkboxes
Wording suggests customers must opt in to continue (e.g., marking a checkbox "required")
💡 The checkboxes must be the only place customers give SMS consent. A customer who leaves both unchecked must still be able to submit the form and should not receive any SMS messages.
🔍 Using AI Verification Before You Submit
Before submitting your registration, use the Check with AI feature to verify your submission:
On the review step of the registration form, click Check with AI
The AI Verification assistant reviews your campaign details, privacy policy, terms of service, and any web forms you linked
It flags any issues by severity and suggests specific fixes
This check is optional and doesn't prevent submission, but it helps you understand if approval is likely
This step can save time by catching compliance issues before carriers review your application.
❌ If Your Registration Is Rejected
If your registration is rejected, the form will show the specific reason at the top. Here are the most common causes and how to fix them:
Website Compliance Issues
Issue | What to Fix |
Privacy policy does not mention SMS | Add the required privacy policy language (see section above) |
Missing STOP/HELP instructions | Include opt-out and help instructions in your privacy policy |
Terms of service missing SMS description | Add the required terms and conditions language (see section above) |
Web forms missing consent checkboxes | Add opt-in checkboxes to all forms with phone fields |
Consent checkbox is pre-checked | Change the default state to unchecked |
Form suggests consent comes from submitting | Remove wording like "By clicking Submit, you agree..." |
One checkbox covers both message types | Split into separate transactional and marketing checkboxes |
Checkboxes missing policy/terms links | Add links to your privacy policy and terms next to each checkbox |
Business Information Mismatches
Issue | What to Fix |
Business name doesn't match IRS records | Use the exact name from your IRS CP 575 letter, including punctuation |
Address doesn't match IRS records | Use the registered address from your CP 575 letter |
EIN belongs to a different entity | Verify you're using the correct EIN for this business |
EIN not found in verification databases | Wait 30–90 days after EIN issuance for data to propagate, then resubmit |
What to Do After a Rejection
Review the rejection reason provided
Correct the issue (usually on your website or in your form)
Resubmit the form when the form status shows "Failed"
Most rejections are due to missing or incomplete website compliance requirements. Ensure all required language and checkboxes are in place on your website
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does registration take?
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Registration typically takes 1–4 weeks. A third-party verification agency reviews your business information and checks your website for compliance. You receive a notification when your registration is approved or rejected.
Can sole proprietors without an EIN register for SMS?
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No. A2P 10DLC registration requires an EIN. If you don't have one, apply for one using IRS Form SS-4 online.
Do I need to register again if I already registered through Sawyer?
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Yes. Marketing Suite uses its own dedicated SMS infrastructure and phone number to send messages and campaigns. Because carrier compliance and A2P 10DLC campaign registrations are tied directly to the sending platform and number, any previous registration completed in core Sawyer (or through another provider) does not carry over.
Can I send SMS to US numbers from a business outside the United States?
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No. A2P registration is only available for US-based businesses. Sending SMS to US numbers from a non-US business is not supported.
I don't see the registration option. Where is it?
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Registration is only available for US-based businesses. Confirm that your account has a US address, then go to Administration > SMS Configuration in Marketing Suite.
I submitted the form with incorrect information. Can I cancel it?
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No. The form cannot be edited or canceled once submitted. If information was incorrect, the registration will move to a failed status. Once it fails, you can correct the information and resubmit.
What phone number will my SMS messages come from?
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Your business is assigned a local phone number based on your business address. If no local numbers are available, you receive a number from a nearby area code. You can view your assigned number in Administration > SMS Configuration.
My registration keeps getting rejected. What should I do?
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Check the registration status, which shows the specific reason for the failure. The most common causes are missing SMS language in your privacy policy or terms, missing or pre-checked consent checkboxes, and business details that don't match your IRS records. Correct the issue and resubmit.