If your business sends texts to customers from a regular 10 digit phone number, US carriers expect that traffic to be registered. That registration system is called A2P 10DLC. This guide explains what it is, who needs it and how registration works.
What A2P 10DLC means
A2P stands for application to person: messages a business sends to people from software such as a CRM, a booking tool or an SMS platform. 10DLC stands for 10 digit long code, a standard local phone number. Together, A2P 10DLC is the system US carriers use to register and approve businesses that text customers from local numbers.
Who needs to register
- Businesses that send appointment reminders, alerts or order updates
- Businesses that send promotions or marketing texts
- Agencies that send texts for their clients
- Anyone texting customers through a platform such as GoHighLevel, Twilio or RingCentral
Since February 1, 2025, US carriers block business texts sent from unregistered 10 digit numbers, so registration is no longer optional.
How registration works
- Brand registration. Your legal business name, EIN, address and website are registered with The Campaign Registry.
- Campaign registration. You describe how you text customers, with a use case, sample messages and how customers opt in.
- Carrier review. Carriers review the campaign. Most reviews take a few business days.
- Approval. Once approved, your numbers can send business texts.
Why registrations get held up
Most delays come from details that do not match, such as a legal name that differs from your EIN records, a website without a privacy policy, or opt in wording that does not name your business. Getting these right before you submit saves days.
Get it done for you
A2P Ready prepares and submits your brand and campaign, checks everything carriers review and handles fixes until you are approved. It is $50 per verification, or 10 verifications for $399. See pricing or talk to an expert.
