Register for business texting (A2P 10DLC)

Overview#

US phone carriers block business texts from local numbers until the business, and what it texts about, are registered. This is called A2P 10DLC. TradesWork files the registration for you from one form: first your business (the "brand"), then your texting use (the "campaign"). Until both are approved, texting shows as limited and texts aren't sent; TradesWork tells you why and lets your team share links from their own phones instead.

Before you start#

• You need the Owner or Admin role.

• You need a TradesWork number first. See Get a business phone number and choose who answers.

• Have your EIN and your legal business name exactly as on your IRS letter (CP 575 or 147C), including punctuation and LLC or Inc.

• You need a live website that shows your business name (a working Facebook page can also work). Sole proprietors without an EIN register differently (see FAQ).

• Registry fees are passed through and shown on the page as estimates: about $44 one-time for the business ($4.50 for a sole proprietor), about $15 one-time for the texting-use review, then about $1.50–$10 a month depending on volume.

Steps#

1. Open Settings › Phones › Phone Numbers, Call Recording & Texting and scroll to 4. Register for texting (A2P 10DLC). The badge shows where you are (for example Not sent yet).

2. Fill in the business:

   • Business type: LLC, Corporation, Partnership, Non-profit or Sole proprietor (no EIN).

   • EIN (blank for sole proprietor): 9 digits, like 12-3456789.

   • Legal business name: must match the IRS record for the EIN, including LLC/Inc.

   • Doing business as (optional).

   • Website: must be live and show the business name.

   • Street, City, State (two letters), ZIP.

3. Fill in the contact person: Contact first name, Contact last name, Job title, Contact email, Contact mobile.

4. Choose What you text about. Most shops pick Appointment texts, estimates, invoices and replies (recommended). Other options: customer care only, notifications only, or low volume mixed (under about 2,000 texts a month).

5. Check the texting details. TradesWork prefills them to match how it already handles consent:

   • Description of your texts (at least 40 characters).

   • Sample messages (one per line; at least two, and one must include "Reply STOP to opt out").

   • How customers agree to texts (opt-in) (at least 40 characters): where you collect the number and the consent wording you use.

6. Press Send registration.

7. Watch the progress under the form: Business sent, Business approved, Texting use approved. TradesWork checks with the carriers automatically; press Check now to check sooner.

   • Business review takes a few minutes to a few days.

   • Carrier review of your texting use usually takes a few days, sometimes up to about two weeks.

8. When it shows Approved, go to 5. Test text, enter Your mobile, press Save, then Text me. It counts once the carrier accepts the text.

Settings that change this#

• Settings › Communications › Customer Notifications: which automatic texts go out and quiet hours (texts wait until morning; on-my-way still goes out).

• Settings › Phones › Phone Numbers, Call Recording & Texting: missed-call text-back.

• Settings › Phones › AI Text Agent: the AI text agent's replies to new leads.

Tips#

• Start registration on day one. It's the slowest part of setting up phones.

• Copy the legal name and EIN from the IRS letter, not from memory. Mismatches are the top reason for rejection.

• Make sure your website has a privacy policy that mentions texting. Carriers look for it.

• After approval, keep your texts close to the samples you registered. Very different content can be filtered.

Troubleshooting#

• The badge says "Needs changes" → the registry rejected something; the reason is shown under Needs changes:. → Fix it and press Fix and resend. Common reasons:

  • Legal name or EIN doesn't match IRS records. → Use the exact name from the CP 575 or 147C letter.

  • Website isn't live, is parked, or doesn't name the business. → Fix the site, then resend.

  • Opt-in description too vague. → Say where you collect numbers (booking form, phone, in person) and quote the consent wording, including STOP/HELP and "Msg & data rates may apply".

  • Samples don't name the business or lack opt-out language. → Edit the samples.

  • Use case doesn't match the samples (for example marketing texts under notifications only). → Pick the matching use case.

• Texts show "not sent" or texting says "Limited: registration pending" → carriers block unregistered business texts. → Wait for approval. Share links from your own phone meanwhile.

• Texts were delivered before but some are now filtered → content looks like spam (link shorteners, all caps, no business name) or volume spiked. → Keep messages close to your registered samples.

• A customer replied STOP → they're opted out of all texts by law. → They can text START to opt back in.

• Toll-free number won't text → toll-free numbers need their own verification, which isn't automated yet. → Use a local number for texting, or contact support.

FAQ#

I'm a sole proprietor with no EIN. Can I register? Yes, but it works differently: it needs a one-time code sent to the owner's own mobile, and TradesWork support walks you through it. A sole-proprietor registration covers one number and lower volume.

What does "handled by TradesWork support" mean? When automatic filing isn't available, you still fill in the same form, and TradesWork support files it with the carriers for you and updates the status here. You'll see TradesWork support is handling this registration and updates it here.

Do I need to register each number? No. The registration covers your company's texting; TradesWork adds your numbers to it.

Coming from ServiceTitan#

If you texted from ServiceTitan, your registration belongs to ServiceTitan's account, not yours, so it doesn't move. Register in TradesWork as early as possible during your switch; if you're porting your numbers, they join your registration once the port completes.