10DLC Registration: What It Is and How to Get Approved

If your business texts customers from a regular 10-digit number, you have to register that texting with US carriers. That process is called 10DLC registration, also known as A2P 10DLC registration. Skip it, and your messages get blocked before they reach anyone's phone.

The good news: registration is cheap, and most businesses get approved within a week. The bad news: one sloppy detail on your form or website can get your campaign rejected, and every resubmission costs time and money.

This guide covers what 10DLC means, what you need before you apply, what it costs in 2026, and how to get approved on the first try.

Key takeaways

• 10DLC registration is required for any business texting from a standard 10-digit number in the US.

• You register two things: your brand (your business) and your campaign (what you text about).

• Expect about $20 to $60 in one-time fees, plus $1.50 to $10 a month per campaign.

• A clean application usually takes under a week. Most rejections come from opt-in and website problems.

What is 10DLC?

10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code. It's a regular local phone number, like a 559 number, that a business uses to send texts to customers.

Carriers call this kind of texting A2P, or application-to-person. That covers appointment reminders, order updates, support replies and marketing texts sent through a business phone system or texting platform. It's different from P2P, the person-to-person texting you do from your own cell phone.

US businesses usually text from one of three number types:

For most small and mid-size businesses, 10DLC is the right fit. Customers see a familiar local number, and you can call and text from the same number.

Why is 10DLC registration required?

Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon created 10DLC registration to cut down on spam and scam texts. Registration tells them who is sending, what they're sending and how customers agreed to receive it.

Since February 1, 2025, unregistered business texts from 10-digit numbers are blocked. If you never registered, your texts may be failing right now without anyone telling you.

Registration also helps you in two ways:

• Better delivery. Registered traffic is less likely to be filtered as spam.

• Higher sending limits. Carriers set how many texts you can send based on your registration and vetting.

What do you need for 10DLC registration?

To register for 10DLC, you need your legal business name, EIN, address and website, plus your texting use case, sample messages, opt-in process and privacy policy. Most rejections happen because one of these is missing or doesn't match.

About your business (the brand)

• Legal business name, exactly as it appears on your IRS and state records

• EIN (Employer Identification Number). Sole proprietors without an EIN can register with a separate, more limited option.

• Business address that matches your public records

• Business type (private company, nonprofit, government and so on)

• A working website on your own domain, with no errors or security warnings

• A contact name, email and phone number

About your texting (the campaign)

• Use case: what you text about, such as appointment reminders, customer support or marketing

• Description: two or three plain sentences on who you text and why

• Sample messages: two to five real examples, including your business name and opt-out wording

• Opt-in process: exactly how customers agree to receive texts, such as a web form, a checkbox or a text-in keyword

• Privacy policy and terms: public links on your website. Many providers now require both URLs on every new campaign.

• Opt-out and help replies: what you send when someone texts STOP or HELP

One detail trips up a lot of businesses: carriers expect your privacy policy to say you won't share or sell mobile numbers or text opt-in data with third parties. For the full consent and opt-out rules, see CTIA's Messaging Principles and Best Practices, the wireless industry's texting guidelines.

How to register for 10DLC, step by step

10DLC registration takes five steps: register your brand, get vetted, register your campaign, pass carrier review and connect your numbers. You don't register directly with the carriers. Your texting provider submits your details to The Campaign Registry (TCR), the central database carriers use to check business texters.

1. Register your brand. Your provider submits your business details to TCR. If they match public records, approval is often near-instant.

2. Get vetted (recommended). A third party scores your business. A better score unlocks higher daily sending limits. Unvetted brands get conservative default limits.

3. Register your campaign. Submit your use case, description, sample messages, opt-in process and website links.

4. Wait for carrier review. Carriers check that your samples, website and opt-in process match what you described.

5. Connect your numbers. Once approved, your provider links your phone numbers to the campaign. Send a few test texts before going live.

If you already have a business number your customers know, you can usually keep your existing number and text-enable it. You don't need a new one just for texting.

How much does 10DLC registration cost in 2026?

Most small businesses pay about $20 to $60 up front, then $1.50 to $10 a month per campaign. These are the standard registry fees as of mid-2026. Some providers add their own markup or bundle them into a plan.

On top of these, carriers charge a small per-message fee, usually a fraction of a cent per text. Several carriers changed their rates in 2026, so ask your provider for current numbers.

Notice the campaign vetting row. You pay $15 every time you submit, so a rejected campaign costs you money as well as time.

Fees from Tychron's 2026 10DLC guide.

How long does 10DLC approval take?

A clean application usually goes from start to approved in under a week.

If you're launching appointment reminders or a holiday promotion, start registration at least two weeks ahead. That leaves room for one rejection without delaying your launch.

Why 10DLC campaigns get rejected (and how to fix it)

Most 10DLC rejections come from an opt-in page reviewers can't see, missing consent wording, or business details that don't match IRS records. Here are the eight most common problems and how to fix each one:

Quick check before you submit: open your opt-in page in a private browser window. If a stranger can't see exactly how someone signs up for texts, neither can the carrier.

How do you stay 10DLC compliant after approval?

To stay compliant, honor opt-outs fast, stick to your registered use case, keep opt-in records and identify your business in every conversation. Carriers keep monitoring your texts after approval, and violations can bring fines or suspended numbers. T-Mobile, for example, publishes penalties from $500 per content violation up to $10,000 for repeat violations.

Keep your texting compliant with a few habits:

• Honor opt-outs fast. Stop texting anyone who replies STOP, or asks to stop in other words. FCC rules require you to honor opt-out requests within 10 business days. In September 2026, the FCC asked for comment on shortening that deadline, so watch for changes. Doing it immediately is safer.

• Stick to your registered use case. If you registered for appointment reminders, don't start sending promotions. Register a new campaign first.

• Keep opt-in records. Save when and how each customer agreed to receive texts.

• Identify yourself. Include your business name in your first message and in regular reminders.

• Text at reasonable hours. Avoid early mornings and late nights in the customer's time zone.

It also helps when texting lives in the same system as your calls. When texts, calls and voicemail sit on one platform, your team can see a customer's full history and spot opt-outs right away.

Frequently asked questions

What does 10DLC mean?

10DLC means 10-Digit Long Code. It's a standard local phone number that a business uses to send texts to customers.

Do I need 10DLC registration if I only text a few customers?

Yes. Any business texting from a 10-digit number through a business phone system or texting platform needs to register. If you send fewer messages, a low-volume campaign keeps your monthly fee around $1.50.

What happens if I don't register?

Carriers block unregistered business texts sent from 10-digit numbers. Your customers simply won't receive them.

Do I need an EIN to register?

Most businesses register with an EIN. Sole proprietors without one can use a sole proprietor registration, which has lower fees and lower sending limits.

Does 10DLC apply to toll-free numbers?

No. Toll-free numbers go through a separate toll-free verification process instead.

How many campaigns do I need?

One for each type of texting. A business sending appointment reminders and promotions might need a mixed campaign or two separate campaigns.

Can I keep my current business number?

Usually, yes. Most landline and VoIP business numbers can be text-enabled and registered. You don't need a new number to start texting.

What is A2P 10DLC?

A2P 10DLC is the full name for business texting from a 10-digit number. A2P means application-to-person: texts sent from a business system, not a personal phone. A2P 10DLC registration and 10DLC registration mean the same thing.

What is The Campaign Registry?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) is the central database US carriers use to verify businesses and their texting campaigns. Your texting provider submits your brand and campaign to TCR for you.

How do I check my 10DLC registration status?

Check your texting provider's dashboard or ask its support team. Brand and campaign status usually shows as pending, approved or rejected, with a reason for any rejection.

Is 10DLC or toll-free texting better for a small business?

10DLC is usually better for local businesses, because customers see a local number and you can call and text from the same line. Toll-free texting suits national brands and high-volume alerts. Both need registration or verification before you can text.