This guide is designed to help you easily navigate the A2P (Application-to-Person) Sole Proprietor Brands registration process. Starting August 31, 2023, all 10DLC phone numbers used to send SMS and MMS messages to U.S. phone numbers must be registered under a brand-approved campaign.

Requirements for Sole Proprietor Registration

Sole Proprietor brands are intended for individuals and small businesses in the United States and Canada that do not have a business Tax ID (such as an EIN). To qualify for Sole Proprietor registration, you must meet the following requirements:

• No Tax ID: If you have a Tax ID, you should opt for a Low Volume Standard Brand instead.
• OTP Verification: You must confirm your identity using a One-Time Password (OTP) verification step.
• Valid Details: Your Starter Brand must include accurate and valid information, such as your business name, first and last name, email address, phone number, and a valid U.S. address (including P.O. boxes).

Please note: Sole Proprietor registration is only allowed for addresses in the U.S. or Canada.

Steps to Determine Your A2P Brand Registration Path

• If your business has a Tax Number (EIN for the US, CCN for Canada, etc.), select "Yes, my business has a US EIN."
• If your business does not have a Tax Number but operates from a valid business address in the U.S. or Canada, select "No, my business doesn't have a US EIN" (Sole Proprietor Brand Registration).
• If your business lacks a Tax ID and is not based in the U.S. or Canada, A2P Brand Registration is not possible. In such cases, consider using Toll-Free numbers after completing the registration process. Explore options for Toll-Free Number Registration.

Requirements Overview

Ensure your business name does not include terms such as LLC or other identifiers that suggest it is more than a sole proprietorship. For example, avoid names like "ABC Company LLC."

Limitations of Sole Proprietor Registration

Sole Proprietor brands have specific limitations:

• One Sole Proprietor Campaign per Brand.
• One Phone Number per Campaign.
• A throughput limit of 1 Message Per Second (1 MPS).
• Only one employee per company/business is allowed under this registration type.

How to Register Your Brand

The A2P brand registration process has been simplified. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Sub-Account Settings ➡Phone Numbers ➡Trust Center in your account.

1. Click on "Start Registration" on the card labeled "A2P Brand and Campaign Registration (SMS)."

1. Select "No, the business I'm registering does not have a Tax ID (E.g., EIN, CCN, etc.)."

1. Fill in the required information:
   • Email: Use a valid, well-formatted email address.

• Phone Number: Provide a valid U.S. or Canadian business/contact phone number. This can be a landline, mobile, or other number.
• Address: Ensure the address is valid and in the U.S. or Canada. It can be a PO Box.

Brand Details

• Under "Brand name," use your real business name if you're a Sole Proprietor. If you're an individual (e.g., a hobbyist or student), provide your first and last name. Do not use unique identifiers like an account ID or email address.
• For the "Mobile number," provide a valid U.S. or Canadian mobile number. This number will be used for SMS verification, so it must be reachable and not acquired from a CPaaS provider.
• Each phone number can be used for up to three A2P Brand registrations with TCR.
• You may use the same number for both the Phone Number field and the Mobile Number field if it meets all the requirements.

Click "Next" and proceed through the registration process. Click on "See examples" to review the templates.

Keep an eye out for an SMS from TCR requesting your approval. Respond with "Yes" to approve your brand for messaging.

Important Note: Your mobile number is crucial for the registration process and will be used for OTP verification. It must be a valid U.S. or Canadian mobile number, as it can only be used a maximum of three times across all A2P Brand registrations with TCR. Your email address and business address can only be used a maximum of 10 times across all A2P Brand registrations. If registered with another vendor, this counts towards the limit.

Why Did My Sole Proprietor Registration Fail?

If your Sole Proprietor registration failed, here are some common reasons:

• Using custom variables: Ensure you use actual names and the correct company name.
• Opt-out language not included: Include opt-out language in message templates.
• Usage limits: Avoid using the same email, phone number, or address in more than ten A2P Sole Proprietor registrations. Avoid using the same number for OTP verification in more than 3 cases.
• Invalid email: Use a public domain for your email (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) as private email domains are typically not eligible for Sole Prop Brand registration.
• Invalid phone number: Use a direct line (hard number) rather than a Google Voice or other VOIP number for OTP verification.

Please Note: If your brand doesn't qualify for Sole Proprietor registration (e.g., you have a registered Tax ID or are not located in the U.S. or Canada), your submission will continue to fail. In such cases, consider registering as a Standard Brand instead.

FAQs

1. Who is eligible for A2P Sole Proprietor registration?
Sole Proprietor registration is available for individuals or small businesses in the United States and Canada that do not have a business Tax ID (such as an EIN) and operate with only one employee. If your business has a Tax ID or operates outside the U.S. or Canada, you will need to register under a different brand type.

2. What fees are associated with Sole Proprietor registration?
The fees include a one-time Sole Proprietor Brand registration fee of $4.41, a one-time campaign vetting fee of $16.55, and a monthly Sole Proprietor Campaign fee of $2.25. Some previously registered Starter Brands that were converted may be exempt from certain fees.

3. What are the limitations for Sole Proprietor Brands?
Sole Proprietor Brands are limited to one campaign per brand, one phone number per campaign, a throughput limit of 1 Message Per Second (1 MPS), and only one employee per business. Each mobile number can only be used for up to three A2P Brand registrations with TCR.

4. Why did my Sole Proprietor registration fail?
Common reasons for registration failure include using custom variables instead of actual names, not including opt-out language in message templates, exceeding the allowed usage limits for contact details, using invalid email domains, or using VOIP numbers like Google Voice for OTP verification instead of a direct line.

5. Can I use the same mobile number for multiple registrations?
No, a single mobile number can only be used for up to three A2P Brand registrations with TCR. The number must be a valid U.S. or Canadian mobile number capable of receiving SMS and should not be sourced from CPaaS providers. If you exceed this limit, you will need to provide a different number.