To send business texts from a standard 10-digit number in the United States, your business first has to register. This is often called 10DLC registration (it stands for 10-digit long code). This guide explains what that means, what you will need, and how long to expect it to take, in plain language.
Why registration exists
US mobile carriers need to know that the businesses sending texts on their networks are real and accountable. Registration is how they verify that. It is not a ReliaRing rule; it is an industry requirement that applies to every business texting in the US, no matter which provider they use.
What it does for you
Once your business is registered and your use case is approved:
- Your texts are far more likely to be delivered instead of silently filtered.
- You can send at normal business volumes rather than being throttled to a trickle.
- You build a trusted sender reputation with the carriers.
Unregistered business texting to US numbers is increasingly blocked, so registration is really the price of entry.
Do I need it?
You need registration if you send business or commercial texts from US 10-digit numbers to US recipients. You generally do not need it for purely personal, one-to-one texting. Toll-free numbers use a separate verification process rather than 10DLC, but the goal is the same.
If you only ever text within your own team (internal chat) and never message real outside phone numbers, this does not apply to you.
The two parts of registration
Registration has two pieces, and they happen in order:
- Register your business (your "brand"). This confirms who your company is.
- Register your use case (your "campaign"). This describes what kind of texts you will send.
Your business is reviewed first; once it is approved, your use case is reviewed.
What information you will need
About your business:
- Legal business name, exactly as registered
- Any "doing business as" (DBA) name you use
- Your tax ID (EIN), entered as nine digits
- Business address, phone, and email
- Your business website
- Your industry (you will pick from a list)
Tip: Use your exact legal name and correct EIN. The most common cause of a rejected registration is a company name that does not match official tax records.
About your use case:
- A short description of the texts you will send (for example, "appointment reminders and order updates to customers who opted in")
- A few sample messages that match what you will actually send
- How people opt in to your texts
Where to register in ReliaRing
If registration is enabled on your account, open Messaging and choose 10DLC Brands. From there you register your business, then add your use case. You will enter the business details listed above, and the platform submits them for review and tracks the status for you.
If you do not see this option, it may not be enabled for your account yet, or your provider contact can start the process for you.
How long it takes (honestly)
Timelines are set by the carriers and the registry, not by us, and they vary:
- Business (brand) review is often quick, sometimes within a business day or two, but it can take longer if details need to be verified.
- Use case (campaign) review usually takes several business days, and can stretch to a couple of weeks for more sensitive use cases or when extra verification is requested.
Plan ahead. If you know you will need texting for a launch or busy season, start registration well before you need to send.
Common reasons registration is rejected
- Business name or EIN does not match tax records. Fix: use the exact legal name and verify the EIN.
- Sample messages do not match the stated use case. Fix: provide realistic samples that reflect what you will send.
- Unclear opt-in. Fix: describe exactly how customers agree to receive texts.
- Missing opt-out language in marketing samples. Fix: include a line like "Reply STOP to opt out."
After you are approved
- Keep sending the kinds of messages you registered for. If your use case changes a lot, update your registration.
- Keep honoring opt-outs and keep your opt-in records. See SMS Consent, STOP, and Opt-Outs.
- If your texts start getting filtered, the usual cause is content or consent problems, not the registration itself.
Read next
- SMS Consent, STOP, and Opt-Outs
- Bulk SMS Campaigns and the Opt-Out Registry