Quick Answers
What is A2P? A2P stands for "Application-to-Person." It's the system US carriers use to verify that businesses sending text messages are real and not spam. Every business phone app — not just Reach — is required to register.
Why do I need it? Carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) block text messages from unregistered business numbers. Without registration, your texts simply won't be delivered. This has been mandatory since 2023.
Why does this exist? Spam. Carriers got overwhelmed with fake texts — scams, phishing, political spam. A2P registration is how they verify that you're a real business sending real messages to people who want to hear from you.
Are there costs? For local numbers, there is a $20 one-time registration fee that goes directly to the carriers, plus a $1.50–$2.00/month ongoing fee. Since we believe in transparency: Reach covers half of the registration fee and covers the monthly fee entirely if you get approved. You pay $10 at registration, and nothing ongoing.
For toll-free numbers, registration is free.
What do I need to get registered?
- Your legal business name (exactly as it appears on IRS documents)
- Your EIN (tax ID) — if you have one
- Business address
- A point of contact (name, email, phone number)
- A brief description of how you use texting (e.g., appointment reminders)
- Two sample text messages
- How your customers agree to receive texts from you (consent method)
What if I don't have a website? That's fine. Many of our users don't. We built a tool that generates the compliance pages carriers look for — a privacy policy, terms of service, and consent page — hosted for free on your behalf. You can also use a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as long as it clearly identifies your business.
What if I don't have an EIN? You can still register as a sole proprietor. You'll need a US or Canadian address and a valid mobile phone number for verification. Sole proprietor registration is limited to one phone number.
Do I need to register to make phone calls? No. Registration is only for text messaging. Calling works immediately with no registration needed.
Can I send texts while my registration is pending? No. Texts will be blocked by carriers until your registration is approved.
How long does it take? Most registrations are approved within 1–7 business days. In rare cases, carrier review can take up to 30 days. Toll-free verification can take 2–3 weeks.
I don't send marketing texts. Do I still need to register? Yes. All business texting requires registration — appointment reminders, customer care, one-on-one conversations, everything.
How to Register
- Open the Reach app or go to reachphone.co/compliance
- Sign in with your Reach account email
- Click Get Started under "Enable Text Messaging"
- Fill out the registration form (about 5 minutes)
- Submit and pay the $10 registration fee (Reach covers the other half)
- Wait for carrier approval (1–7 business days)
- You'll get an email when you're approved — texting is enabled automatically
What You'll Be Asked
The registration form collects the information carriers need to verify your business:
- Business name — Must match your IRS records exactly, including LLC, Inc., etc.
- EIN / Tax ID — Your Employer Identification Number. Must be at least 30 days old.
- Business address — Include suite/unit numbers. Must match tax documents.
- Authorized contact — Name, email, and phone of someone at the business.
- Use case — Select what best describes how you text customers (e.g., Customer Care, Appointment Reminders).
- Sample messages — Two realistic examples of texts you'd send. Must include "Reply STOP to opt out."
- Message flow — How customers consent to receiving your texts.
How Do My Customers Opt In?
Carriers need to know that your customers actually agreed to receive texts from you. There are a few valid ways:
Verbal consent — You ask customers in person or on the phone: "May we send you text message reminders about your appointments?" and they say yes. This is the most common method for service businesses.
Written consent — A form on your website, a paper form, or a checkbox during online booking that says something like: "I agree to receive text messages from [Business Name]. Reply STOP to opt out."
Customer-initiated — When a customer texts your business number first, they're consenting to receive replies.
For all methods, customers must be able to opt out at any time by replying STOP.
Common Rejection Reasons (and How to Fix Them)
Business name doesn't match — Your name must exactly match your IRS records. "Ember Healing" won't work if the IRS has "Ember Healing Bodywork & Wellness LLC." Check IRS Form CP-575 or your EIN confirmation letter.
EIN doesn't match — The EIN must match the business name and address on file. If your EIN is less than 30 days old, it may not be in the carrier's system yet.
Weak consent description — "Customers give us their phone number" isn't enough. Be specific: "Customers provide their phone number when booking an appointment by phone or in person. We ask 'May we send you text reminders?' and only text those who agree."
Sample messages missing opt-out — Every sample must include "Reply STOP to opt out" or similar language.
Website issues — If you provided a website, it must be publicly accessible, clearly describe your business, and show contact info. If your website has a form that collects phone numbers, it needs opt-in language near the submit button.
What If I Get Rejected?
You can fix the issue and resubmit. Most rejections are simple fixes:
- Double-check your business name and EIN against IRS documents
- Add "Reply STOP to opt out" to your sample messages
- Be more specific in your consent description
- Use our compliance page generator if you need a website with proper opt-in language
Toll-Free Numbers
Toll-free numbers (+1-800, +1-888, +1-877, +1-866, +1-855, +1-844, +1-833) have a separate verification process:
- Go to reachphone.co/compliance
- Click Get Started under "Enable Text Messaging"
- Complete the verification form (business info, use case, sample messages)
- Wait for review (no fee, but can take 2–3 weeks)
Need Help?
If you're stuck on registration or got rejected and aren't sure why, email us at support@reachphone.co. We'll help you get it sorted out.