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, carriers charge a one-time registration fee (~$20) plus a $1.50–$2.00/month ongoing fee. Reach covers these fees for now — you pay nothing to get registered.
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 sentence or two about what your business does
- Who you text and what about (e.g., appointment reminders)
That's it — we handle the rest of the paperwork (sample messages, consent language, campaign details) for you.
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? Approval timing is up to the carriers and varies. We monitor every registration and message you the moment texting is live — no need to check back.
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
- Fill out the short registration form (about 2 minutes)
- We handle the carrier registration for you — the fees are on us
- Wait for carrier approval — you'll be able to text customers as soon as it's approved
- We'll message you the moment texting is live
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, if you have one. Must be at least 30 days old. No EIN? You can register as a sole proprietor.
- Business address — Include suite/unit numbers. Must match tax documents.
- Contact info — Your name, email, and mobile number.
- What your business does — A sentence or two is plenty.
- Who you text, and about what — e.g., "Guests who book with us — check-in details and follow-ups."
We take it from there — sample messages, consent language, and campaign details are handled for you as part of the registration.
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.
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?
We monitor every registration and handle rejections for you. Most are simple fixes — usually a business name or EIN that doesn't exactly match IRS records. If we need anything from you, we'll reach out in the app.
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. Fill out the same registration form and we'll submit the toll-free verification for you. There's no fee — you'll be able to text as soon as it's approved.
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.