What Information Do I Need for SMS Business Verification?

To complete SMS business verification (also known as A2P 10DLC registration), you need your official legal business name, Federal Tax ID (EIN), physical business address, authorized contact information, and a compliant website privacy policy. US mobile carriers verify this information against federal databases to protect consumers from spam and approve your business for automated text messaging. Gathering these documents beforehand ensures your messaging campaign is approved without delays.

Why Mobile Carriers Require Business Verification

If you send automated SMS review requests to your customers, US telecom carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) require your business to register on the Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code (A2P 10DLC) framework managed by The Campaign Registry.

This system was created to stop unwanted spam texts, enforce the FCC TCPA guidelines, and ensure that businesses sending text messages are legitimate legal entities.

Without approved SMS verification, carriers will block your outbound text messages, flag your phone number as spam, or impose heavy carrier delivery fees. Completing verification unlocks reliable deliverability and high conversion rates for your Google review requests.

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The Complete Checklist: What Information You Need

Before you fill out your verification form in your SoTrustworthy account settings, gather the following details. Every piece of information must match official government records exactly.

1. Legal Business Entity Details

Carriers cross-reference your business registration directly with IRS databases.

• Exact Legal Business Name: This must match the exact name on your IRS tax documents (such as your CP575 confirmation letter or 147C tax letter). Do not use a trade name, DBA, or shortened version unless it is formally registered.
• Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): A unique 9-digit tax ID assigned to your business by the IRS. (If you operate as an unregistered Sole Proprietorship without an EIN, you must register under a Sole Proprietorship brand type using your Social Security Number, though standard business EINs pass verification much faster).
• Business Type / Structure: You must specify whether you are a Corporation, LLC, Partnership, Sole Proprietorship, or Non-Profit (501c3).
• Industry Sector: The primary field your business operates in (e.g., Home Services, Plumbing & HVAC, Personal Care & Services, Automotive).

2. Physical Business Address

Carriers use your physical address to verify your local business presence.

• Street Address: The exact physical location registered with the IRS.
• Building/Suite/Unit Number: Include your suite or unit number if applicable.
• City, State, and ZIP Code: Must match official postal address records.

Important Rule: P.O. Boxes, commercial mail receiving agencies (like a UPS Store box), and virtual addresses are automatically rejected by vetting agencies. You must use a physical residential address or commercial storefront.

3. Authorized Point of Contact Information

Carriers require a live human contact who represents the business and can be reached for administrative or compliance issues.

• Full Legal Name: The name of the business owner, manager, or administrator.
• Title: Your role within the company (e.g., Owner, Managing Member, Operations Manager).
• Business Email Address: We strongly recommend using an email address that matches your business website domain (e.g., owner@acmeplumbing.com instead of a generic @gmail.com or @yahoo.com address). Using domain-matched emails significantly increases approval speeds.
• Direct Phone Number: A working mobile or office phone line where the contact can be reached.

4. Website and Digital Presence

Vetting agencies visit your website to confirm that your business is active and transparent.

• Website URL: Your primary business website or an active online profile (such as a verified Facebook business page if you do not own a website).
• Direct Privacy Policy Link: Your website must contain a publicly accessible Privacy Policy page.

5. Message Use Case and Sample Copy

Carriers evaluate what type of messages you intend to send and how you collect phone numbers.

• Messaging Use Case: SoTrustworthy accounts generally register under the Customer Care / Service Notifications or Low-Volume Mixed campaign type.
• Sample Text Messages: You must provide exact examples of texts you will send. For review requests, a standard sample looks like:

  "Hi [Customer Name], thanks for choosing [Business Name]! We hope we provided 5-star service. Could you leave us a quick Google review? [Link] Reply STOP to opt out."

• Opt-In Method Explanation: A short description explaining how customers give you permission to send them text messages (e.g., "Customers check a box on our service contract or verbal consent upon completing service").

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Mandatory Privacy Policy Language for SMS

The single most common reason verification applications get rejected is a missing or compliant Privacy Policy link. Mobile carriers have strict requirements regarding consumer privacy and data sharing.

Your website’s privacy policy must explicitly state that mobile information and SMS consent will not be shared or sold to third parties for marketing purposes.

Carrier-Required Clause

Ensure your website's Privacy Policy includes a section similar to this:

"No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties."

If your current privacy policy lacks this exact commitment, carriers will reject your registration immediately. Update your website before submitting your registration.

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Top 4 Reasons Registrations Get Rejected (and How to Avoid Them)

1. EIN and Business Name Mismatch: If your IRS document says "Smith & Sons Plumbing LLC" and you type "Smith Plumbing", the automated IRS lookup tool will flag and reject the submission. Type your name character-for-character as it appears on your IRS documentation.
2. P.O. Box Addresses: Submitting a postal box instead of a real street address triggers an instant rejection.
3. Missing Opt-Out Instructions in Sample Texts: Every sample text submitted during registration must explicitly include opt-out language (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe"). SoTrustworthy automatically enforces this inside your account settings.
4. Vague Opt-In Explanations: Saying "We get their numbers from our list" will be rejected. Be clear: "Customers opt in when signing our digital service agreement or completing an online booking form."

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How SoTrustworthy Handles SMS Verification

We know you want to collect Google reviews, not fill out endless regulatory paperwork. SoTrustworthy handles the backend submission process directly with mobile carriers to make registration painless.

• Built-in Compliance: SoTrustworthy features an SMS-first workflow designed around carrier rules. Our platform manages opt-out keywords (like STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, and QUIT) automatically so you remain compliant with the TCPA without manual tracking.
• Seamless CRM Integrations: If you use field-service tools like Jobber or HubSpot, SoTrustworthy pulls customer opt-in records directly from your job completion triggers, satisfying carrier proof-of-consent requirements effortlessly.
• Ethical Review Requesting: We follow strict rules regarding review policies. In full alignment with Google review policies, SoTrustworthy does not perform review gating (filtering out negative reviews), keeping your business fully compliant across Google and major telecom networks.
• Throttling Controls: Built-in review request throttling ensures your phone number does not send mass blasts that trigger carrier spam filters.

You can enter your registration details right inside your SoTrustworthy dashboard during your 14-day trial or within your account settings on any plan (Starter, Growth, or Pro).

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Next Steps

• Locate Your IRS Documentation: Find your CP575 or 147C tax form to copy your exact legal business name and 9-digit EIN.
• Update Your Privacy Policy: Verify that your website privacy policy contains the required SMS non-sharing language.
• Submit Your Info in SoTrustworthy: Navigate to Settings > SMS Setup in your SoTrustworthy dashboard and enter your verification details to begin the automated carrier approval process.