Index:

Intro
What key information is needed for 10DLC Registration?
Sole Proprietor Requirements
What You’ll Need for Approval
Prohibited Use Cases & Message Types
How Do I Get Started?

Disclaimer:

10DLC campaigns are a mandatory, industry-wide requirement established by mobile carriers to regulate business messaging and protect consumers from spam and fraud. These rules are not specific to Talkroute—they apply to any business that uses a 10-digit local phone number to send text messages.

The 10DLC registration process links your business and messaging use case to your number(s), ensuring your texting practices are compliant with carrier regulations. Without an approved registration, outgoing messages are subject to filtering.

As of February 1, 2025, all unregistered local number traffic is fully filtered by mobile carriers.

There are no exceptions to these requirements. All types of messaging must be registered—including marketing, appointment reminders, customer service responses, and even one-on-one replies.

Intro

This article provides more information and documentation required for 10DLC registration, including what to expect when submitting your form and how to improve your chances of approval.

It’s designed to supplement our 10DLC Campaign Registration Article with more detailed help on form fields, Sole Proprietor rules, opt-in proof, and compliance documentation. For a full overview of 10DLC, including FAQs and pricing, refer to our main registration guide above.

What key information is needed for 10DLC Registration?

To get approved, your registration form must include accurate details about your business, how you plan to use text messaging, and how you collect customer consent. The information you provide is reviewed by The Campaign Registry and mobile carriers, so it’s important that everything is complete, consistent, and compliant. Below is an overview of the key components you'll need to prepare before submitting your registration.

Fields	Description
Legal Company Name Company Address Company Type Company EIN	The provided Company Name, Address, and EIN information must match your registered company information. Any mismatch (including misspelled names, or differences in spaces, periods, or commas) can result in a rejection. A Tax ID/EIN is not required for Sole Proprietor business types; however, if you have an EIN for your business and do not provide it, your registration will be rejected.
Company URL Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions	Links to your Company website and Privacy Policy are required with the exception of some Sole Proprietor cases. If you have a Terms & Conditions link on your website, please include it, otherwise it is not required. Broken links, non-working websites, and under construction pages will not be accepted. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies for other companies (e.g. Google, GoDaddy, etc.) are not accepted.
Company Contact Details	Please include a name, email, and phone number for one individual who manages messaging on your account as a point of contact.
Use Case	A description of what messaging will be used for with your local phone numbers. It is important that the use case description actually match your sample messages. You may optionally provide a one or two-sentence outline of what the business does in addition to how messaging is used.
Call-to-Action / Message Flow	A description of how recipients are opting in or consenting to receive messages from your company. Please note that consent cannot be bought, sold, or traded. You must obtain consent directly from the recipient. Purchasing or otherwise obtaining a list from a third party is prohibited.
Sample Messages	Provide a few examples of the types of messages that the company will be sending. These should be specific to your use case and not a generic set of messages.
Other Questions	Answer questions regarding direct lending and loans, embedded links, embedded phone numbers, and age-gated content. These questions help ensure your campaign complies with additional regulations specific to certain types of content and messaging practices.
Opt-In Documents	Proof of consumer consent (opt-in) is required for registration. Your opt-in document will serve as tangible evidence of how you are gaining consent from the people you are sending messages to. Outgoing messages are only permitted to numbers that have provided you explicit consent. If you provide multiple methods of opting-in, please provide examples of each.

Sole Proprietor Requirements

The Sole Proprietor entity type is intended only for individuals who do not have a registered business and a business EIN, Tax ID, or equivalent. Single Member LLCs and other incorporated businesses are not eligible for a Sole Proprietor registration type.

Since Sole Proprietor types are intended for individuals, companies that have business partners, employees, or 1099 contractors working on behalf of the company will need to register as a private company or other entity type with a valid EIN.

✅ Requirements:

One active mobile phone number is required to receive a one-time password (OTP) for verification during registration. Talkroute Virtual Phone Numbers cannot be used for OTP verification.
Only one phone number is allowed to be registered per Sole Proprietor entity.
Only valid U.S. or Canadian addresses (including P.O. boxes) are allowed. Addresses in other countries are not permitted.

📄 Website & Privacy Policy: A website and privacy policy page for a Sole Proprietor entity type is generally encouraged, however, it may not be required if you meet all the following criteria:

You do not have an established online presence such as a company website or company social media page.
Your call-to-action or opt-in method does not involve an online presence.

If you do have an established online presence and/or your call-to-action or opt-in method involves your website, both a website and a compliant privacy policy page are required.

What You’ll Need for Approval

To help you avoid delays and ensure your 10DLC registration gets approved, we’ve compiled the most common reasons registrations are rejected—and what to do instead. These tips are based on real-world experience helping Talkroute customers through the process and reflect what carriers and The Campaign Registry look for.

While approval is never guaranteed and each case is reviewed individually, following these best practices will greatly improve your chances of success.

Website

A working website link is required for registration (except for some Sole Proprietor cases). Websites that are under construction, use default domain parking pages (e.g., GoDaddy, Wix), or are not secure (non-HTTPS) will be rejected.

Your website serves as public-facing proof that your business is legitimate. It helps carriers, regulators, and customers verify your business practices and messaging intent.

✅ Required Website Details:

Contact phone number
Company-branded email address (avoid personal emails like Gmail/Yahoo). If using a Gmail/Yahoo email, make sure your brand name is in it like businessname@gmail.com.
Physical address (if you operate a brick-and-mortar location and if not, the areas you serve)
A Privacy Policy link must be accessible from every page of your website.
- See the Privacy Policy section below for specific language and requirements.

✅ Acceptable Options:

A live website with your company name, services, and contact info
A one-page site with a Privacy Policy and SMS Disclosure
Free or low-cost website builders (e.g., Squarespace, Wix) are fine if properly set up

⚠️ Social Media Pages:

These may be accepted (especially for Sole Proprietors), but must show clear branding, contact info matching your form, and a compliant Privacy Policy + SMS Disclosure.

Use a company or professional page—not a personal profile
Ensure your ‘About’ section links to or contains compliance info
Established pages (having followers and posts) are more likely to be approved than new ones

📄 Profile Sites:

Sites like Doximity, Healthgrades, or professional directories (common in medical, legal, or logistics industries) may be accepted if they include—or link to—a compliant Privacy Policy and SMS Disclosure.

👤 Sole Proprietors:

A website may not be required only if:

You have no established online presence
Your opt-in method does not involve your website or online content
If your business has any online presence or you collect consent through a website or page, both a website and Privacy Policy are required for compliance.

Privacy Policy

As part of the 10DLC registration process, you must include a compliant Privacy Policy. This is required for registration and helps demonstrate that your messaging is transparent and follows industry standards.

✅ What to Include

Your Privacy Policy should be accessible through a link from any page on your website (typically linked under a menu bar or website footer) and clearly state:

You do not share or sell mobile numbers or personal info
How customers are opting in to receive text messages
How customers can opt out of receiving text messages

📋 Example Privacy Policy Language

Here’s a sample privacy policy that many Talkroute customers use. You can copy and customize this to fit your business:

Sharing of Personal Information:
We do not share, sell, or disclose your personal information or mobile opt-in data to third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law. Your information is kept confidential and used solely for the purposes you have agreed to. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with third parties. Text messaging opt-in data is not being shared with third parties.

Opting Out of Text Messages:
You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages from [Your Business Name] at any time. To opt out, you can reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us.

Consent and Opt-In:
By providing your phone number and opting in to receive text messages, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this policy. We ensure that your consent is obtained explicitly and that you are informed about the types of messages you will receive.

If you do not already have a privacy policy in place, you can generate one using a free or paid privacy policy generator. Popular options include:

🌐 Have a Social Media Presence Instead?

You can still meet this requirement by posting your privacy policy:

In a pinned post on your Facebook or Instagram page
In the About section of your business profile
In a public Google Doc with a shareable link (accessible without requesting access)

Message Disclosure

The Message Disclosure (also called an SMS Disclosure or Consent Message) is a required statement that informs customers what they are agreeing to when they send or receive message with you.

It must be clearly visible anywhere someone is likely to text you or provide their phone number. This includes contact pages, online forms, promotional materials, email signatures, or anywhere your number is advertised with a call to action (e.g., “Call or Text Us”).

📋 Sample Message Disclosure

Here’s a sample disclosure that may be found under a website contact form. You can copy and customize this to fit your business:

By submitting this form (or By checking this box / By selecting "I agree" / By messaging us), you agree to receive text messages at the provided number from [Your Business Name]. Message frequency varies, and standard message and data rates may apply. You have the right to OPT-OUT of receiving messages at any time. To OPT-OUT, reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us. Reply HELP for assistance.

✅ Where to Display the Disclosure:

Online contact forms where phone numbers are collected
Pages that advertise your number with “Text us” or similar call-to-actions
Paper forms used for signups or contact collection
Scripts used for verbal opt-ins (e.g., over the phone or in person)

💡 Your disclosure should be located directly next to the phone number field or call-to-action. Make sure it’s clear, easy to read, and not buried in fine print.

Opt-In Methods & Call-To-Action

To comply with 10DLC rules, you must clearly describe how people opt in to receive your texts. Opt-in must be explicit, documented, and collected directly from the customer. The following are a few common opt-in methods:

🌐 Web Form: The most common method. Customers enter their phone number through your website or signup form and check a box consenting to receive texts.
✨ Keyword Text-In: Customers text a keyword (e.g., "JOIN") to your number, which triggers a compliant auto-response with SMS disclosures.
📝 Printed Intake or Sign-Up Forms: Paper forms that customers fill out and sign with language indicating they’re agreeing to receive text messages. The SMS disclosure must be clearly visible on the form.
📞 Verbal Consent (Phone Call): Customers give permission over the phone. You must have a documented script and process and ideally note time/date of consent or keep a recording.
📱 Publicly Posted Numbers: If your number is displayed publicly (like “Text us for a quote”), your first response to incoming texts must immediately include SMS disclosures and opt-out instructions.

Important Notes:

Simply receiving a text from a customer is not enough. You must still document consent and provide disclosures.
Opt-in cannot be implied or buried in under Terms & Conditions
Consent cannot be acquired from a third party. The sharing and selling of end-user information with third parties for marketing purposes violates messaging policies and is therefore ineligible for verification.
Consent must match how your business is using messaging. If your use case is for appointments, the opt-in must indicate that messages will be about appointments.
Provide screenshots, links, copies of forms, or scripts as part of your registration (under Opt-In Documents).

Opt-In Document Examples

To ensure your campaign is approved, you must provide clear and verifiable proof showing how your customers explicitly consent to receive text messages. These opt-in documents should directly align with the opt-in method(s) you describe in your registration form and must demonstrate that:

Consent was given directly by the customer
Consent matches the messaging use case
Proper SMS disclosures were provided at the time of opt-in

If you use more than one opt-in method, include an example for each.

Below are sample formats that demonstrate how proof of opt-in can be presented across different methods, including online forms, keywords, point-of-sale experiences, and more.

Consent cannot be implied or obtained from a third party. You must show exactly how your business captures opt-in and delivers required disclosures at the time of collection.

Sample Contact Forms:

Sample Keyword Advertisement:

Sample Point-Of-Sale Landing Page:

Sample Paper Form:

Sample Email Script:

Sample Verbal Script:

Sample Incoming Message Flow:

Customer Message:

"Hi, I’m interested in booking with you. Can you help?"
Your Reply (Requesting Consent):

"Thanks for contacting Example, Inc.! We’d love to discuss booking. Before we do, reply YES to confirm you agree to receive messages from us. Msg & Data rates may apply, and message frequency varies. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for support."
Customer Response:

"YES"
Confirmation Message (after receiving consent):

"Thank you! What listing where you interested in and what dates? We will be happy to assist. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for support."

Sample Messages

Your sample messages are reviewed to ensure they match your use case, show how texting will be used, and follow compliance guidelines.

Each message you provide should:

Clearly reflect the use case you submitted
Include your business or DBA name
Contain opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to opt out”)

✅ Good Examples:

Hi John! This is Sarah from [Brand Name]. Just a reminder that your cleaning is scheduled for April 3 at 2:00 PM. Reply YES to confirm or NO to reschedule. Reply STOP to opt out.
Thanks for signing up for alerts from [Brand Name]! New vendor specials drop every Thursday. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
Reminder from [Brand Name]: Your technician will arrive between 1:00–3:00 PM today. Reply HELP for support or STOP to cancel texts.
Hi Lisa, it’s [Name] from [Brand Name]. Don’t miss our booth at the Industry Conference Nov 9–13. RSVP now at www.example.com. Msg&Data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.

❌ Poor Examples (will be rejected):

Thanks for your message. I’ll get back to you soon.
I have a quick favor—can you call me?
Your order has shipped. Thanks.

Why these are rejected:

Too vague—don’t explain what the message is for
No opt-out instructions included
No business identification (who’s sending it?)

💡 Pro Tip: At least two sample messages are required. Use this opportunity to show a typical interaction—like a confirmation message and a general reminder. Make sure your examples represent what you actually plan to send.

Want help? See the 10DLC Campaign Registration Article or contact our support team.

Prohibited Use Cases & Message Types

Verification does not guarantee that your messages will not be blocked. Your number will not be whitelisted with an approved registration. To avoid having your messages blocked, it is important to follow best practices and avoid any improper uses. However, as long as the traffic you send matches what your verification application says and does not violate any prohibited use cases, your risk of receiving a block is low.

❌ Prohibited Use Cases for 10DLC Messaging includes (but not limited to):

High-Risk Financial Services

Payday loans
Short-term, high-interest loans
Loan advertisements (third-party)
Student or Auto loans
Debt collection (third-party)
Gambling
Bingo (promotional)
Stock alerts
Cryptocurrency

Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Deceptive work-from-home programs
Risk investment opportunities
Multi-level marketing (MLM)

Job Postings

Job boards (third-party)

Third-Party Debt or Financial Services

Debt consolidation
Debt reduction
Credit repair programs
Lead generation (third-party or shared/purchased lists)

Illegal or Restricted Substances

Cannabis / CBD / synthetic cannabinoids
Kratom
Drug paraphernalia
Schedule I–IV drugs (except CBC-approved prescriptions)
Tobacco (without proper age gate)
Vaping (without proper age gate)

SHAFT Content

Sexually explicit content / pornography
Hate speech
Alcohol (without age gate)
Firearms and Ammunition
Tobacco (without age gate)

Other Restricted or Prohibited

Phishing
Profanity
Gambling (U.S./Canada)
Raffles / sweepstakes
Fraud or scams
Deceptive marketing
Affiliate marketing (unapproved)
Political messaging using voter registration databases

All age-restricted content (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, vape, firearms) is blocked on all number types in Canada—including 10DLC and Toll-Free.

These prohibited use cases are separate from Talkroute's own use policies. All Talkroute usage is subject to our reasonable use policy. For more information, please visit the Talkroute Terms and Conditions Page.

If you have completed verification and you believe your messages are getting blocked, please contact us at support@talkroute.com. We can work with our partners to get the verification details to the carrier and ask for the block to be removed.

How Do I Get Started?

To begin the registration process, visit our 10DLC Campaign Registration Form.

✅ Important Notes:

All required fields must be completed unless otherwise noted for specific use cases.
Incomplete forms may result in delays, rejections, and additional fees for re-submission.
You only need to submit one campaign per business, entity, or organization using local phone number text messaging.
Multiple local phone numbers can be included under the same campaign if they all share the same use case and belong to the same business.

📘 For more step-by-step help, see our full 10DLC Campaign Registration Article.

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10DLC Requirements