How to submit your carrier registration with MessageDesk
MessageDesk builds carrier registration into the phone setup flow. When you configure phone lines, you provide your business details, choose how you want to connect numbers, and submit your registration from the same place.What you’ll need to complete carrier registration (quick checklist)
- Valid payment method
- Legal business name (exactly as filed, including LLC/Inc)
- EIN (you can send your EIN by email. MessageDesk only asks for tax documents if manual verification is needed) and business address
- Website or public listing (Facebook, Yelp, etc.)
- Use-case description (what you’ll send)
- Three to five sample SMS messages (include “Reply STOP to opt out” in at least one)
- Consent method (web form checkbox, written or verbal, keyword)
Carrier registration timeline
- (10 min.) Submit the required carrier registration information via MessageDesk
- (Depends/Variable) Make the necessary website changes for full SMS compliance.
- Depending on your messaging and campaign needs, changes can include updating your privacy policy, SMS terms and conditions, and opt-in method (website forms, and so on).
- Complete all changes before you submit your full, final carrier registration request to the carrier network.
- (24 hours) MessageDesk reviews your submitted brand and campaign information during normal business days (excluding holidays and weekends).
- You can view your campaign status at any time in the Compliance Center by visiting Account → Settings → Compliance Center.
- (48 hours) Upstream carrier providers review your registration and either approve or deny it.
How to begin carrier registration in MessageDesk
You can begin the carrier registration process several ways when logged in to MessageDesk.1. Go to Account -> Settings
Go to the Compliance Center and click the Registration tab to begin.
2. Begin carrier registration
Click Start registration to begin. Before you can send text messages, you need to register your business (brand) and campaign with the carrier network. The submission takes about 10 minutes. MessageDesk saves your progress as you go.3. Start
Answer a few questions about where your message recipients are, your tax status, and the types of numbers you want to use in MessageDesk.Where are the people you’ll be texting?
USA, Canada, or both. Your answer determines which carrier regulations apply to your messaging. All U.S. messaging requires full A2P 10DLC carrier registration. MessageDesk users who only message Canadian recipients are currently exempt from carrier registration, but additional rules may apply.Do you have a tax ID (EIN or BN)?
In the U.S., the IRS issues your EIN as a nine-digit number. In Canada, the CRA issues your BN as a nine-digit number. Carriers require a tax ID to verify your identity.What numbers will you use to send messages?
You can use local 10-digit (10DLC) and toll-free numbers with MessageDesk.
4. Enter your business information
Tell us about the legal entity that will send messages. Carriers verify your identity against IRS or CRA records, so enter your details exactly as they appear on your tax documents. Start by selecting the country that issued your tax ID (EIN/USA or BN/Canada).You can speed things up with AI by uploading your W-9 or comparable tax documents. MessageDesk reads your W-9 or EIN Letter (CP-575) and autofills your organization’s details. We process these documents securely on our servers, and we never extract SSNs.What’s a W-9? Click to view an example.
Where can I find my Canadian BN? Click for info.
Where can I find my Canadian BN? Click for info.
Organization identity
Enter the following:- Legal company name: Must match your IRS or CRA records. Mismatches cause registration delays.
- DBA/display name: Toggle this on and enter your brand name if it differs from the legal name on file with the IRS.
- Entity type (partnership, LLC, corporation, non-profit, government): Must match your tax filings. LLCs taxed as S-Corps should still select LLC.
- EIN/Tax ID: Your nine-digit IRS Employer Identification Number. You’ll find it on your IRS Letter 147C or SS-4 confirmation.
- Industry/vertical: Carriers use your industry vertical for risk scoring. Certain verticals like Cannabis or Gambling face extra scrutiny.
Mailing address
- Street address
- City
- State/province
- ZIP/postal code
Publicly traded company
Toggle this on if your company is publicly traded, then enter the stock exchange and stock symbol for your organization.Online presence
Enter your business website. If you don’t have one, a Facebook or Instagram business-page link also works. We use this link to scan your site for privacy policy and SMS terms and conditions language.Support contact (email and phone)
Enter a public-facing email and phone number where contacts can reach your organization for support. Both appear on carrier records.5. Enter your messaging campaign details
Carriers need to know who you’re texting and what you’re sending. They review this closely, so accuracy directly affects your approval time.
Who receives your messages?
Check every group of people you plan to text. This shapes the campaign description that carriers review.- Leads and prospective customers
- Existing customers
- Staff and employees
- Followers and volunteers
- Students and faculty
- Other
What kinds of messages do you send?
Check all that apply. Carriers match these against your sample messages.- Marketing and promotions
- General customer service
- Reminders and follow-ups
- Invoices and payments
- Account notifications
- Delivery and order notifications
- Collecting feedback
- Collecting reviews
- Public service announcements
- Higher education
- Two-factor (2FA) messages
- Fraud and security alerts
- Polling and voting
- Other
Campaign description
Click Generate with AI to create a carrier-compliant campaign description.Here’s an example of a fully compliant carrier registration campaign description:MessageDesk (Alderwood Labs Inc.) sends SMS messages to leads, prospective customers, and existing customers for marketing promotions, appointment reminders, account notifications, delivery updates, customer care support, and invoicing. Recipients opt in by submitting their phone number through web forms, checkout flows, or other digital touchpoints on messagedesk.com, or by providing explicit written consent directly to a MessageDesk business customer. Message frequency varies by account and use case.
Monthly message volume
Enter the total SMS/MMS messages you expect to send per month across all MessageDesk-connected phone numbers.- Up to 100/mo.
- 100-500/mo.
- 500-1,000/mo.
- 1,000-5,000/mo.
- 5,000-10,000/mo.
- 10,000-50,000/mo.
- 50,000-100,000/mo.
- 100,000+/mo.
6. Acknowledge forbidden messaging topics
Carriers restrict messaging in the following content categories. Carriers immediately reject campaigns tied to forbidden content. Repeat violations can lead to permanent blacklisting.
Cannabis / CBD / THC
Carriers block messages that promote, sell, or advertise cannabis, CBD, THC, or related products, regardless of state or local legality.Firearms, weapons, and ammunition
Carriers block content that promotes the sale of firearms, ammunition, explosives, or weapons (including accessories).Gambling and betting
Carriers block unsolicited messages about gambling, sports betting, casinos, lotteries, or sweepstakes.Adult / sexual content
Carriers block sexually explicit material, adult entertainment services, escort services, and dating services with sexual content.Hate speech and harassment
Carriers block messages that contain hate speech, threats, harassment, bullying, or content that discriminates based on protected classes.Phishing, fraud, and deceptive practices
Carriers block deceptive messages that try to fraudulently obtain personal information, impersonate entities, or mislead recipients.Controlled substances and prescription drugs
Carriers block promotion of illegal drugs, unauthorized pharmaceuticals, and unapproved supplements.Predatory lending and debt collection abuse
Carriers block high-interest lending solicitations (payday loans), abusive debt collection tactics, and misleading financial offers.Unsanctioned political / PAC messages
Carriers block political messaging that lacks proper sender identification, opt-in consent, or campaign finance disclosure.Other illegal activities
Carriers block any content that promotes, facilitates, or encourages illegal activity under federal, state, or local law.Does your messaging include age-restricted content? e.g., alcohol and tobacco
Does your business offer lending, loans, or credit products? e.g., loans, credit, or other financial services
Confirmation:
Confirm that your messaging campaigns won’t include content related to any of the forbidden topics listed above.7. Add sample messages
Write example text messages your contacts would actually receive. Vague or mismatched sample messages that don’t line up with your campaign description are the number one reason for campaign rejections.Provide three to five sample messages. Three is the minimum. Five is the maximum carriers accept. Each message must be 20–320 characters. If you declared that your messages include links or phone numbers, at least one sample must contain a real link, and at least one must contain a real phone number.
Will your messages ever contain links or phone numbers?
Toggle one or both of these on if your messages will contain links or phone numbers. Declaring these accurately matters. Carriers check your sample messages against what you declare here.What carriers check in your sample messages
- Provide at least three samples (up to five). Each must be 20–320 characters.
- Write texts your contacts would actually receive. Not placeholders.
- Include your org name in every message.
- Every message must include opt-out language (for example, “Reply STOP to opt out”).
- Your sample messages must match what you described in your campaign description. Carriers reject mismatches.
Click Generate with AI
Click to create carrier-compliant sample messages based on your campaign description.8. Website privacy policy and SMS terms and conditions
Your website needs an SMS-compliant privacy policy and a callout for specific, carrier-required, SMS terms and conditions. Carriers visit your website and check your privacy policy and SMS terms before approving your carrier registration campaign.
- Access to your website (or the name of who manages it)
- Your privacy policy and SMS terms page links
Website URL
Enter your website URL. We use AI to scan your site for a privacy policy and SMS terms and conditions. This helps us personalize the suggested language to add to your website.Policy contact information
Enter the email and phone number for the contact info generated in the privacy policy and SMS terms text below.1. Privacy Policy and 2. SMS Terms and Conditions
Your website needs an SMS-compliant privacy policy and SMS terms and conditions. Carriers visit your site and check both before approving your campaign. At a minimum, your privacy policy must state how you use phone numbers, give opt-out instructions (“Reply STOP to opt out”), and confirm that you don’t sell or share opt-in data with third parties for marketing. Your SMS terms must cover message frequency, opt-out, HELP, contact info, and that message and data rates may apply.As a best practice, link your privacy policy and SMS terms from your website footer. This language must be present and accessible to carriers as part of the vetting process.
Full, carrier-ready example privacy-policy and SMS terms language (plus a downloadable template and a free AI checker) lives on the SMS Privacy Policy Requirements page. Copy it from there so you’re always using the current version.
9. Submit proof of an opt-in method
Carriers require documented proof of how your contacts, customers, or subscribers opt in to receive SMS messages from your organization. As part of your carrier registration, you’ll submit evidence of your opt-in method as a screenshot or URL.Online form - website form collects phone and consent
For every form on your website where you collect a phone number, include SMS opt-in verbiage and a default unchecked checkbox to collect consent.
Example website SMS opt-in form
Example SMS opt-in language:By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive text messages regarding ({INSERT THE TYPES OF MESSAGES YOU WILL SEND}) from at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). Reply HELP for help. Privacy Policy ({INCLUDE LINK TO PRIVACY POLICY}).
Via text (keyword) - contacts text a keyword to opt in
You can configure your MessageDesk workspace and campaign to automatically opt in contacts who text a designated keyword to your MessageDesk-connected phone numbers. How this works:- You display your opt-in keyword on your website, signage, and other channels.
- A contact texts a keyword like SUPPORT to your MessageDesk number.
- They automatically receive a follow-up message like this:
Example keyword opt-in message:MessageDesk: You’re now subscribed to general customer service, invoices and payments, delivery and order notifications, review requests, feedback collection, account notifications, reminders and follow-ups, and marketing and promotions. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel. Privacy policy → https://www.messagedesk.com/privacy
QR code - a scan leads to an opt-in landing page
You can submit a QR code as proof of SMS opt-in. Display consent text like this close to where you advertise your QR code:By scanning, you consent to receive general customer service, invoices and payments, delivery and order notifications, review requests, feedback collection, account notifications, reminders and follow-ups, and marketing and promotions from MessageDesk. Msg & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to cancel. Privacy Policy: https://www.messagedesk.com/privacy
Paper form - a physical form with consent language
Paper forms are a valid form of SMS opt-in. For this opt-in method, include the following opt-in language on your form.Example paper form opt-in language:I agree to receive general customer service, invoices and payments, delivery and order notifications, review requests, feedback collection, account notifications, reminders and follow-ups, and marketing and promotions from MessageDesk. Msg & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Privacy Policy: https://www.messagedesk.com/privacy
Verbal consent - staff reads a consent script
You can indicate verbal opt-in for non-promotional and non-marketing carrier registration campaigns.Example verbal opt-in script:“I’d like to add you to our text messaging list so MessageDesk can send you general customer service, invoices and payments, delivery and order notifications, review requests, feedback collection, account notifications, and reminders and follow-ups. Standard message and data rates may apply, and message frequency varies. You can reply STOP at any time to unsubscribe, or HELP for help. Do I have your consent?”[Wait for verbal “yes”; record in CRM or call recording]
10. Enter additional contact information
You can add additional contacts if you aren’t able to make website changes or changes to your privacy policy or terms and conditions. Specifically, you can add contact information for the web developer, marketing agency, or legal/compliance representative that your business works with. MessageDesk generates a document brief for each contact that explains the specific changes they need to make. You can print or save this document as a PDF to share.
11. Review and submit your carrier registration information
Review your required carrier registration information before you submit. You can edit each section independently and make updates. Once you’re satisfied with the information, complete the final attestation that all information you’re submitting is correct and accurate, then click Submit registration.
After you submit your carrier registration
- Status updates: Visit the Compliance Center in MessageDesk to view your carrier registration status in real time.
- Connect with Support: Questions? Email support@messagedesk.com
Once you submit, your brand and campaign details lock while carriers review them. You can’t edit them mid-review. If your brand fails identity verification, or if carriers decline or suspend your campaign, MessageDesk automatically reopens it so you can correct the flagged details and resubmit. To fix something while a submission is still pending, contact support@messagedesk.com.
For a full list of registration errors, rejection reasons, and what each status means, see Carrier registration errors and how to fix them.
Tips to speed approval
- Make sure your website shows the same legal name and address you submit.
- Include opt-out language (“Reply STOP…”) in at least one sample message.
- Describe exactly what you plan to send (for example, “appointment reminders and service updates”).
- For toll-free, submit one form per number to verify each line.
Frequently asked carrier registration questionnaire questions
How long does it take to complete the carrier registration questionnaire?
How long does it take to complete the carrier registration questionnaire?
About seven to 10 minutes. Have all the required documents and information ready before you start.
Can I save my progress and finish later?
Can I save my progress and finish later?
Yes. MessageDesk saves your progress as you go, so you can leave and pick up where you left off. Gathering your required documents before you begin still makes the process faster.
What happens if I make a mistake on my submission?
What happens if I make a mistake on my submission?
Contact our support team at support@messagedesk.com or text (775) 313-9465. We can help correct any errors before carriers process your registration.
Do I need to complete carrier registration for each phone number?
Do I need to complete carrier registration for each phone number?
No. Once your business is registered, you can add multiple phone numbers under the same registration. Toll-free numbers require separate verification.
If you’re rejected
- Our team will let you know, and we’ll help resubmit on your behalf. We’re here to help you fix it once and get approved.