The Ultimate 10DLC Registration Guide for Trade Services

If your plumbing business texts dispatch notifications, job reminders, or reviews to your customers, those messages are traveling over US mobile networks as A2P (Application-to-Person) messages. To prevent spam, mobile carriers now require all businesses sending text messages from local numbers to register their brand and campaigns.

This registry is known as 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) compliance. If you do not register, carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile will block up to 90% of your texts, leaving your customers in the dark.

Here is the complete, step-by-step guide for trade service companies to get their 10DLC registration approved on the first attempt.

1. Verify Your Business Identity (EIN Check)

The absolute number-one reason 10DLC applications are rejected is a mismatch between your business registration details and the IRS database.

When entering your brand details:

• Legal Business Name: This must match your IRS SS-4 letter or EIN document exactly. If your EIN lists you as "Smith Plumbing LLC," do not enter "Smith Plumbing & Drain."
• Tax ID (EIN): Enter your federal EIN exactly. Do not use your state business ID.
• Business Address: Must match the address associated with your EIN.
• Entity Type: Correctly select LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietorship, or Partnership.

2. Set Up a Compliant Website (The Opt-In Check)

Carrier auditors will visit the website URL you submit in your registration. If they cannot find proper SMS disclosure and opt-in consent, they will reject your brand immediately.

To pass the website audit:

1. Add a Privacy Policy: Your website must have a dedicated Privacy Policy page.
2. Add the Shared-Data Exclusion Clause: Your Privacy Policy must include the following sentence exactly:

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

1. Compliant Contact Forms: Any website contact form that asks for a phone number must display a clear checkbox or disclosure text, such as:

"By checking this box, I agree to receive automated notifications and text messages from Plumbify at the phone number provided. Msg & data rates may apply. Text HELP for help, STOP to cancel."

3. Write Clear Sample Messages

Auditors review your "Campaign Use Case" and sample messages to ensure you are not sending spam.

When submitting sample messages:

• Be Specific: Write exactly what you send. For example: "Hi John, this is Steve from Plumbify. Your plumber is on their way and should arrive in 15 minutes. Follow their route here: [Link]"
• Include STOP and HELP: Your sample messages must show how customers can opt-out. Always append "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" to at least one sample.
• Avoid Forbidden Content: Do not include words like "debt," "credit," "loans," or "sweepstakes" in your samples, as these trigger automated spam filters.

4. Troubleshooting Rejections

If your registration is rejected, check the carrier error code:

• DBA vs. Legal Name Error: You submitted your "Doing Business As" name instead of your legal registration name. Update your brand details to match your EIN letter exactly.
• No Opt-in Form Link: The URL you provided didn't show a live form with SMS opt-in terms. Create a hidden contact page with a compliant form and submit that specific URL.
• Mismatched Website Domain: Your business email domain must match the website domain you submit. If your site is `smithplumbing.com`, your registration email should be `[email protected]` rather than a Gmail address.

10DLC registration can be tedious, but once completed, your message deliverability rate jumps close to 99%. Plumbify handles the technical setup, ensuring your templates are compliant and registered automatically.