⚠️ Don't skip this. Texts will silently fail without it.
Without A2P 10DLC registration, your GHL workflows fire correctly — you'll see "SMS Sent" in the activity log. But the carrier never delivers the message. Your leads never get the text. Your missed-call recovery loop breaks silently, and you won't know why.
What You're Doing & How Long It Takes
Navigate to Carrier Registration in GHL
Log into your GHL account and find the right screen:
- Go to app.gohighlevel.com and sign in
- In the left sidebar, click Settings
- Click SMS (under the Settings menu)
- Click Carrier Registration at the top of the SMS settings page
Register Your Brand
A "brand" in A2P 10DLC terms is your legal business entity. The carrier uses this to vet you — it's not a GHL sub-account or product brand, it's your company as it appears legally.
You'll need the following ready before you start:
| Field | What to put | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Name | Your exact legal business name | Matches your EIN filing exactly — no nicknames |
| Company Type | Sole Proprietor, LLC, Corporation, etc. | Affects what ID info you need to provide |
| EIN / Tax ID | 9-digit Employer Identification Number | Sole props can use SSN, but EIN is preferred |
| Business Address | Street, city, state, ZIP — physical address | No PO boxes. Must match EIN registration address |
| Website | Your business website URL | Must be a real, accessible page — not a placeholder |
| Contact Name | Primary contact for the registration | Usually the business owner or authorized rep |
Submit the brand registration. The brand itself is usually approved within minutes to a few hours — it's the campaign (next step) that goes through the longer carrier review.
Create Your Campaign with the Right Use Case
After registering the brand, you'll create a "campaign" — this tells the carrier what kind of SMS you'll be sending. This is the most important choice in the whole process.
- In the Carrier Registration screen, click Create Campaign (or continue from the brand registration flow)
- Give the campaign a name: e.g., "Missed Call Notifications" or "Customer Appointment Reminders"
- Select the Use Case — choose the option that best describes your SMS:
Other acceptable use cases depending on your actual flow:
| Use Case | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Special Offer / Alert / Notification | Missed-call texts, appointment confirmations, quote replies |
| Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) | Only if you're sending OTP codes — not applicable here |
| Customer Care | Ongoing support conversations after an inbound inquiry |
| Marketing | Promotional blasts, promotional campaigns — higher cost, not needed for missed-call recovery |
Once you submit the campaign, the carrier review begins. You'll see a "Pending" status. This is normal.
Wait for Carrier Approval (1–5 Business Days)
Carrier review is manual — there's nothing you can do to speed it up. While you wait:
- Build your GHL missed-call workflow — it won't send anything until the registration clears
- Set up your Calendly / booking link to include in the SMS
- Build the rest of your onboarding flow
When approval comes, you'll see a green "Verified" or "Approved" status next to your number in Settings → Numbers. The SMS icon will change from gray/yellow to green.
Common Questions
Do I need to do this for every phone number?
No — the brand registration covers your business. The campaign is tied to your use case. One brand + one 10DLC campaign covers all SMS from your GHL account for this use case.
Can I use my personal cell number as the "From" number?
No. A2P 10DLC requires a dedicated business SMS number (either a local 10-digit number or a toll-free number from GHL). Personal cell numbers are not eligible for A2P registration.
Does this cost anything?
Brand and campaign registration in GHL is free. However, carriers charge a small monthly fee per registered phone number (typically $0.50–$2/month per number, depending on use case). This is passed through by GHL.
What if I'm not a US business?
A2P 10DLC is a US carrier regulation (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon). If your business is outside the US or you're texting international numbers, different rules apply. Contact GHL support for non-US A2P requirements.
Is this a one-time thing?
Yes. The brand registration and campaign are done once. They remain valid unless you change your business name or significantly change what kind of SMS you send (in which case you'd create a new campaign).