Verifying your Facebook Business Manager (now Meta Business Manager) account is a crucial step for any business. A verified business account not only boosts credibility but also unlocks advanced features like access to the WhatsApp Business API, advanced advertising tools, and increased audience reach.
This guide covers the key requirements, step-by-step process, and a checklist to help you complete verification smoothly.
You need to pay attention to these critical factors to avoid delays or rejections:
The most crucial step that begins with is that you must be an admin of the Business Manager account. This means that you need an active personal Facebook login that you’ll use to manage the Business Manager.
Facebook requires that your business is a real, i.e., a registered company. You should have legal business documentation such as:
To verify the legal business name, uploaded documents must include the legal organization name you entered and must not be expired. (Any one of them)
To verify the phone number, uploaded documents must include the legal organization name and phone number you entered and must not be expired. (Any one of them). These documents are needed if your above incorporation documents do not show the business phone number.
You can also find complete information on the documents required on the official meta documentation info page.
Prepare a current phone number and email address for your business. Facebook will send a verification code to one of these, so make sure you have access.
Your website acts as evidence of your business’s legitimacy. Always make sure it meets these requirements:
Ensure your Business Info on Facebook is perfectly accurate as per the documents. Enter your business name, address, phone number, email, etc. Also, as it appears on your official website, too.
Typos or mismatched formatting will cause Facebook to flag the submission. So, always double-check spelling and formats. Consistency across your Business Manager profile, website, and documents is crucial.
For example, if your address is written one way in your incorporation certificate, use that exact format in Business Manager.
The person submitting the verification must be an authorized representative of the business (typically a founder or executive). Facebook explicitly checks that you have the authority to represent the company in this process.
Finally, cross-verify everything one more time. Your business name, address, and phone number, or any other vital details, should match exactly in all of these places:
Even small differences (like “St.” vs “Street” or missing suite numbers) can trip up the review. This consistency check is perhaps the most important tip to ensure smooth verification.
Once you’ve prepared, follow these steps inside Business Manager to submit your verification request:
Log in to Facebook Business Manager and select the business you want to verify. In the left-hand menu, click Business Settings (or the gear icon).
In Business Settings, find Security Centre (usually near the bottom of the menu). Click on Start Verification. If you don’t see it, make sure you are an admin and have a Business Manager account created.
Now, click 'Get Started' and a wizard will guide you through the process. It may ask you to confirm your country and business type (e.g., corporation, LLC, nonprofit). Provide this information accurately. You will often have a prompt, “Is your business officially registered?”. To this answer “Yes” if you have formal registration documents.
Enter your business name, address, phone number, email, and website URL. If you’ve filled the Business Info section earlier, this form may pre-fill. Double-check it for accuracy now.
Facebook will try to match your business with official records. If your company shows up in the list, select it. If not, choose the option “None of These Matches” or “My business isn’t listed”. You can then continue manually.
Facebook will display the information you submitted. Confirm it matches your documents exactly. These details will appear on your Business Manager profile once verified. Proceed when everything is correct.
Now, upload the supporting documents. First, you’ll be asked for proof of your legal business name. Upload one of the acceptable documents (e.g., certificate of incorporation, business license, tax registration). After that, you’ll be asked to verify your business address or phone number. Upload a document like a recent utility bill or bank statement that shows the address/phone. Use the upload interface in the wizard – only submit the types Facebook explicitly accepts.
Note: Documents have already been mentioned in the prior headers( please go through it).
After uploading documents, you will pick how to confirm your connection to the business. Facebook offers methods like Phone calls or Email. If using email or phone, use the ones you control (preferably one at your business domain for faster approval).
If you choose to call or email, Facebook will send a confirmation code. Enter that code into the prompt to prove access to your business contact.
Once all steps are complete, submit your application. You’ll see a confirmation that your verification request has been sent.
After submission, Facebook will review your materials. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You’ll get an email notification of the outcome. If approved, your Business Manager status will show as verified, and you can enjoy the unlocked features. If Facebook asks for any additional information or documents during review, respond promptly via the link in their email or the Business Manager security centre.
Ready to take your business communications to the next level? Get your Business Manager verified today, and see how a verified status can boost your credibility, marketing strategies, and messaging capabilities.
The WhatsApp Business API is the key for businesses to tap into the vast audience with advanced features like unlimited broadcasting, chat automation, multi-user access, and integration with CRM or e-commerce systems.
This guide explains the WhatsApp Business API, the prerequisites you need before applying, and step-by-step instructions on how to apply for and set up the API on SendWo. We’ll streamline the application using SendWo, a Meta-verified WhatsApp Business Solution Provider, to send your first WhatsApp campaign and engage your customers on a whole new level.
Let’s get started!
WhatsApp Business API is a powerful tool provided by Meta (Facebook) that allows medium and large businesses to communicate with their customers at scale. Unlike the free WhatsApp Business App (designed for small businesses and one-on-one chats), the API isn’t a standalone app – it’s an interface that lets you integrate WhatsApp’s messaging capabilities into your business systems or connect via third-party platforms.
Let us quickly delve into its key features and benefits:
Before diving into the application process, ensure you meet the prerequisites to make WhatsApp API onboarding smoother, which will increase your chances of approval:
You must have an active Facebook Business Manager (Meta Business Suite) account for your company. WhatsApp API is only available to businesses with a Facebook Business presence, and the API setup is done through the Business Manager. If you don’t have one, go to business.facebook.com and create a Business Account first.
Only registered businesses can use the API, since the setup must be done through a verified Business Manager.
Ensure your business is officially registered and that you have documentation, such as an incorporation certificate or business license. During the process, Meta will verify your business with these official documents.
Only legal, registered entities are eligible for the WhatsApp API.
A professional website is mandatory for WhatsApp API approval.
Make sure your website is live, up-to-date, and clearly represents your business (including your official business name in the footer). Meta will check that your site has required pages like Privacy Policy and Terms of Service that comply with WhatsApp’s policies during Facebook Business verification.
Your website should be HTTPS secured. Also, make sure to have your registered business name mentioned on your website footer or on the policy pages of your website.
Tip: Having a company email address (e.g., info@yourcompany.com) matching your domain can also be useful for credibility.
The next mandatory prerequisite is an active phone number that will be linked to your WhatsApp Business API account.
Quick Tip: This number must not already be registered on WhatsApp (neither the consumer app nor the WhatsApp Business app). If it is currently in use on WhatsApp, you’ll have to permanently delete that account first (simply removing the app isn’t enough – the WhatsApp account associated with the number must be deleted).
Choose a number that can receive SMS or voice calls for verification.
WhatsApp coexistence is a feature that you can use with sendwo. We have launched this solution in collaboration with Meta, which allows you to link your WhatsApp Business App number to the WhatsApp API without deleting your existing number.
Read about WhatsApp coexistence here.
Note: Once connected to the API, this number can no longer be used in the WhatsApp mobile app.
Provide a working email address for your business (ideally an official company email). This is used for Business Manager account setup and communication. Meta may send you notifications about your WhatsApp account or verification status via email.
Your business and use case must comply with the WhatsApp Business Policy and Commerce Policy. Forbidden content (like illicit drugs, adult content, real-money gambling without prior approval, tobacco, firearms, etc.) will lead to rejection of your WhatsApp API application. Ensure you only plan to send messages that adhere to WhatsApp guidelines.
Also, set up clear user opt-in and opt-out processes for messaging to avoid any spam issues.
Essentially, your business should be in the “allowed” categories and follow all rules in order to be approved.
Now, with prerequisites checked off, let’s move on to the step-by-step process of applying for the WhatsApp Business API.
Go to business.facebook.com (Meta Business Suite) and log in with the Facebook account that administers your business. If you haven’t created a Business Manager account yet, click “Create Business” and set up your business profile by entering your business name, your name, and your business email.
This Business Manager (also known as Business Portfolio) will hold your WhatsApp assets.
Take note of your Business Manager ID, as it will be associated with your WhatsApp API account. (If you already have a Business Manager account, you can use the existing one.)
Navigate to the Business Info section in your Business Manager settings and fill in all the details about your business. Make sure to input:
Note: Every detail should be accurate and match your official documents. Once done, save the information. (You will later submit documents to verify this info, so accuracy is key.)
SendWo is an official WhatsApp Solution Provider that will help you get the API access and provide a user-friendly interface to send messages (so you don’t need to code or set up your own server). Visit the SendWo website and sign up using your email address.
Follow the steps below to get the API and connect it with SendWo, and you’ll be ready to launch your first WhatsApp campaign:
Visit the SendWo website and sign up using your email address. After verifying your email and setting a password, log in to the SendWo dashboard.
SendWo offers a free-forever plan to get started, making it easy for you to test the waters.
SendWo will effectively walk you through the WhatsApp API setup via a guided flow (it uses Meta’s official Cloud API integration).
SendWo will ask you to choose a connection type for WhatsApp from either of the two types.
Not sure which to pick? If you have an e-commerce component or plan to send product images/menus directly in WhatsApp chats, go with the catalog permission. Otherwise, the non-catalog option is fine (you can always integrate a catalog later if needed).
(Essentially, SendWo is using Facebook’s official setup wizard in the background. The interface will guide you through a few steps on Facebook’s side next.)
The Facebook onboarding dialog will ask you to select a Business Account (Business Portfolio) to use for WhatsApp. Choose the Business Manager account for your company (the one we explained in the above sections for prerequisites).
If you have only one, it will be selected by default. If you manage multiple businesses in Meta, make sure to pick the correct one that you want to enable WhatsApp for. Then click “Next”.
Fill out your WhatsApp business profile information. This includes:
Enter the phone number you dedicated for WhatsApp API (with the correct country code). Remember, this number cannot be used on any WhatsApp app currently. If it’s an old number that had WhatsApp before, ensure you delete that WhatsApp account beforehand.
After entering the number, choose a verification method – SMS or Voice Call. You’ll receive a 6-digit code on that phone. Enter the verification code to confirm you own the number. Once verified, the number will be connected to your WhatsApp Business Account.
However, it’s mandatory to have a payment method on file to send message templates or to run the campaigns beyond the free testing limit.
That’s it – you’ve applied for and set up your WhatsApp Business API!
Back in the SendWo dashboard, you should see a confirmation that your WhatsApp API number is now connected to SendWo. Your WhatsApp Business API account is now active, and you can use SendWo’s platform to send messages, create broadcast campaigns, set up chatbots, and more. All your configuration (business info, phone number, etc.) is now linked via SendWo.
You’re ready to send your first WhatsApp campaign and start engaging your customers through WhatsApp API!
Using SendWo, you have a user-friendly dashboard at your fingertips to manage contacts, design message templates, and automate conversations with ease.
Sign up for a free account on SendWo and connect your WhatsApp Business API number. Our platform will help you every step of the way, and our support team is here 24/7 if you need help.
Start leveraging WhatsApp to delight your customers and grow your business today!
Empower your business with the WhatsApp Business API and see the difference in engagement and growth. Happy WhatsApp marketing!
