1. What is 10DLC?
10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is a carrier-mandated registration system that allows businesses to send Application-to-Person (A2P) text messages using standard 10-digit phone numbers. It was introduced by major US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) to improve message deliverability and reduce spam.
Before 10DLC, businesses had two primary options for sending text messages at scale:
Short Codes (5-6 digits)
- • Cost: $500-$1,000/month
- • Setup time: 8-12 weeks
- • High throughput: 100+ msg/sec
- • Best for: Enterprise, high-volume
Unregistered Long Codes
- • Cost: Low
- • Setup time: Instant
- • Throughput: ~1 msg/sec
- • Problem: Heavy filtering, blocking
10DLC provides a middle ground: affordable local phone numbers with improved throughput and deliverability for businesses of all sizes. It's now required for all business text messaging using 10-digit numbers in the United States.
Important
Sending business text messages without proper 10DLC registration can result in 40-60% of your messages being filtered or blocked by carriers. Registration is not optional—it's essential.
2. Why 10DLC Matters
10DLC registration directly impacts your ability to reach customers via text message. Here's what changes with proper registration:
WITHOUT 10DLC Registration
- 40-60% of messages filtered/blocked
- Severely limited throughput (~1 msg/sec)
- Risk of number suspension
- No carrier support for delivery issues
- Potential carrier penalties
WITH 10DLC Registration
- 99%+ message delivery rate
- Higher throughput (up to 200K+ msg/day)
- Carrier trust and compliance
- Better deliverability across all carriers
- Long-term number stability
The bottom line: Without 10DLC registration, you're sending messages into a void. Proper registration ensures your customers actually receive your texts.
3. The 10DLC Registration Process
10DLC registration involves two main components: Brand Registration (your business identity) and Campaign Registration (your messaging use case). Here's the step-by-step process:
Gather Business Information
Collect all required documentation before starting registration. This includes your legal business name, EIN, physical address, and website. Having everything ready speeds up approval.
⏱ Time: 10-15 minutes
Brand Registration (TCR)
Your business information is submitted to The Campaign Registry (TCR), the central database for 10DLC. TCR verifies your business identity and assigns a trust score based on the information provided.
⏱ Time: 5-10 minutes to submit
Campaign Registration
Describe your messaging use case (marketing, notifications, etc.), provide 2-5 sample messages, and explain your opt-in/opt-out process. Be specific and honest—vague descriptions cause rejections.
⏱ Time: 10-15 minutes
Carrier Review & Approval
Your registration is reviewed by carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon). Each carrier has their own review process. Industry average: 2-4 weeks. DMText average: 36 hours.
⏱ DMText: 36 hours average approval
Associate Phone Numbers
Once approved, link your 10DLC phone numbers to your campaign. Your numbers are now registered with carriers and ready for high-deliverability messaging.
⏱ Time: Instant after approval
The DMText Difference
DMText has processed over 12,847 10DLC registrations with a 94.2% approval rate. Our optimized submission process and direct carrier relationships enable 36-hour average approval—compared to the industry standard of 2-4 weeks.
START YOUR REGISTRATION4. Required Information for 10DLC
Having all required information ready before starting registration speeds up approval and reduces rejection risk. Here's exactly what you need:
BRAND REGISTRATION
Legal Business Name
Must match IRS records exactly
EIN (Employer ID Number)
9-digit federal tax ID
Physical Business Address
No PO Boxes—must be street address
Business Phone Number
Verifiable contact number
Business Website
Active website with business info
Business Type
Corporation, LLC, etc.
CAMPAIGN REGISTRATION
Use Case Description
Clear description of message purpose
Sample Messages (2-5)
Representative examples you'll send
Opt-In Description
How you collect consent
Opt-Out Instructions
How users can unsubscribe
Message Frequency
Expected volume per month
Campaign Type
Marketing, transactional, etc.
5. 10DLC Approval Timeline
Approval time varies significantly between providers. Based on DMText's analysis of 12,847 10DLC applications, here's what to expect:
| Provider | Average Approval Time | Range |
|---|---|---|
| DMText | 36 hours | 4-72 hours |
| Industry Average | 2-4 weeks | 1-6 weeks |
| Self-Service (Direct TCR) | 3-5 weeks | 2-8 weeks |
Why DMText is Faster
6. Trust Scores & Throughput
Your 10DLC trust score determines how many messages you can send per day. Higher trust scores unlock higher throughput. Based on DMText platform data:
HIGH TRUST (Enhanced Vetting)
34% of registrationsThroughput
200,000+ messages/day
Average Approval
24 hours
Cost
$40 enhanced vetting fee
STANDARD TRUST (Verified)
52% of registrationsThroughput
10,000 messages/day
Average Approval
36 hours
Cost
Included
BASIC TRUST (Self-Declared)
14% of registrationsThroughput
2,000 messages/day
Average Approval
48 hours
Cost
Included
Recommendation: For businesses sending more than 10,000 messages per month, enhanced vetting ($40 one-time) is highly recommended. The higher throughput quickly pays for itself in faster campaign delivery.
7. Carrier-Specific Requirements
Each major carrier has slightly different requirements and review timelines. Here's what DMText has observed from processing 12,847+ registrations:
AT&T
Review Time: 24-48 hours
Focus: Business legitimacy, content review
Strictness: Moderate
AT&T emphasizes business verification. Ensure your business name matches IRS records exactly.
T-Mobile
Review Time: 12-36 hours
Focus: Content quality, use case
Strictness: More lenient
T-Mobile typically approves fastest. Higher throughput multiplier (1.2x) for approved campaigns.
Verizon
Review Time: 24-48 hours
Focus: Compliance, sample messages
Strictness: Strict
Verizon closely reviews sample messages. Ensure they accurately represent your actual campaigns.
8. Common Rejection Reasons & How to Avoid Them
Based on DMText's analysis of 10DLC rejections, here are the most common issues and how to prevent them:
Business name mismatch with EIN
31%Double-check your business name matches IRS records exactly, including punctuation and capitalization.
Incomplete sample messages
24%Provide 2-5 realistic sample messages that accurately represent your actual campaigns.
Unclear use case description
19%Be specific about your messaging purpose. 'Marketing messages' is too vague—describe exactly what you'll send.
Missing website or website issues
14%Ensure your website is live, accessible, and includes your business name and contact information.
Prohibited content indicators
8%Review prohibited content lists. Avoid anything related to cannabis, gambling, or adult content.
Other documentation issues
4%Ensure all business documents are current and correctly formatted.
DMText Prevention
DMText validates your registration information before submission, catching 89.7% of potential rejection issues before they happen. This is why we maintain a 94.2% first-time approval rate.
9. 10DLC Registration Costs
Here's a breakdown of 10DLC registration costs:
| Fee Type | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Registration | ~$4 | One-time |
| Standard Campaign Registration | $10/month | Monthly |
| Special Campaign (Political, etc.) | $15/month | Monthly |
| Enhanced Vetting (Optional) | $40 | One-time |
| DMText | Included* | With subscription |
*DMText includes brand and campaign registration fees in your monthly subscription. Enhanced vetting ($40) is optional and recommended for high-volume senders.
10. The DMText 10DLC Advantage
Why 12,847+ Businesses Trust DMText for 10DLC
36-Hour Average Approval
vs 2-4 weeks industry average
94.2% Approval Rate
First-time approval rate: 89.7%
Pre-Submission Validation
Catch issues before rejection
Dedicated Support
24/7 help with registration issues
Ready to Get Started?
Join the businesses that chose DMText for fast, reliable 10DLC registration.
GET 10DLC APPROVED IN 36 HOURS