What is 10DLC? US Business Texting Explained

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is a system that allows businesses to send Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS messages using standard 10-digit phone numbers in the United States. It’s the new standard for legitimate business texting, introduced to combat SMS spam while making business messaging more accessible than expensive short codes.

If your business sends text messages to customers in the US, you need to understand 10DLC.

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Why 10DLC Was Introduced

Before 10DLC, businesses had limited options for A2P messaging:

Option	Problem
Short codes	Expensive ($500-1,000/mo), long setup (8-12 weeks)
Toll-free	Limited throughput, not designed for marketing
Unregistered long codes	Treated as P2P, easily blocked as spam

The spam problem: Bad actors exploited unregistered long codes to send spam. Carriers couldn’t distinguish legitimate business messages from spam, so they blocked aggressively.

10DLC solution: A registration system that:

• Verifies legitimate businesses
• Assigns trust scores
• Allows higher throughput for trusted senders
• Reduces spam while enabling affordable business messaging

How 10DLC Works

The Registration Process

1. Brand Registration
   │
   ├─► Business name, EIN, address
   ├─► Industry classification
   └─► Verification (identity check)
   │
   ▼
2. Campaign Registration
   │
   ├─► Use case description
   ├─► Sample messages
   ├─► Opt-in method
   └─► Volume estimates
   │
   ▼
3. Trust Score Assignment
   │
   ├─► Based on brand reputation
   ├─► Determines throughput limits
   └─► Affects carrier fees
   │
   ▼
4. Number Association
   │
   └─► Link your 10-digit number(s) to the campaign

Trust Score and Throughput

Trust Score	Daily Message Limit	Messages/Second
Low	2,000	0.2
Medium-Low	6,000	1
Medium	10,000	2
Medium-High	25,000	5
High	100,000+	10+

Trust score factors:

• Business age and reputation
• Industry (healthcare, finance = higher scrutiny)
• Campaign use case
• Historical complaint rates

10DLC vs Short Codes

Feature	10DLC	Short Code
Number format	(555) 123-4567	12345
Monthly cost	$2-15	$500-1,000
Setup time	1-2 weeks	8-12 weeks
Max throughput	10 msg/sec	100-500 msg/sec
Registration	Required	Required
Best for	SMBs, moderate volume	High-volume, enterprise
Two-way messaging	Yes	Yes
Memorability	Lower	Higher

When to Use 10DLC

Choose 10DLC when:

• Monthly volume < 100,000 messages
• Budget-conscious
• Need quick setup (weeks, not months)
• Local presence matters (local area code)
• Small-medium business

Choose short codes when:

• Need maximum throughput
• Running national campaigns
• Brand recognition is critical
• Volume exceeds 10DLC limits

Learn more about short codes and how to get one.

10DLC Campaign Types

Standard Use Cases

Use Case	Description	Typical Trust Score
2FA/OTP	Verification codes	High
Account Notifications	Alerts, updates	High
Customer Care	Support conversations	Medium-High
Delivery Notifications	Shipping updates	High
Marketing	Promotional messages	Medium
Polling/Voting	Surveys, feedback	Medium
Public Service	Emergency alerts	High

Special Use Cases (Higher Scrutiny)

Use Case	Requirements
Political	Additional vetting
Financial Services	Compliance documentation
Healthcare	HIPAA considerations
Cannabis	State-by-state restrictions
Age-Gated Content	Age verification required

10DLC Registration Fees

The Campaign Registry (TCR) Fees

Fee Type	Amount	Frequency
Brand registration	$4-44	One-time
Standard campaign	$10	Monthly
Low-volume campaign	$2	Monthly
Special use case	$40+	Monthly

Carrier Fees (Per Message)

Carrier	Registered 10DLC	Unregistered
AT&T	$0.003	$0.01+ (if delivered)
T-Mobile	$0.003	Blocked
Verizon	$0.003	$0.005+

Note: These are carrier pass-through fees, separate from your SMS provider’s per-message costs.

Step-by-Step 10DLC Registration

Step 1: Gather Business Information

Required documents:

• Legal business name
• EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• Business address
• Website URL
• Contact information
• Industry classification

Step 2: Register Your Brand

Through your SMS provider’s dashboard:

1. Enter business details
2. Select industry category
3. Provide website and contact info
4. Submit for verification

Verification timeline: 24-48 hours (standard), up to 2 weeks (manual review)

Step 3: Create a Campaign

For each messaging use case, create a campaign:

Field	What to Provide
Use case	2FA, marketing, notifications, etc.
Description	Explain what messages you’ll send
Sample messages	2-5 example messages
Opt-in method	How users subscribe
Opt-in keywords	JOIN, START, YES, etc.
Opt-out keywords	STOP, CANCEL, END, etc.
Help keywords	HELP, INFO, etc.

Step 4: Associate Your Number

Link your 10-digit phone number(s) to the campaign:

1. Select or purchase a 10-digit number
2. Associate with your approved campaign
3. Wait for carrier approval (24-72 hours)

Step 5: Start Sending

Once approved:

• Monitor delivery rates
• Watch for complaints
• Stay within throughput limits
• Keep content consistent with registration

Common 10DLC Rejection Reasons

Rejection Reason	How to Fix
Vague use case	Provide specific, detailed description
Missing opt-in	Explain exactly how users subscribe
Sample message mismatch	Ensure samples match actual use
Website issues	Website must be live, match business
Invalid EIN	Verify EIN matches registered business
Prohibited content	Remove restricted content (SHAFT rules)

SHAFT Content Restrictions

Carriers restrict content related to:

• Sex/Adult
• Hate
• Alcohol
• Firearms
• Tobacco/Drugs

Some exceptions exist with proper compliance (e.g., licensed cannabis, age verification).

10DLC Best Practices

For Maximum Throughput

Practice	Impact
Complete business verification	Higher trust score
Accurate use case description	Faster approval
Low complaint rates	Maintains trust score
Consistent message content	Avoids filtering
Honor opt-outs immediately	Required compliance

Avoiding Filtering

• Use consistent sender number
• Match message content to registered use case
• Include business name in messages
• Include opt-out in marketing messages
• Don’t send to numbers that opted out
• Monitor delivery rates for issues
• Keep URLs consistent (don’t use shorteners that rotate)

10DLC for Different Business Sizes

Small Business (<1,000 messages/month)

Consideration	Recommendation
Campaign type	Low-volume starter
Monthly cost	~$5-10/month base
Setup	DIY through SMS provider
Throughput	2,000/day sufficient

Medium Business (1,000-50,000 messages/month)

Consideration	Recommendation
Campaign type	Standard
Monthly cost	~$15-50/month base
Setup	Work with SMS provider support
Throughput	May need multiple campaigns

Enterprise (50,000+ messages/month)

Consideration	Recommendation
Campaign type	Multiple or short code
Monthly cost	$100+ or short code investment
Setup	Dedicated account management
Throughput	Consider short codes for peaks

Migrating to 10DLC

If you’re currently using unregistered long codes:

Migration Checklist

• Audit current messaging use cases
• Document opt-in methods
• Prepare sample messages
• Gather business documentation
• Register brand with your provider
• Create campaigns for each use case
• Associate existing numbers
• Test delivery before full migration
• Monitor delivery rates post-migration

Timeline

Phase	Duration
Preparation	1-2 days
Brand registration	1-3 days
Campaign approval	3-7 days
Number association	1-2 days
Total	1-2 weeks

10DLC FAQ

What if I don’t register?

Your messages will face severe filtering or outright blocking. Carriers actively filter unregistered A2P traffic. Delivery rates can drop to <10% for unregistered senders.

Do I need 10DLC for transactional messages?

Yes. All A2P messaging in the US requires registration, including:

• Order confirmations
• Shipping updates
• Appointment reminders
• Password resets

Can I use the same number for multiple campaigns?

Generally, one number should be associated with one campaign. Using the same number for different use cases (e.g., marketing AND 2FA) may require separate campaign registrations.

What about toll-free numbers?

Toll-free numbers have a separate registration process (toll-free verification) but similar requirements. They’re not part of 10DLC but face similar compliance needs.

How long does registration last?

Brand registration is ongoing. Campaign registrations typically renew automatically with monthly fees. You must update registration if business details change.

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Conclusion

10DLC has transformed business messaging in the US, creating a middle ground between expensive short codes and the wild west of unregistered long codes. While registration adds complexity, it ensures your messages actually reach customers.

Key takeaways:

1. Registration is mandatory for US business texting
2. Trust scores determine your throughput limits
3. Costs are reasonable ($2-15/month base)
4. Setup takes 1-2 weeks (much faster than short codes)
5. Compliance matters—violations affect delivery

The era of sending business texts from random phone numbers is over. Register, comply, and your messages will be delivered.

Ready to craft compliant messages? Use our free SMS Character Counter to optimize your texts before sending.

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