Overview
Business texting in the United States is regulated by the phone carriers. To keep your messages flowing and avoid getting blocked or flagged as spam, your business has to follow a few rules around registration, consent, and opt-outs. This guide explains what those rules are and how to stay in good standing.
Why Registration Matters
US carriers require every business that sends texts to register first. This standard is called A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person messaging over 10-digit long codes). MotionOps handles registration for you through our partners.
Registering does two important things:
Avoids message blocks and spam flags. Carriers trust registered senders, so your texts are far more likely to reach customers.
Improves delivery speed and volume. Registered businesses get less filtering and higher messaging throughput.
Your registration is reviewed by the carriers and may take 3-5 days. If you haven't registered yet, see Register for SMS Texting.
Getting Consent (Opt-In)
You may only text customers who have agreed to receive your messages. During review, carriers check that your business clearly explains how customers opt in. Two things must be in place on your website:
A Terms of Service page that describes how customers opt in to your text messages.
A Privacy Policy page that covers how you handle customer information, including SMS.
Both pages must be publicly accessible at a URL that loads without a login. You provide these links during registration, and reviewers may visit them.
Check your links first: Open your Terms and Privacy Policy URLs in a private browser window. If either asks for a login or doesn't mention SMS opt-in, your registration can be delayed or rejected.
Honoring Opt-Outs
Customers can stop your texts at any time. Standard messaging keywords are honored automatically:
STOP — A customer who replies STOP is opted out and will no longer receive your texts.
HELP — A customer who replies HELP receives information on how to get assistance.
Once someone opts out, MotionOps will not deliver further texts to that number, and any attempt is recorded in your SMS Logs as Failed. This is expected and protects your business from compliance violations.
Deliverability Checklist
Run through this list to give your texts the best chance of reaching customers:
Your business is registered and shows Brand Approved and Messaging Approved.
Your legal business name and Tax ID (EIN) match your IRS documents exactly.
Your Brand Name is the name customers recognize.
Your Terms of Service and Privacy Policy URLs are public and cover SMS opt-in.
You only text customers who have agreed to receive messages.
You honor opt-out requests and don't try to re-text people who have opted out.
Best Practices
Identify yourself in every message. Lead with your business name so customers know who's texting and are less likely to report you.
Keep texts relevant and timely. Stick to appointment, proposal, and invoice updates customers expect — not promotions they didn't ask for.
Don't over-message. Too many texts is the fastest way to get opt-outs. Turn on only the notifications that genuinely help your customers.
Keep messages under 160 characters. Shorter texts send as one message and read more clearly on a phone.
Keep your business details current. If your legal name, address, or representative changes, your registration information should reflect it.
Things to Know
A2P 10DLC registration is required for all US business texting and is reviewed by the carriers.
You may only text customers who have consented to receive messages.
Customers can opt out at any time by replying STOP, and those opt-outs are honored automatically.
Texts to opted-out numbers are blocked and logged as Failed.
Inaccurate business information or missing Terms/Privacy pages are the most common reasons registrations are delayed or rejected.
Troubleshooting
My registration was rejected. What now?
The most common causes are a business name or EIN that doesn't match IRS records, or Terms/Privacy URLs that aren't public or don't mention SMS opt-in. Correct those details and resubmit, then contact support if it's still rejected.
A customer wants to start getting texts again after replying STOP.
They need to opt back in themselves. Once a number has opted out, you can't simply re-enable it on their behalf. They can opt in by sending START to your MotionOps phone number.
My texts are being delivered slowly or not at all.
Confirm your business shows Brand Approved and Messaging Approved. Unregistered or partially registered senders get heavily filtered by carriers.
SMS compliance rules can change. If you're unsure whether your setup meets current requirements, contact support before sending.
Have questions? Reach out via the support chat or email support@motionops.com.