US SMS Compliance

10DLC Registration for Appointment Reminders

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) registration is required for every US business sending SMS through an application. Here's what it means, why it matters, and how Appointment Reminder handles it for you.

Last updated: March 2026

What is 10DLC?

10DLC is a carrier-approved messaging system that requires US businesses to register before sending application-to-person (A2P) text messages through standard 10-digit phone numbers. It was introduced by major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) to reduce spam and improve SMS deliverability.

Every US business that uses any software — not just Appointment Reminder — to send text messages must complete 10DLC registration. This applies even if you're sending just a few messages per month.

Without 10DLC registration, your text messages will be blocked by carriers and your patients or clients will not receive their appointment reminders.

Important

Unregistered messages are being actively blocked by US carriers. If you haven't registered for 10DLC yet, your SMS reminders may already be failing to deliver.

How 10DLC Registration Works

There are two parts to the process. Appointment Reminder handles the campaign registration for you — you just need to complete the brand registration.

1

Brand Registration

Every business or sole proprietor must register their brand with The Campaign Registry (TCR). This verifies your business identity.

    Fill out the form at app.appointmentreminder.com/10dlc
    Provide your legal business name and EIN number
    Sole proprietors verify via one-time password (OTP) to mobile
    Brand verification is normally very quick
2

Campaign Registration

Campaign registration is a manual verification process performed by a third-party vendor approved by mobile carriers. This confirms the type of messages you're sending.

    Appointment Reminder handles this for you — we fill out the campaign details
    Verification is performed by a carrier-approved third party
    Approval can take several weeks due to manual review
    We notify you of approval or any issues

Toll-Free Numbers: An Alternative

When you sign up for Appointment Reminder, you're allocated a dedicated toll-free number for your business. Toll-free numbers have their own verification process (separate from 10DLC) and generally offer better delivery rates in our testing.

Both 10DLC and toll-free registration are included at no extra cost on every Appointment Reminder plan. We handle the registration process so you can focus on running your practice.

Common Registration Issues

Most registration failures are caused by small details that are easy to fix. Here are the most common issues we see.

1

Business Name Mismatch

Your legal business name must exactly match the name on your IRS EIN confirmation letter (SS-4). Even small differences like abbreviations or punctuation can cause a failure.

2

EIN Number Incorrect

Double-check your EIN against your IRS SS-4 letter. A single wrong digit will cause brand registration to fail.

3

Website Issues

You must have a working website or online presence. The website is used to verify your company and confirm opt-in methods for messaging.

4

Missing Consent Language

If your website has any forms collecting phone numbers, you must include messaging consent language — even if those forms aren't for appointment reminders.

5

Business Address Mismatch

The address you provide must match the address on file with the IRS through your EIN. Use the exact city, state, and zip code from your IRS documentation.

Required Consent Language

Any form on your website that collects phone numbers must include consent language. We recommend adding this near the phone number field or as part of a checkbox:

"By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from [YOUR COMPANY NAME]. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies."

This applies to all forms that collect phone numbers — contact forms, booking forms, intake forms — not just forms directly related to appointment reminders. If the phone number field is optional, make sure it's clearly marked as such.

How Appointment Reminder Handles 10DLC

We've simplified the process so you can get registered and back to focusing on your business.

Simple Registration Form

One form at app.appointmentreminder.com/10dlc — takes a few minutes to complete.

We Handle Campaign Registration

We submit and manage your campaign registration with the carriers on your behalf.

Toll-Free Included

Every account gets a dedicated toll-free number with registration included at no extra cost.

Proactive Support

We notify you if there are any issues with your registration and help you resolve them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every US business sending application-to-person (A2P) text messages must be registered, regardless of volume. This applies to any software you use to send texts — not just Appointment Reminder.
Brand registration is usually very quick — often within minutes. Campaign registration is a manual review process and can take several weeks. We'll notify you as soon as your registration is approved.
US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) are actively blocking unregistered A2P messages. If you're not registered, your text message reminders will not be delivered to your clients.
10DLC uses standard 10-digit local numbers. Toll-free numbers (starting with 800, 888, etc.) have a separate registration process. Both are included with every Appointment Reminder plan at no extra cost. In our testing, toll-free numbers tend to have better delivery rates.
No. 10DLC and toll-free registration are included on every plan. There are no additional fees for registration or compliance.
Yes. Sole proprietors can complete brand registration by verifying a one-time password (OTP) sent to the mobile number provided. You don't need an EIN if you're operating as a sole proprietor.
Your legal business name (as it appears on your IRS EIN confirmation letter), your EIN number, your business address, and a working website. The information must match your IRS records exactly.
10DLC is a separate carrier requirement from HIPAA. However, both are important for healthcare practices sending SMS reminders. Appointment Reminder is fully HIPAA compliant and handles both 10DLC and HIPAA requirements.

Ready to get started?

Start your 14-day free trial and we'll help you through the 10DLC registration process. Every plan includes 10DLC and toll-free registration at no extra cost.

Cancel anytime. HIPAA compliant. 10DLC registration included.