# Brand Registration

> Register your business brand for 10DLC SMS compliance

## Brand Registration

A **Brand** represents your business entity in the 10DLC ecosystem. It's the first step to sending compliant SMS messages in the United States.

Register **one brand per legal entity**. A brand holds its own campaigns, and each campaign holds its own phone numbers — so an account operating several companies registers several brands, and each one pays its own registration fee.

## Prerequisites

Before registering your brand, complete these steps:

1. **Business Verification (KYB) approved** - Carriers register the brand against a vetted legal entity. Complete it at [Compliance → Verification](https://dashboard.zavu.dev/kyb); submitting a brand before it is approved returns `403 kyb_required`
2. **Business Information Ready** - Have your company details available, matching the entity you are registering

## Required Information

You'll need to provide:

| Field | Description | Example |
|-------|-------------|---------|
| Legal Company Name | Official registered name | Acme Corporation |
| DBA (if applicable) | Doing Business As name | Acme |
| Company Type | Entity type | Corporation, LLC, etc. |
| EIN / Tax ID | Federal tax identification | 12-3456789 |
| Country | Country of registration | United States |
| Street Address | Business address | 123 Main St |
| City | City | San Francisco |
| State | State/Province | California |
| Postal Code | ZIP code | 94102 |
| Website | Company website | https://acme.com |
| Vertical | Industry category | Technology, Retail, etc. |

> **Tip:**
> Ensure your company information matches official records. Discrepancies can delay approval.

## How to Register

### Via Dashboard

1. Navigate to **Compliance** → **10DLC** in your [Dashboard](https://dashboard.zavu.dev/10dlc)
2. Click **Register brand**
3. Review the details — they are prefilled from your approved business verification — and correct anything that differs for this entity
4. Submit. The brand appears in the list with its carrier status, and campaigns unlock once it is registered

### Via API

Create a brand in draft status, then submit it for review:

```bash
# Step 1: Create brand (draft)
curl -X POST https://api.zavu.dev/v1/10dlc/brands \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZAVUDEV_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "entityType": "PRIVATE_PROFIT",
    "displayName": "Acme Corp",
    "companyName": "Acme Corporation",
    "ein": "12-3456789",
    "email": "compliance@acme.com",
    "phone": "+14155551234",
    "street": "123 Main St",
    "city": "San Francisco",
    "state": "CA",
    "postalCode": "94102",
    "country": "US",
    "website": "https://acme.com",
    "vertical": "Technology"
  }'

# Step 2: Submit for review
curl -X POST https://api.zavu.dev/v1/10dlc/brands/{brandId}/submit \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZAVUDEV_API_KEY"

# Step 3: Check status
curl https://api.zavu.dev/v1/10dlc/brands/{brandId}/sync \
  -X POST \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZAVUDEV_API_KEY"
```

### Cost

- **$4.00 USD per brand** (one-time, charged from your account balance when you submit)

> **Note:**
> This is TCR's brand registration fee, passed through at cost. It is charged per brand — a second legal entity is a second brand and a second $4.00 — and refunded if the carrier rejects the registration. Campaign registration is billed separately: $15.00 one-time plus $10.00/month, or $2.00 + $2.00 for `LOW_VOLUME`.

## Approval Process

After submission, your brand goes through vetting:

```
Submitted → Under Review → Approved/Rejected
              1-3 days
```

### Status Meanings

| Status | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Draft** | Created, not yet submitted to the carrier |
| **Pending** | Brand submitted, awaiting review |
| **Verified** | Registered AND the carrier verified the business behind it. Ready for campaigns |
| **Unverified** | Registered, but the carrier did not verify the business — the identity check did not pass, or has not been resolved. Campaigns are allowed, with lower daily limits |
| **Rejected** | Brand rejected (see reason provided) |
| **Failed** | Registration failed before reaching the carrier; the fee is refunded |

`identityStatus` on the brand carries the carrier's own wording for the identity
verdict (`VERIFIED`, `VETTED_VERIFIED`, `SELF_DECLARED`, `UNVERIFIED`), and is
`null` while the identity has not been resolved. A registered brand whose
identity is anything other than verified reports `status: unverified` — a
registration that exists is not the same thing as a business that was checked.

### What Happens During Review?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) verifies:

- Business legitimacy and registration
- Website content and ownership
- Industry classification
- Compliance history

## Trust Scores

Upon approval, your brand receives a **Trust Score** that determines your messaging limits:

| Score | Description | Daily Limit |
|-------|-------------|-------------|
| Low | New or unverified businesses | 2,000 messages |
| Medium | Standard verified businesses | 10,000 messages |
| High | Established, vetted enterprises | 200,000+ messages |

> **Tip:**
> Trust scores can improve over time with good messaging practices and additional vetting.

## If Rejected

If your brand is rejected:

1. Review the rejection reason provided
2. Correct any issues with your business information
3. Contact support if you believe the rejection was in error
4. Resubmit with accurate information

Common rejection reasons:
- Mismatched business information
- Website not accessible or incomplete
- Industry not supported for A2P messaging

## Next Steps

Once your brand is approved:

  - [Create a Campaign](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/guides/10dlc/campaigns): Register your messaging use case
  - [10DLC Overview](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/guides/10dlc/overview): Review the full process