WhatsApp Business number: How to set it up, verify it, and use it for growth
Introduction
Learn how to get, verify, and manage your WhatsApp Business number using the WhatsApp Business App or Platform. Explore types of numbers, setup steps, best practices, troubleshooting, and how Infobip helps scale your messaging.
Customers today want to connect with businesses quickly and easily through messaging apps they already use. With over 3 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is a key channel for brands to build trust and provide support.
To use WhatsApp effectively, you need a dedicated WhatsApp Business number. This is a phone number linked to your business account that keeps personal and customer chats separate and unlocks important business features.
Whether you run a small business or a large enterprise, knowing how to set up and manage your WhatsApp Business number is essential. This guide explains the different types of numbers you can use, how to register and verify them on both the WhatsApp Business App and Platform, and how Infobip helps you simplify the setup and scale your messaging with ease.
To start, let’s clarify exactly what a WhatsApp Business number is and why it’s distinct from personal WhatsApp accounts.
What is a WhatsApp Business number?
A WhatsApp Business number is a phone number linked to either the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business Platform. You use it to send and receive messages with customers, manage your brand identity, and track quality and limits. For more on the WhatsApp Business Platform, read up on its key benefits.
Before diving into all things WhatsApp Business number, it’s important certain distinctions are made clear:
- Personal vs business numbers: Personal is for individuals on WhatsApp Messenger. Business numbers are dedicated to the App or Platform and follow Meta’s policies for business messaging.
- Dedicated business numbers: Best practice is a number used only for business communications. It stays with your company, not with any one employee or SIM.
- Virtual numbers: Cloud-based numbers can work if they can receive OTP by SMS or voice and comply with WhatsApp rules. Avoid unsupported VoIP numbers from unofficial providers.
Verification and trust:
- Business verification in Meta Business Manager confirms your business identity for the Platform and higher messaging limits. To get the blue tick, read up on the verification process.
- Official Business Account status, the blue tick, is separate and not guaranteed. It is granted based on brand notability and policy compliance.
- Verified setup improves trust, keeps your brand name consistent, and enables template approvals.
With this definition in mind, let’s explore the different types of phone numbers you can use as your WhatsApp Business number.
Types of WhatsApp Business numbers you can use
You can use mobile, landline, or certain virtual numbers if they can receive OTP and meet WhatsApp’s policies.
| Number Type | Description | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile |
– Fast to register and ideal for SMBs starting on the App. – Use a dedicated SIM not tied to a single person’s phone long term. |
– Quick setup – Low cost – Easy to dedicate to business |
– Can be tied to a SIM or device without clear ownership if not managed | Small to mid-size teams starting fast |
| Landline |
– Supported using OTP by voice call during registration. – Ensure the line can receive calls reliably for verification and future migrations. |
– Stable business identity – Not tied to a mobile SIM |
– Requires voice OTP – Ensure call routing is reliable |
Established businesses with published phone lines |
| Virtual |
– Useful for flexibility and global operations if they can receive OTP by SMS or voice. – Only use numbers from compliant, officially supported providers. Unsupported VoIP can fail registration or lead to bans. |
– Flexible – Scalable – Can be provisioned for different regions |
– Eligibility varies – Unsupported VoIP leads to failures or bans |
Companies scaling across markets with cloud-first stacks |
Before you register your number, there are important requirements and preparations to ensure a smooth setup.
Requirements before registering a WhatsApp Business number
Be sure to have the following ready before you start:
- A valid number you own that is not already registered on WhatsApp.
- Ability to receive OTP by SMS or voice call to that number.
- WhatsApp Business App for App setup or access to Meta Business Manager and WhatsApp Business Manager for Platform setup.
- For enterprises or API use: complete business verification in Meta Business Manager.
- A compliant display name that matches your brand and follows WhatsApp naming rules.
- Opt-in approach that follows WhatsApp Business and Commerce Policies.
Once you’re ready with the right number and documentation, follow these step-by-step instructions tailored to your chosen setup method.
How to set up a WhatsApp Business number
Choose the path that fits your current needs. The App is ideal for smaller teams while the Platform scales to multiple agents, automation, and enterprise controls.
For WhatsApp Business App
- Download the WhatsApp Business App on Android or iOS.
- Enter your dedicated business number and verify it with OTP by SMS or voice.
- Complete your business profile: display name, category, hours, description, email, and website.
- Optional setup: add product catalog, quick replies, greeting and away messages.
- Start messaging. Device limits apply: one phone and up to four companion devices.
For WhatsApp Business Platform, API or WABA
- Create or verify your Meta Business Manager.
- In WhatsApp Business Manager, add your phone number and request display name approval.
- Verify the number by OTP using SMS or voice call.
- Choose a Business Solution Provider and hosting. Connect with Infobip to handle onboarding, hosting, security, and compliance.
- Configure templates for business-initiated messages, set up opt-in capture, routing, agent seats, and chatbot flows.
- Integrate your stack. Connect CRM, CDP, analytics, and your team inbox. Visit our WhatsApp sales blog for more on these topics.
- Know the rules. You can reply to customer-initiated chats freely within the 24-hour service window. Use approved templates for outbound messages outside that window.
- Cloud contact center solution team inbox for agents
- Chatbot building platform for AI chatbots and automation
- Customer engagement solution for orchestration and campaigns
- Customer data platform for profiles, preferences, and analytics
What happens when you change or delete a number?
- Changing numbers triggers re-verification. You may need to re-map templates and update opt-in references.
- Deleting a number can permanently remove chat history on that number and reset messaging limits and quality signals.
- Migrating a number between providers is supported with the right steps. Infobip manages safe cutover to avoid downtime.
To avoid challenges, keep these best practices in mind when choosing and managing your business number.
Best practices for choosing your WhatsApp Business number
- Use a dedicated number for business to keep ownership stable and auditable.
- Centralize ownership. Do not tie numbers to a single employee’s device or SIM.
- Secure OTP access. Document who can receive OTP and store access procedures in your IT runbook.
- Monitor quality and limits. Keep opt-ins clean, avoid high block and report rates, and warm up outbound sends.
- Avoid reusing numbers with a public personal history that could confuse customers.Note that WhatsApp does not support short codes. Use standard long numbers.Avoid reusing numbers with a public personal history that could confuse customers.
- Confirm portability. Ensure you can migrate the number to another provider in the future.
- Match your display name to your brand. Localize sender names if you plan regional numbers.
- Note that WhatsApp does not support short codes. Use standard long numbers.
Even with the best practices in place, issues can arise. Here are common problems and how to resolve them.
Common issues and troubleshooting
Number already in use
- The number is already registered with WhatsApp. Remove it from the existing account or choose a new number. If migrating from App to API, follow the official migration steps.
OTP not delivered
- Try voice call instead of SMS. Check DND settings, spam filters, carrier formatting, and international prefixes. Confirm the number can receive calls or texts.
Unsupported VoIP or virtual numbers
- If the provider is not compliant, registration may fail or the number may be banned later. Validate eligibility with Infobip before you commit.
Number flagged or banned
- Common causes include policy violations, lack of opt-in, poor template use, or high block rates.
- Pause outbound sends. Improve opt-in clarity. Fix template content. Appeal via Meta and work with Infobip to remediate and restore quality rating. For a potential quick solution, have a look at our Why is your WhatsApp Business Account blocked blog.
Template or display name rejected
- Align display name with brand legal name and public presence. Adjust template language to be clear, expected, and policy-compliant.
For a smooth and compliant experience, partnering with a trusted provider like Infobip can make all the difference.
How Infobip helps you set up and scale with a WhatsApp Business number
Armed with the right knowledge and the right partner, you’re ready to build a powerful WhatsApp presence that drives growth. Let’s examine the perks of having Infobip as a trusted provider.
Onboarding
- Register and verify numbers inside Infobip’s platform.
- Get guided display name approvals and fast template set up.
- Migrate existing numbers from the App or another provider with a safe cutover.
Compliance
- Capture opt-in, manage template approvals, and follow policy guardrails by design.
- Built-in audit logs and data processing agreements for regulated industries.
Scale
- Cloud contact center gives you a multi-user team inbox with routing, SLAs, and agent assist.
- Chatbot building platform powers AI chatbots and workflow automation on WhatsApp.
- Customer engagement solution orchestrates cross-channel campaigns, segmentation, and triggers.
- Customer data platform is a customer data platform for profiles, preferences, and analytics.
- Integrate with your CRM, helpdesk, and data tools. Enable failover to SMS, email, and RCS to protect delivery.
Global reliability
- 9,700+ global connections and direct telco relationships.
- 40+ data centers and low latency.
- 75+ local offices with 24/7 support and network monitoring.
The proof is in our clients success:
- Tawseel saw a 42x increase in ROI with just one WhatsApp campaign with Infobip.
- Unilever received an astounding 290,000 messages exchanged in seven days from 12,000 unique customers during a WhatsApp Business campaign.
A WhatsApp Business number is essential for trusted and effective customer conversations. Choose the right number type, register and verify it correctly, and manage compliance from day one. Small businesses can start quickly with the WhatsApp Business App, while larger enterprises benefit from the scalable Business Platform.
WhatsApp policies evolve, so always check the latest Meta guidelines and work with Infobip to ensure eligibility and compliance. Beyond that, Infobip offers end-to-end onboarding, seamless number migration, built-in compliance, and scalable tools like team inboxes, AI bots, and campaign orchestration, all backed by global reliability and 24/7 support.
Get your WhatsApp Business number with Infobip or request a demo to build and scale your WhatsApp presence with confidence and ease.
FAQs for WhatsApp Business number
You can migrate a personal number to a business account, but it must not be active on WhatsApp during registration. Back up any needed chat history first. A number can only be registered on one WhatsApp application at a time.
Yes. Many brands use regional or use case specific numbers. Manage them under one Meta Business Manager and route them in Infobip.
The blue tick is Official Business Account status. It is granted based on brand notability and compliance, and it is separate from basic business verification. It is not guaranteed.
Stop sending, review policy compliance and opt-in approach, and appeal through Meta. Infobip can help diagnose the cause and guide remediation to restore quality.
Yes. Provider migration is supported with the right sequence of steps. Infobip handles planning and cutover to avoid downtime.
No. A number can be linked to only one of the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business Platform at a time.
Timelines vary by region and documentation. It can take days to weeks. Start early if you plan an API launch.
You can if it can receive OTP by SMS or voice and is eligible in your region. Check eligibility with Infobip before you register.
