Registering your Toll-Free Number is the key step to sending SMS and MMS messages to customers in the United States and Canada. This guide walks you through the registration process. It explains what carriers look for and helps you avoid common mistakes that cause delays or rejections.
Before you begin
Carriers require proof that your recipients explicitly agreed to receive your messages. This is called an opt-in. If you do not have a valid opt-in method, your application will be rejected.
Opt-ins have specific requirements. Learn more at Understanding Opt-ins.
Important update:
Effective September 1, 2026, you must have live Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy publicly accessible and hosted on your website or social media page. This is required for all US and Canadian Toll-Free Number registrations.
Where to find the TFN registration form
To access the registration form inside your account, follow these steps:
Log in to your Dashboard.
Go to Sender IDs → Buy a Number.
Select your country.
Click Register in the toll-free number (TFN) column and follow the prompts.
Steps to completing the TFN form
Keep this guide open alongside your application to ensure you provide the exact details carriers require.
1. Add your ClickSend User ID and TFN details
ClickSend User ID - If this section is not pre-filled, you can find your ClickSend User ID in the top-right menu of your Dashboard.
Toll-Free Number (TFN): This is pre-filled.
2. Point of contact
This is the person we’ll contact if we need more information about your TFN registration. Make sure their details are accurate and up to date.
Name – The full name of the person responsible for the TFN registration.
Phone number – A direct number we can use to call for clarification during business hours.
Email address – The best email for receiving updates and approval notifications.
3. Business details
If you are registering a Toll-Free Number on behalf of a client, enter their business information. Do not enter your own.
Carriers must verify the business sending the messages. Therefore, these details must match the sender's identity.
Legal company name – Enter the full legal name of the business exactly as it appears on official registration documents. Do not use shortened names or trade names, as this will delay your application.
Note: If your brand operates under a Doing Business As (DBA) name, carriers need to see a clear connection between your legal entity and your DBA.
Acceptable documents include:
DBA registration certificate: A fictitious name certificate issued by your state, county, or local authority.
Business license: An official license that displays both your legal business name and your DBA.
Secretary of State records: Official state registry filings listing the DBA.
IRS letter with DBA proof: Your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575 or 147C) paired with a local DBA filing.
Official financial documents: Bank statements, utility bills, or tax records showing both names.
Official contracts: Invoices or legal agreements referencing both your legal entity and DBA.
Business customer support email – Provide a business email address that matches your website's domain (for example, name@yourbusiness.com). Avoid using personal or non-business email addresses (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook), as carriers often reject applications when the email domain does not match your website.
Company website or social media link – Enter your full, live business URL (for example, https://www.clicksend.com). If you do not have a website, you can provide a link to a public business social media page. Your website or social media page must be public, load correctly, and clearly represent your business. Carriers will check this link to verify your business identity, and inactive or private pages will result in your application being rejected.
Terms and Conditions - Enter the URL to your Terms & Conditions.
This web page must be publicly accessible and should include:
· Company Name
· ‘Message & data rates may apply’ disclosure
· Message frequency disclosure (for example, "message frequency varies").
· Customer care contact information (for example, “Reply HELP for help”).
· Opt-out instructions (for example, “Reply STOP to cancel”).
· A link to the Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy - Enter the URL to your Privacy Policy.
This must be publicly accessible and should clearly describe how the company collects and uses customer data. It must state explicitly that the subscriber's personal information (such as their phone number) will not be shared or sold to third parties for marketing purposes.
Note: If for any reason a privacy policy does not exist, the no sharing disclosure CAN be added to the opt-in.
No sharing disclosure:
“No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties."
Carriers REQUIRE a portion of the above statement to be included in all privacy policies: "All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties."
This statement means:
If a customer agrees to receive text messages from [the company] that SMS consent cannot be sold, shared, or transferred to third parties for their marketing purposes.
The customer's phone number, opt-in record, and text messaging consent must remain with [the company].
Another company cannot use that consent to send its own marketing texts. This aligns with carrier and TCPA expectations that consent is tied to a specific sender.
Which country is your business registered in? - Select the country where your business is legally registered. This helps carriers verify your business information.
Business Registration Number (EIN, CBN, etc.) - Provide your business registration number, such as an EIN or CBN. If your business is registered outside the United States, please refer to our List of acceptable registration authority for Business Registrations.
Business Registration Type - Select the correct option for how your business is legally structured. Carriers ask for this because different structures have different documentation, tax IDs, and verification requirements. Note: Hovering over this section of the form will provide you with more details.
Company Address - Enter the physical address of your business. Use your headquarters address if you have multiple locations. If you do not have a headquarters, use the address listed on your business registration documents.
Country - Enter the country associated with the address of your business.
Official Business Registration Documents - Attach any government-issued documents that confirm your business is legally registered. Carriers use these to verify your identity and ensure your TFN application matches your official business records. Commonly accepted documents include:
For U.S. Businesses
Articles of incorporation – Issued when forming a corporation.
Articles of organization – Issued when forming an LLC.
EIN confirmation letter (IRS Form CP 575 or 147C) – Verifies your federal tax ID.
Business license – Provided by your city or county.
Certificate of good standing – Confirms your business is active and compliant.
For Sole Proprietors
DBA or trade name registration
Local business license
State tax registration certificate
For Businesses Outside the U.S.
Government-issued business registration certificates
VAT/GST registration documents
Company formation certificates
National business registry extracts
can be used to assist in validating US Tax ID, company name and address.
4. Message Details
What type of messages are you sending - Provide a clear, specific explanation of what types of messages you’ll send. This helps carriers understand your use case and confirm it aligns with your message examples and opt‑in method.
Will the message be - Choose the option that best describes the messages you will send:
Transactional - For informational messages only.
Marketing - For promotional messages only.
Transactional & Marketing - For a mix of both message types.
Monthly Volume Estimate - Select your intended message volume from the drop-down menu.
Clearly explain: WHAT type of messages. WHO receives messages. WHY messages are sent. HOW they give consent - Provide a clear, specific explanation of who will receive the messages, the type of messages being sent, and why the messages are being sent. This helps carriers understand your use case and confirm it aligns with your message examples and opt‑in method.
Provide 1–3 sample messages - Provide real examples of the messages you plan to send from your TFN. Carriers use these to verify your use case, check for compliance, and ensure your content matches your description. Messages that you send should ALWAYS include your brand name and stop option.
For example: Thank you for joining ClickSend. We are happy to have you. Reply STOP to opt out at any time.
5. How do recipients opt in to receive your messages?
How do recipients opt-in to receive messages? - Select from the drop-down the option that describes how your customers will opt-in.
Provide the exact wording shown to customers when they opt in.
Online consent: Provide the URL where the opt-in occurs.
Phone or in-person consent: Provide the script your team uses.
Checkbox consent: Describe the exact checkbox language.
Carriers must see the exact consent verbiage that subscribers agree to before they approve your Toll-Free Number.
Examples of clear opt‑in descriptions
“Customers opt in on our website by checking a box during checkout that states they agree to receive order updates and alerts via SMS.”
“Patients opt in when booking an appointment online. The form includes a consent checkbox for receiving appointment reminders and follow‑up messages.”
“Subscribers text the keyword JOIN to our TFN to opt in. The automated reply confirms enrollment and includes STOP/HELP instructions.”
“Members provide their phone number and sign a paper intake form at our office that includes SMS consent for appointment reminders.”
Upload proof of opt-in. The proof must match the opt-in method described above. - Provide actual evidence showing that your customers explicitly agreed to receive messages from your Toll-Free Number. Carriers require this evidence to confirm your opt-in method is real, compliant, and matches your application.
For online consent: Upload a screenshot of the signup form or website checkbox.
For paper consent: Upload a photo of the completed physical signup form.
For POS or in-store consent: Upload a photo of the customer-facing terminal screen.
It’s not enough to describe the opt‑in — you must show it.
Here are the most common forms of acceptable proof of opt-in:
Website form screenshot - A screenshot of the page where customers check a box or submit a form agreeing to receive texts.
Checkout page screenshot - Showing the SMS consent checkbox or disclosure.
Sign‑up or registration page - Where users enter their phone number and agree to receive messages.
SMS keyword opt‑in proof - A screenshot of the keyword flyer & automated reply confirming enrollment (e.g., “You’re subscribed! STOP to opt out.”).
Paper form or intake form - A scanned copy showing the SMS consent language with the check box where patients agree to receive texts.
Email or account creation consent - When SMS consent is included in your account creation process there must be a check box for customers to check agreeing to receive texts.
Verbal Script - When the consent is captured verbally (in person or over the phone), provide a script of the conversation that a representative will have with the potential subscriber. *The rep must provide all details and disclosures before obtaining the subscriber's phone number.
Opt-ins have specific requirements. Visit Understanding Opt-ins to learn more.
Customer Feedback - Use this optional field to share any extra information that might help the reviewer and/or carrier understand your use case, business model, or unique messaging flow. This is particularly helpful if your application has unusual requirements or needs further clarification.
Acknowledgement – Check the box to confirm you understand that your toll-free number (TFN) cannot be used until ClickSend notifies you by email that it has been verified. If all information is provided correctly, this process typically takes 1 to 7 business days.
Acknowledgement - Check this box to confirm that your website or social media page has a live, publicly accessible Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions page.
What's next?
Once your TFN is fully verified and approved, you will receive an email and can start sending SMS messages immediately. There is no additional requirement to launch or get an SMS campaign approved before sending messages, including via integrations like Zapier.