---
title: How to setup your WhatsApp Business Platform account
description: Follow the steps below to prepare your Meta account, link it to Messente and start sending WhatsApp messages
---

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1. [| Knowledge Base](https://support.messente.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [WhatsApp Business Messages](https://support.messente.com/whatsapp-business-messages?hsLang=en)
3. [Getting started](https://support.messente.com/whatsapp-business-messages?hsLang=en#getting-started)

# How to setup your WhatsApp Business Platform account

## Follow the steps below to prepare your Meta account, link it to Messente and start sending WhatsApp messages

**⚠️ WhatsApp has two business products, they are not interchangeable and only the Business Platform product can be used with the API**

Business App is intended for small businesses to communicate with customers via a business version of the WhatsApp mobile app. Business Platform is intended for larger customers using an integrated/API approach. Any number used for the Business App cannot be used for Business Platform without first disconnecting it.

![](https://support.messente.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202024-08-08%20at%2014-48-36-png.png?width=688&height=72&name=Screenshot%202024-08-08%20at%2014-48-36-png.png)

### 1. Read the WhatsApp Business policy

WhatsApp places some restrictions on the content and type of business that can use the platform so we strongly recommend familiarising yourself with their policy to ensure you don't run the risk of being blocked.

[https://business.whatsapp.com/policy](https://business.whatsapp.com/policy)

### 2. Meta account

a) First you need a **business Meta account**. If you already use Facebook or Instagram you likely already have this. 

b) 🚨 **Ensure billing is setup with Meta**. Go to the [Meta billing hub](https://business.facebook.com/billing_hub ) and check if WA payment is set up correctly.

<iframe height="144.64" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ri0qyausbfE?feature=oembed" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" width="256" allowfullscreen data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ri0qyausbfE?feature=oembed" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe>

### 3. Phone number

Each WhatsApp sender is associated with a phone number so you will need a number for every sender you register.

ℹ️ If you already have a WhatsApp account and sender, you can skip this step

There are a number of options to acquire numbers:

1. Ask your existing **business telecoms provider** for a new number
2. Buy a **SIM card** (NB you will need to ensure you can receive a call/SMS for registration and keep it 'alive' in case you need to re-authenticate in the future)
3. In some markets **Meta** now offer free phone numbers for use with WhatsApp (NB these are currently always US format), this will show as an option during the embedded sign-up process if available
4. Ask your **Messente** account manager, we can acquire numbers for you for some markets

ℹ️ Phone numbers can't already be associated with any other WhatsApp account

### 4. Connect WhatsApp with Messente

Next you need to connect your accounts. Navigate to the [Senders](https://dashboard.messente.com/sender-names) page and click the 'Connect' button under WhatsApp. This will take you into Meta's embedded signup flow which supports both:

1. Creating a new WhatsApp account
2. Connecting an existing WhatsApp account to Messente

The video below takes you through the form and what's required.

<iframe width="256" height="144.64" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R76rs2G_fOY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="How To Connect Your WhatsApp Account | Essentials For WhatsApp Business" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe>

### 5. Create a template

Once you have your WhatsApp account you can now create a template. Approved templates are required for all business initiated conversations. Access the Meta [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage), select `Manage templates` and `Create Template`.

<iframe width="256" height="144.64" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UwMmO-dacFs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="WhatsApp Business Template Manager | Messente Omnichannel Messaging" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe>

### 6. Send a test message!

Find the [API documentation here](https://messente.com/documentation/omnichannel-api/whatsapp-message) and on the [API reference](https://messente.com/documentation/omnichannel-api/reference) page.

Here's a demo on how the Omnichannel API works with WhatsApp:

<iframe width="256" height="144.64" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wEHVs63drw4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="WhatsApp Business Messages Demo - Messente Omnichannel API" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe>

ℹ️ Dashboard sending is coming soon

 

### Next steps

Now that you are connected you can prepare to start using WhatsApp for customer communications.

1. **Setup an auto-reply** or be prepared to answer replies - any replies must be responded to in 24hrs so either be prepared to monitor replies or setup an auto-response to guide users to another channel
2. **Decide on your fallback logic** - e.g. you might choose to always use WhatsApp first if you're looking to respond to customer demand or hoping for conversion improvements and then fallback to SMS or you could use it just for multi-part messages where it is likely to be cheaper
3. **Verify your business with Meta** by submitting document in Business Manager to get 1,000+ daily business-initiated conversations and show your business name in chat with customers.

Here's a video on the technical setup of integration WhatsApp Business:

<iframe width="256" height="144.64" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgvamzLLBQo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Webinar - Step by Step Guide to Integrating WhatsApp Business | Messente" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe>

 

**🔗 Useful Meta support articles**

[Tips for using the WhatsApp Business platform](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/325994829075700#signup)

[Sign up for Meta Business Manager](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1612355968988019?helpref=faq_content).

[Create a WhatsApp Business platform account](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2087193751603668?helpref=faq_content)

[Understand billing and payments for your WhatsApp usage](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/325994829075700?ref=search_new_9#billing)

[How to connect your phone number to your WhatsApp Business account](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/456220311516626)

[Create message templates for your WhatsApp Business account](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2055875911147364)

[Edit message templates for your WhatsApp business account](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/287011426725347)

- [Getting Started](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Setting up your account](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#setting-up-your-account)
    - [Sending from Dashboard](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#sending-from-dashboard)
    - [Phonebook](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#phonebook)
    - [Security](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#security)
    - [Dashboard's developers section](https://support.messente.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#dashboards-developers-section)
- [Country Specific Features and Restrictions](https://support.messente.com/country-specific-features-and-restrictions?hsLang=en)
- [Analytics & Troubleshooting](https://support.messente.com/analytics-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Delivery reports](https://support.messente.com/analytics-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#delivery-reports)
    - [History & Statistics](https://support.messente.com/analytics-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#history-statistics)
- [Viber Business Messages service](https://support.messente.com/viber-business-messages-service?hsLang=en)
- [WhatsApp Business Messages](https://support.messente.com/whatsapp-business-messages?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting started](https://support.messente.com/whatsapp-business-messages?hsLang=en#getting-started)
    - [Scaling up](https://support.messente.com/whatsapp-business-messages?hsLang=en#scaling-up)
- [Verigator](https://support.messente.com/verigator?hsLang=en)
- [RCS for business](https://support.messente.com/rcs-for-business?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [RCS for Business](https://support.messente.com/rcs-for-business?hsLang=en#rcs-for-business)
    - [Getting started](https://support.messente.com/rcs-for-business?hsLang=en#getting-started)

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