I don't have an EIN
About a 2-minute read.
To register a brand on AgentMessage you need an EIN (Employer Identification Number). If you run a sole proprietorship using your SSN instead, you can't register a brand yet, here's why, and what to do.
Why an EIN is required
The 10DLC framework has a special "Sole Proprietor" category for individuals without an EIN, and the carriers technically allow it, but it's been turbulent (the rules have changed repeatedly), rejection rates are high, and the throughput is too low for most real applications. AgentMessage doesn't support the EIN-less sole-proprietor path. Registration is keyed to an EIN.
Your options
Option 1, Get an EIN (recommended for most)
If you operate under your own name with no employees, you can still get an EIN from the IRS. It's free, takes about 10 minutes online, and the EIN is issued immediately.
- Apply at the IRS: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online.
- You can register your brand on AgentMessage as soon as you have the EIN. (Your CP-575 confirmation letter arrives by mail, but the number itself is immediate.)
If the business is brand new, the EIN may not be in the IRS lookup right away, see Fix an Unverified brand for the new-EIN appeal path.
Option 2, Form a business entity
If the business is large enough to warrant it, forming an LLC gives you both an EIN and a cleaner separation between you and the business. Most states make this straightforward for a modest filing fee. Ask an accountant or lawyer if you're unsure whether it's worth it.
Option 3, Use a different channel
If your messaging is genuinely light and personal (a handful of contacts, real conversations), you may not need 10DLC at all, person-to-person texting from a regular phone isn't subject to registration. The trade-off is no automation, no opt-out tracking, and no reporting, which usually rules it out for an agent.
What not to do
Don't register another company's EIN as your brand. If you do work for a company that has an EIN, you can't use their EIN to register your own messaging. The brand has to be the actual sender, the entity the recipient understands the message to be from. Mismatches get caught and lead to suspension. See Brand identity rejections.
Don't try to route around the EIN requirement with your SSN. The EIN-less path is the one we don't support; submitting an SSN through other fields just gets rejected.
Need help deciding?
Contact support, tell us about your business and your expected volume and we'll point you to the right path.
Next
- Register your brand, once you have an EIN.