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Getting ready for the WhatsApp Business API: a Meta verification checklist
To use WhatsApp through official software, your business connects to Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform. Most delays happen before any software is involved — at business verification. This checklist helps you get through it smoothly.
Why verification is needed
Meta wants to know that a real, legitimate business is behind every number that messages customers at scale. Verification unlocks the platform’s full features and higher messaging limits, and it’s required by tools like Clio that use the official Cloud API.
Before you start
- A Meta Business Portfolio (formerly Business Manager), owned by a company account you control — not an employee’s personal profile alone.
- Your legal business name exactly as it appears on official documents.
- A matching business address and phone number.
- A website on your own domain that shows the business name — ideally with an email address on that domain.
- Supporting documents such as a GST certificate, incorporation certificate, Udyam registration, or a utility bill in the business name.
Common reasons verification gets rejected
- The name in the portfolio doesn’t match the documents exactly.
- The website doesn’t mention the business, or is under construction.
- Documents are blurry, expired, or show a different address.
- The email or phone used for verification can’t be reached.
Choosing the phone number
The number you connect must be able to receive an SMS or call for verification. A number already registered on the WhatsApp app has to be removed from the app or migrated before it can join the platform — after which you use it through software, not the phone app. Many businesses choose a new number for the API and keep the old one for personal use.
After approval
- Set your display name — Meta reviews it against your business name.
- Add a profile photo, description, address and website.
- Submit your first message templates: a welcome, a follow-up and an order or appointment update.
- Add a payment method in your WhatsApp Business Account for Meta’s conversation charges.
Where Clio fits in
Clio connects to your own WhatsApp Business Account through the official Cloud API, so the number and templates stay yours. Clio can’t bypass Meta’s checks, but we walk you through connecting once you’re verified. See how it works, or read WhatsApp Business app vs API if you’re still deciding.