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WhatsApp Business Platform offers different types of business accounts to help you connect with your customers.

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Types of Business Accounts

There are two main types of WhatsApp Business Accounts:

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Business Account

  • This is the default account type for any business using the WhatsApp Business Platform
  • WhatsApp verifies the authenticity of every brand on the platform
  • If the account has completed Business Verification, the business name is visible even if users haven’t added it to their contacts
  • The display name appears in smaller text in the contacts view unless Business Verified

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Official Business Account

  • Distinguished by a blue checkmark badge in the profile and chat thread headers
  • Represents verified, notable brands
  • Requires additional verification steps

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Requirements for Official Business Account

To qualify for an Official Business Account, your business must meet these criteria:
  1. Notability: Must be a well-known, frequently searched brand or entity
  2. Verification: Must complete Business Verification

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Understanding Notability Requirements

Notability is a key requirement for obtaining an Official Business Account. Here’s what you need to know:
  • Your business must be a well-known, frequently searched brand or entity
  • Notability is primarily assessed through your presence in online news articles from reputable publications
  • The assessment focuses on:
    • Presence in news articles from publications with substantial audiences
    • Coverage in major news outlets (e.g., India Today, Economic Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Wikipedia, Business Insider)
    • Organic media coverage (paid or promotional content is not considered)
    • Business listings and app store presence are not valid sources for notability assessment
To improve your chances of meeting notability requirements, focus on building your brand’s presence in reputable news publications and media outlets.

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How to Request an Official Business Account

1

Complete Business Verification

Ensure your business has completed the Business Verification process. This is a prerequisite for requesting OBA status.
For detailed instructions on Business Verification, visit the Meta Business Help Center.
2

Submit OBA Request

Access WhatsApp Manager from your Business Manager and:
  • Click on the phone number you want to verify
  • Click the “Submit Request” button
  • Provide required information including:
    • Up to 5 supporting links from reputable publications
    • Countries of operation
    • Parent business/brand information
    • Primary language
3

Wait for Review

WhatsApp will review your request and notify you of the decision. If rejected, you can submit a new request after 30 days.

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Important Notes About OBA Status

Official business accounts are issued at the phone number and display name level. If you change your display name after receiving OBA status, WhatsApp will need to re-assess the new display name for notability and compliance.
Previous OBA approvals within a WhatsApp Business Account do not guarantee approval for other numbers with different display names.

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Handling Denied Requests

If your OBA request is denied:
  • The decision means WhatsApp has carefully reviewed your account and determined it’s not eligible for OBA status at this time
  • These decisions cannot be appealed
  • You can submit a new request after 30 days
  • While waiting, you can:
    • Continue to grow your business presence
    • Build your brand’s presence in news articles
    • Maintain and update your business profile (profile picture, email, website, business description)
    • Continue using WhatsApp Business Platform with your standard Business Account
If your WABA contains a main parent brand that meets notability requirements, consider updating child brand display names to: ‘[sub-brand name] by [notable name]’
Remember that having an Official Business Account is not required to use TextYess. A standard Business Account is sufficient for most use cases.