Applying for a WhatsApp Business API account

Unlike WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Personal App, WhatsApp Business API accounts can only be applied for through official Meta Business Solution Partners (BSP) like SleekFlow. To apply, you will require the following:

• A personal Facebook account with "Full Access Rights" in Facebook Business Portfolio. Check if you have full access rights here. 
• A completed Business Info page in Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager)
• A mobile or landline phone number capable of receiving calls or SMS from the United States. 
   

Applying for Meta Business Portfolio verification

If you are planning to apply for an Official WhatsApp Account (OBA) or looking to send broadcast messages to more than 250 customers per day, you are also required to complete an additional Facebook Business Verification on top of applying for a WhatsApp Business API account. To complete your Facebook Business Verification, you will need:

• A business website with a domain that begins with https:// (e.g. https://abccompany.com)
• The following documents with a matching business name and address printed on the document in the same language
  • A valid Business Registration / Certification of Incorporation
  • Documentation issued within 3 months for business name and address validation. The required documents are based on your contact method as outlined in the table below.  
     

What is a free WhatsApp number from Meta?

Meta provides eligible business users with the ability to claim up to two free WhatsApp business phone numbers, also known as "555 numbers". These numbers are intended for quick onboarding and testing of WhatsApp Business API features and behave similarly to standard paid numbers, with a few key distinctions:

• US-based format: These numbers have a United States country calling code (+1) and use the "555" area code.
• Instant verification: Free numbers are verified automatically and do not require additional proof.
• Non-transferable: These numbers cannot be migrated to another WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) later on, so they are not suitable for long-term usage or permanent setups.

Step-by-step application guide

The application process will take approximately 10–15 minutes. To apply for a new WhatsApp Business API account: 

1. Sign in to your SleekFlow account and go to Channels by clicking on the icon on left sidebar
    
2. Go to the WhatsApp Business API channel settings page, and click "Connect" on the right side of the screen. 
   
   
   
    
3. Under "Select how would you connect", select "Get a free WhatsApp number provided by Meta". 
4. Click "Continue on Meta" to proceed

5. You will see a separate pop up window. Please sign in to your personal Facebook account that has full access rights in Facebook Business Portfolio.

Input your password, then click "Continue". 

6. Once signed in, click "Continue as {your user name}" to proceed to the next step. If you are not on the correct account, click "Log into another account" to return to the previous step. 

7. Read the permission that you will share with SleekFlow as shown on the screen. Click "Get started" to proceed.

8. You will be asked to fill in your business information. 

First, select the business portfolio that you want to connect your WhatsApp Business API account to. Please note that once your WhatsApp Business API account is connected to a business portfolio, it cannot be connected to another business portfolio. 

If you have completed the business portfolio info in Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager), the "Business name", "Business website or profile page", and "Country" fields will be pre-filled. If all details are correct, click "Next" to continue. 

If the fields above are not pre-filled, we highly recommend you to fill in the business portfolio info page in Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager) and come back to this step.


 

9. If it is your first time creating a WhatsApp Business API Account, you will see

• "Create a WhatsApp Business API Account" in the "Choose a WhatsApp Business API Account" field
• "Create a new WhatsApp Business profile" in the "Create or Select a WhatsApp Business Profile" field 
  
  You are not required to change any of the fields. After clicking "Next", we will create a WhatsApp business API account and WhatsApp Business Profile in your Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager).
  
  

  💡 WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) is the container for all your WhatsApp Business Profiles in Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager). Please refer to this article to learn more. 

   
  
  
   10. In this step, we will be creating a WhatsApp Business profile.
  
  
  • The "WhatsApp Business API Account Name" is a private name for your internal staff to identify the account in Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager)
  • The "WhatsApp Business display name" is a public name that will be exposed to the general public in your WhatsApp profile. You may refer to this article to learn more about the guidelines to choosing a display name. 
  • "Category" indicates the industry that your business is in. Click the drop down list to choose one that best describes your business. 
    
    After completing the information, click "Next" to continue. 
    
    
     

11. Connect the free phone number to the WhatsApp Business profile by selecting the “Get a free WhatsApp number.

Click “Next”

 

12. Your application is complete!

You can now receive unlimited customer-initiated conversation and send a specific amount of business-initiated conversation in a rolling-24 hour period.

Click "Finish" to connect your WhatsApp Business account with SleekFlow.

The number of business-initiated conversations that you get depends on the Facebook Business Verification status of your Meta Business Portfolio (previously known as Facebook Business Manager)Facebook Business Manager. Check out this article to learn more about the steps to complete Facebook Business Verification. 




13. You will be redirected to back to SleekFlow. In this page, choose the WhatsApp business profile that you just created and fill in the "Channel name". The "Channel name" is private and can only be viewed by your internal staff and SleekFlow. Customers will only see the "Display name". 

Click “Next” to proceed. 




 

14. You will be prompted to purchase a WhatsApp Business API connection add-on via Stripe. The standard fee is your local currency value equivalent to US$15/month for each connected phone number. 

15. Click “Pay $15.00 via Stripe” to proceed to payment.


 

16. You will be directed to Stripe to proceed with the payment. Enter your credit card information and click "Subscribe" to complete the payment.


 

17. Once payment is complete, you will be redirected back to SleekFlow's WhatsApp Official API connection page

18. You have successfully connected your WhatsApp Business API Account and Business Profile to SleekFlow! Please review the details of your account, then click "Back to WhatsApp settings" to return to the "Channels" page.