Create a Facebook Business Manager Account
1) What are the steps to create a Facebook Business Manager account?
A Facebook Business Manager account is required to access the WhatsApp Business API, and it cannot be replaced by a personal Facebook account. Here’s how you can create one:
1. Visit the Facebook Business Manager Page: Go to the official Facebook Business Manager website: Facebook Business Manager
2. Sign In with Your Personal Facebook Account: Use your personal Facebook account to sign in. If you don't have a personal Facebook account, you'll need to create one first.
3. Create Your Business Profile: After signing in, click on Create Account to begin the setup process.
You’ll be prompted to enter details about your business, including:
o Business Name
o Your Name
o Business Email
o Business Address
4. Complete Business Setup: Follow the prompts and complete the setup. Once done, you'll have access to your Business Manager dashboard.
o For detailed instructions, you can refer to: How to set up Facebook Business Manager | Meta for Business
2) What is the business verification process required to access the WhatsApp Business API?
To access the WhatsApp Business API, your business must go through the verification process by Facebook. This ensures that only legitimate businesses are granted API access. The process involves submitting some documents that prove your business is authentic.
1) Steps for Business Verification:
1. Navigate to Business Settings:
After logging into your Facebook Business Manager, go to the Business Settings section by clicking on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
2. Initiate Business Verification:
In the Business Settings menu, locate the Business Info section under Business Settings.
You’ll see an option labelled Business Verification. Click on it to start the process.
Facebook will ask you to provide information about your business.
This can include:
Business Name
Business Address
Tax ID Number
Business License or Other Official Documents
Required Documents (Examples)
Tax ID or EIN Number
Official Business License
Government-Issued Identification (e.g., passport or national ID for individual verification)
Utility Bill (with your business name and address)
For a detailed guide on this, refer to the official instructions here:
3. Upload Required Documents:
After entering business information, Facebook will ask you to upload verification documents. The following are the main categories of documents you may need to upload:
Official Document Verification: Upload a government-issued document or your tax documents.
Proof of Identity: For individual verification (in case the business is owned by an individual).
4. Wait for Approval:
Facebook typically reviews the verification application within a few days, though it may take longer depending on the region or the complexity of the verification.
You’ll be notified through Facebook notifications or email when your business is verified.
You can do step by step documentation upload in business verification by following this video link.
2) Manage Permissions and Roles
After your business is verified, you can assign different roles and permissions to your Facebook Business Manager account. This allows various team members to manage different aspects of your WhatsApp Business API integration.
Steps for Managing Permissions:
1. Go to Business Settings:
In your Business Manager dashboard, go to Business Settings.
2. Assign Roles and Permissions:
Under the Users section in Business Settings, click on People to add new team members.
Click Add to invite people to your business account by email.
Once added, you can assign roles to each person:
Admin: Full access to everything in the Business Manager.
Employee: Limited access based on the permissions assigned.
3. Assign Permissions for WhatsApp Business API
Under the WhatsApp Accounts section (found in Business Settings), you can grant permissions to users for managing the WhatsApp Business Account.
Make sure the person who is going to manage the WhatsApp API has the necessary permissions to access WhatsApp-related settings.
Manage API Settings:
Once the roles are assigned, your team can manage the WhatsApp Business API integration, including message templates, API configurations, and more.
For more details on managing permissions and roles, see: How to Add People to Facebook Business Manager.
Additional Resources:
Setting Up a WhatsApp Business Account: WhatsApp Business API Setup Guide
Facebook Business Verification FAQs: Facebook Business Verification FAQ
By following these detailed steps, you will successfully create a Facebook Business Manager account, verify your business, and assign the necessary roles to your team for managing WhatsApp Business API access.
Add phone number in WhatsApp Business API:
Navigate to the Meta App that is set up for WhatsApp by going to developers.facebook.com > My Apps > Select your App.
If your phone number is currently registered with WhatsApp Messenger or the WhatsApp Business App, you need to first delete it. See Migrate an Existing WhatsApp Number to a Business Account.
Use the left menu to navigate to the WhatsApp > API Setup panel.
On the right pane select Add phone number button under Step 5: Add a phone number.
Use the display name guidelines to enter a display name for your phone number. This is the name that will show for your business phone number once approved.
Select your Time zone. This will be used for WhatsApp Billing and analytics.
Select a Category for your business and enter a business description.
Select Next to begin the phone number verification process.
Select your country code from the drop-down and enter the phone number you would like to register.
Select how you would like to receive your verification code, either by Text Message or Phone, and click Next to continue. You will need access to the phone number before selecting Next to receive the verification code.
Enter the verification code once received and click Next to continue.
The phone number will appear in the “From” drop-down menu of the Send and Receive Messages section of the panel.
Select the newly added phone number to begin sending messages.
After adding a number, you will get a link as “Verify number”. Click on that you will get a verification code on that number. Add that code in the text area and then click on “Verify”.
Also, you will see the verify number option in case it is not verified in your phone number àProfile Section, and below profile photo you will get the Verify number option. Click on that you will get a verification code on that number. Add that code and click on verify.
For more details, see: Add a Phone Number.
Check the status of the phone number:
1. Enter https://business.facebook.com/. Click on setting.
Click WhatsApp account.
Choose the account and click WhatsApp Manager.
Then go to the “Phone Numbers”. You'll be able to check the status.
After adding the phone number, Meta generally takes 24-48 hours to change the status of the phone number.
If the status of the phone number is still pending status, then you can check that your business is verified.
In case your business Verification is “Verified” but the number is still in pending status, then you can follow the approaches and see if the status changes:
By generating the token (through apps) –
I). Create System User and assign app:
It is mandatory to create a "System User" under the "User" section in "Business Settings" to avoid permission issues when generating the token.
Here are the steps to create a System User and assign the app to them:
i. Under the Users section in Business Settings, click on System Users. Click on Add.
ii. Give the System user name, Select the System user role as “Admin”. Click on “Create system user”.
iii. Go to the Apps. Select your app. Click on “Assign people”.
iv. Select your app. Give the assign permission as Full control and click on “Assign Assets”.
II) Generate token -
i. Navigate to the apps by following this link. In case you don’t have any app then you can create an app by following this link.
ii. Once the app is created. Open the app.
iii. Click on WhatsApp->API Setup-> Select number in “From” section. Click on Generate access token.
iv. You will get a pop-up window. Click on Continue.
v. Select the radio button as “Opt into all current and future WhatsApp Accounts”.
vi. Again go to the phone numbers to check the status of the phone number still pending.
Verify Phone Number by API:
Verify your phone number by using API. Please follow this documentation link. https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/reference/phone-numbers/.
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