Understanding WhatsApp business account types
Your WhatsApp business account determines how you appear to your customers. When you create a WhatsApp account, your account will be a Business Account. WhatsApp has two types of business accounts:
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Business Account: WhatsApp verifies the authenticity of every account on the WhatsApp Business Platform. If a business account has completed the Business Verification process, the business name will be visible to all users. This feature helps users identify verified business accounts on WhatsApp.
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Official Business Account: Along with the benefits of a business account, an official business account has a green checkmark badge in its profile and chat thread headers.
Approval for a WhatsApp Official Business Account (OBA) requires providing evidence that the business is well known and recognized by consumers, such as articles, blog posts, or independent reviews. Approval for a WhatsApp OBA is not guaranteed, even if the business provides the required documentation. The approval process is subject to review and approval by WhatsApp. WhatsApp does not publicly disclose the specific criteria they use to evaluate and approve applications for Official Business Accounts. The businesses seeking a WhatsApp OBA must demonstrate their reputation and recognition, but final approval is at the discretion of WhatsApp.
When you create a WhatsApp account, your account will be a Business Account. You can provide information to your customers about your business, such as website, address, and hours. For businesses that haven't completed WhatsApp Business Verification, the display name is shown in small text next to the phone number in the contacts view, not in the chat list or individual chat. Once the Meta Business Verification is completed, the WhatsApp Sender's display name will be shown in the chat list and individual chat threads.
Additional resources
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For more information on Business Account and Official Business Account, see Business Accounts
in the WhatsApp Business Platform Cloud API Reference. -
For more information on the Business Verification process, see Business Verification
in the WhatsApp Business Platform Cloud API Reference.
