17hats SMS Texting allows you to communicate with leads and clients directly from your 17hats Dashboard and 17hats mobile app.
Before you can begin sending messages, you must register your business for texting. This registration is required by Canadian and U.S. carriers to prevent spam and protect consumers, and it ensures your messages are delivered reliably.
This guide explains how Canadian businesses can successfully register their brand and begin texting through 17hats.
📌 What You’ll Need Before Registering
Because Canadian businesses do not use U.S. EINs, the verification process works slightly differently. To complete your Brand Registration, you will need one of the approved Canadian business identification numbers listed below.
Accepted Identification Numbers
For Canadian members, TCR (The Campaign Registry) currently accepts:
1. Canadian Federal Business Number (BN-9)
This is the preferred and most reliable option.
Use only the 9-digit BN (no suffixes like “RP0001” or “RT0001”).
Example:
123456789
2. Provincial or Federal Corporation / Registry ID Number
These are the identification numbers assigned when your business was incorporated at the provincial level or through Corporations Canada.
Both Private Profit and Public Profit corporations are acceptable.
These numbers may sometimes require manual verification, especially if the province updated systems or naming records after your original registration.
⚠️ Important: TCR will soon transition to accepting BN-9 only, so we strongly recommend providing your BN-9 if you have one.
🏢 Non-Profits Entities in Canada
Canadian organizations follow different rules than U.S.-based non-profits:
Canadian Non-Profit Entities
Register using “Private Profit” as the entity type — even though you are non-profit.
Do NOT select “Nonprofit.”
Only U.S.-Recognized 501(c) Organizations Should Use “Nonprofit”
A Canadian organization should only choose the Nonprofit entity type if:
It is formally registered with the U.S. IRS as a 501(c) organization, and
It can provide a valid U.S. EIN.
📝 Legal Name Requirements
For your brand to be approved, the name you submit must exactly match the legal name associated with your identification number.
Tips:
Use the full legal name exactly as registered.
Avoid trade names, abbreviations, or shortened versions unless they appear on your official business registration.
📱 Completing Your 17hats Brand Registration
Once you’ve gathered the correct identification number, legal name, and address follow the same steps as U.S. members:
Go to Account Settings → Plan Information → Add Module add the SMS Texting module, then complete the checkout process.
Start the registration process.
Enter your business information, including your BN-9 or Corporation/Registry ID.
Submit your brand registration for verification.
After approval, select your 10 digit local phone number.
The option to select your texting number will activate once both the Brand and Campaign are approved.
⏳ What to Expect During Review
BN-9 submissions are typically verified fastest.
Corporation/Registry IDs may require manual review if provincial records do not match current online data.
If TCR requires additional documentation, 17hats Support may contact you to request your official registration paperwork.
🎉 After Approval
You’ll be able to:
Choose your phone number.
Once contacts are opted in, you can send & receive SMS directly from your 17hats account and the 17hats mobile app.
Enable texting in Lead Capture Form Auto Responders, Online Scheduling confirmation, reminders and cancellations, Document reminders.
Use templates to automate client communications.