How to Create WhatsApp Business Account — [Step-by-Step Guide]

7 min readJul 28, 2022

From a quick chit-chat and exchange of emoticons with friends to seamless communication with clients, WhatsApp has come a long way! Yes, we are talking about the WhatsApp Business app.

Launched in 2018 with a myriad of custom features, the app turned out to be incredibly useful to entrepreneurs. In this guide, we will learn how to create a WhatsApp business account. First, let’s see how WhatsApp Business is helping businesses worldwide.

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What is WhatsApp Business?

WhatsApp Business is a platform designed for business purposes. It means that there will only be professional intervention on the account. The app offers features like Quick Replies, Greeting Message, and Away Message. These options bring feasibility in communication. The app is available on the Android Store and Apple Store. You can also access the business version using WhatsApp web.

According to a report, 50 million businesses are using the WhatsApp Business app. Delivery tracking, important notifications and deal alerts are the major reasons why companies are using WhatsApp to communicate efficiently with their customers. Not to mention, the business app is also acting as a customer service channel for 39% of users.

There are many factors that pose a major difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp business accounts. First of all, it is the features in the business app which are nowhere to be found on personal WhatsApp. Apart from that, setting up a profile on a business account is different from the personal one. On top of that, WhatsApp offers a separate application for each purpose which keeps convenience to its best.

How to Create a WhatsApp Business Account

Follow this easy guide to know how to create a WhatsApp Business account:

1. Install WhatsApp Business App On Your Mobile

You can easily find the WhatsApp Business app on the Google Play Store and App Store. Besides, it is free to download. So, the first thing you need to do is install the WhatsApp Business application on your mobile.

2. Launch the App

Congratulations. You have just completed the first step and are on the way to create a WhatsApp Business Account.After downloading the app, launch it on your device. Now, you will be required to agree to the Terms of Service before proceeding. It is best that you read the policy before moving further. Then, you can accept it and click the “Continue” button.

3. Create Your Business Account

You can either use your existing number to set up a WhatsApp Business account or opt for a new one. In your next step, you will be asked to select the number you’d like to use to make your WhatsApp Business account.

You will find two options appearing on your screen. One is for using the current number and another will be for a new number. You can choose one as per your preference and move to the next step.

4. Verify Your Number

Once you have chosen the number you’d like to have your WhatsApp business account with, the next step is to verify it. Enter the number that you’re linking with your WhatsApp Business app. You will receive a verification SMS or Call on it.

It will be a six-digit code which you will receive via SMS. The app will automatically fetch the code and verify the number. In case you do not have the number handy, you will need to enter the number manually. If you have trouble getting the SMS, you can opt for verification through a call.

5. Grant Permissions to Access Contacts and Files

Now that you are going to use your WhatsApp business account for professional errands, make sure that the app can access your contacts and media files.

Go to your mobile setting for the WhatsApp Business app and turn on the Access to notifications, audio, contacts and all media files. This will enable seamless sharing and accessibility to everything on your app.

6. Create a Business Profile

Once you’ve been through the steps mentioned above, it is finally time to create your WhatsApp Business profile. You will be asked to furnish your account with various details related to your business.

Let’s take a look at the requirements:

Profile Picture: You need to add a profile photo that associates with your business like a business logo.
Business Name: Enter the name your business is officially known and used as.
Category: In this field, you have to select the category/ industry in which your business operates. You will have a dropdown menu of categories to choose from.
Description: Describe what your business is all about. Note, you have to do it within 256 characters.
Business Address: Enter the official address of your company office.

So, you must fill these details in order to to allow others to recognize you. Apart from them, you can also mention additional details to strengthen your profile setup. You will find these options in the “Explore business tools” section. Let’s have a look:

Business profile: Here, you can enter details like your official email address, website link, and work hours of your business operations.
Catalogue: You can use this option to display the list of your services and products.
Messaging tools: You can compose automated messages to conveniently manage the communication with your clients.

Updating these details on your profile will make it look more interactive and boost your interaction with the customers. However, these are optional and you can fill them in later.

If you’ve opted to create your existing WhatsApp number to create a business account, you will need to convert one to another. Keep reading to learn the method.

How to Convert Your Personal WhatsApp to WhatsApp Business Account

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to convert WhatsApp to a business account.

Create a Backup of Your WhatsApp Account

Before anything else, you need to make sure that you have a backup of your WhatsApp data. All you need to do is:

Open WhatsApp on your Android or iOS device.
Navigate to WhatsApp Settings.
Expand the Chats section.
Tap on the “Chat Backup” option.
Click “Back Up Now”.

Wait while the backup process completes. After that, you can move to the transfer process.

2. Download the WhatsApp Business App

Once you have a backup, it is time to install the WhatsApp Business application on your device. The app is available for both Android and iOS users.

3. Accept the Terms of Service

While proceeding, you will find the terms of service on the screen. You need to agree to confirm them.

4. Proceed with Your Current Number

Your WhatsApp account will detect the personal number you’re using. Now, you have to carry out the transfer process.

5. Transfer Your Data

After you choose the existing number to proceed with, the account will automatically start transferring your data to your business account.

6. Grant Permissions

Wait when the WhatsApp business account transfer is going on. After the transfer is completed, you need to:

Tap on the “Restore” or “Continue” option.
Click the “Next” button.
Now, allow permissions to share photos and videos, along with other data like contacts and files.

This will allow you to access data from your standard account to a business account.

7. Create a WhatsApp Business Account

Now that you have successfully carried out the above steps, move on to creating an account. In this step, you need to set up a profile photo that associates with your business, enter your business name, category and a brief description of what your business offers.

8. Compose Your Business Profile

Create a business profile by adding details related to your business. To do that, follow these quick steps:

Head to the WhatsApp Settings section.
Tap on your Business Name.
Add relevant details.

So these are the steps to convert your standard WhatsApp account to WhatsApp business.

What is WhatsApp Business API?

WhatsApp Business also offers a WhatsApp Business API platform that is only accessible as a paid service. With WhatsApp Business APIs, you get to enjoy features like message automation that simplify communication. Moreover, it offers functions such as WhatsApp chatbots, CRM connectivity etc. that can help you obtain, nurture and manage leads efficiently.

If you are a business owner looking to use WhatsApp to do business, there is more good news in store for you. WhatsApp has recently launched the WhatsApp Cloud API. With the cloud API, you don’t have to go through WhatsApp Business Solution Providers (BSPs) to get access to the WhatsApp Business API. This means there is a faster approval process for your business on WhatsApp and you also get access to instant updates.

Final Thoughts

We hope by now you have an idea on how to make a WhatsApp Business account. Creating a WhatsApp Business account may be different from what it takes to create one for personal use, but it is simple and fast. With WhatsApp already working as a primary mode of communication on the personal front, entrepreneurs can use it to connect with customers more effectively. Now that you have a WhatsApp Business account, make sure to bring the best use of the features it has to offer. And then, you will have more control over your business goals and progress.

At Kommunicate, we are envisioning a world-beating customer support solution to empower the new era of customer support. We would love to have you onboard to have a first-hand experience of Kommunicate. You can signup here and start delighting your customers right away.

Originally published at https://www.kommunicate.io on July 28, 2022.