SMS Marketing Compliance Checklist for Small Business

Before you text customers, run this compliance-minded checklist. This is practical guidance for small businesses — not formal legal advice. When in doubt, talk to a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.

Consent basics

Collect express consent before promotional SMS
Make the disclosure clear at opt-in (what they will get, frequency, message/data rates)
Store proof of consent (timestamp, source, language shown)
Do not buy SMS lists

Message content and opt-out

Identify your business in the message
Honor STOP / unsubscribe requests promptly
Keep quiet hours reasonable for your audience
Separate transactional reminders from promo blasts when possible

Operational checklist before launch

Choose a reputable SMS provider
Write opt-in language for web forms and checkout
Train staff who collect numbers in-person
Test STOP and HELP flows
Document who can approve campaigns

Good first SMS use cases

Appointment reminders, shipping notifications (where appropriate), and limited flash offers to an opted-in list. Avoid daily junk that burns trust.

We set up compliant SMS programs through SMS marketing. Related reading: TCPA basics before texting customers.

In-store and verbal opt-in

If staff collect numbers at the counter, give them a script and a written disclosure. Casual “can I get your number for texts?” without explaining marketing use is how programs get into trouble. Document the channel and language used.

Vendor and registration realities

Carriers and platforms increasingly require brand registration and campaign review for application-to-person messaging. Budget time for setup. A compliant program that launches in two weeks beats a rushed blast that gets filtered.

Again: this is educational, not legal advice. Complex cases (debt, healthcare, multi-state campaigns) need professional legal review.