How to Make WhatsApp Business Account: Complete Guide [2025]

WhatsApp isn’t just for personal chats anymore. With over 2 billion users worldwide, it’s become an essential business communication channel that can significantly boost your customer engagement.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through creating a WhatsApp Business account and connecting it to PushEngage for maximum impact. We’ll cover everything from initial setup to advanced features that will help you engage customers effectively.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A smartphone (Android or iOS)
• A phone number for your business (ideally separate from your personal number)
• Access to email for creating a Meta Account
• Your business information ready (name, address, description, hours)

Step 1: Download and Install WhatsApp Business App

First, you’ll need to download the WhatsApp Business app on your smartphone:

For Android:

1. Open Google Play Store
2. Search for “WhatsApp Business”
3. Look for the app with the “B” logo
4. Tap “Install”
5. Open the app once installation completes

For iOS:

1. Open App Store
2. Search for “WhatsApp Business”
3. Tap “Get”
4. Complete the installation
5. Open the app

Step 2: Register Your Business Phone Number

Now comes an important decision: which phone number to use.

You have two options:

1. Use your existing WhatsApp number: This migrates your personal account to business, keeping your chat history.
2. Use a different number: Creates a completely separate business account (recommended for maintaining professional boundaries).

Registration steps:

1. Launch the WhatsApp Business app and accept the terms
2. Choose whether to use your existing number or a new one
3. Enter your country code and full phone number
4. Tap “Next” and wait for the verification code via SMS
5. Enter the 6-digit code when prompted
6. If you don’t receive the code, request a phone call after the timer expires
7. Grant necessary permissions for contacts and media

Step 3: Set Up Your Business Profile

This is where you make your business look professional and trustworthy:

1. Add your business name – Use your official business name
2. Select your business category – Choose from retail, services, etc.
3. Upload a profile picture – Your logo or storefront (high quality)
4. Write a description – Keep it concise (256 characters max) and highlight what makes you unique
5. Add your address – Helps local customers find you
6. Set business hours – Let customers know when you’re available
7. Include website and email – Give customers multiple ways to reach you

You can edit this information anytime through Settings > Business Settings > Profile.

Step 4: Create a Meta Business Account

Since WhatsApp is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), you’ll need a Meta Account to unlock all the business features:

1. Visit Meta’s Business Manager
2. Click “Create Account” if you don’t already have one
3. Enter your business details
4. Verify your email address
5. Complete the business verification process if prompted

Step 5: Generate WhatsApp Access Tokens

To connect WhatsApp Business with PushEngage, you’ll need to generate access tokens:

1. Go to Business Settings in your Meta Business account
2. Look for “Users” in the left menu and click “System Users”
3. Click the “Add” button
4. Give your system user a name (e.g., “WhatsApp Integration”)
5. Select “Admin” as the role
6. Click “Create System User”
7. Click “Assign Assets” in the dialog box that appears
8. Select Apps » Your App Name » Full control
9. Click “Generate token” at the top of the screen
10. In the popup, select your app, set an expiration period, and choose permissions
11. The permissions must include: “whatsapp_business_management” and “whatsapp_business_messaging”
12. Click “Generate token” and copy it immediately

Note: This initial token is temporary and will be valid for only 24 hours.

Step 6: Generate a Permanent Access Token

For long-term integration, you’ll need a permanent token:

1. In Business Manager, go to Business Settings
2. Navigate to “Users” » “System Users”
3. Click “Add” to create a new system user
4. Name this user (e.g., “PushEngage WhatsApp Integration”)
5. Select “Admin” as the role
6. Click “Create System User”
7. Click “Assign Assets” and select Apps » Your App Name » Full control
8. Click “Generate token” at the top
9. Select your app, set the expiration to “Never” if available
10. Ensure permissions include “whatsapp_business_management” and “whatsapp_business_messaging”
11. Generate and copy this token securely

Step 7: Connect PushEngage to WhatsApp Business

Now it’s time to connect your WhatsApp Business account to PushEngage:

1. Log into your PushEngage dashboard
2. Navigate to the WhatsApp section in the listed plugins
3. Click on “Settings Tab”
4. Under WhatsApp Cloud API Settings, you’ll need to enter:
   • WhatsApp Business Account ID
   • Phone Number ID
   • WhatsApp Phone Number (with country code but without the + sign)
   • Permanent Access Token (from Step 6)
5. Click “Save Changes”

Important: Your Meta Developer account will help you gather these details. Note that WhatsApp Phone Number and Phone Number ID are different identifiers.

Step 8: Add WhatsApp Chat Widget to Your Website (Optional)

Want to let visitors chat with you directly from your website? Here’s how:

1. In your PushEngage dashboard, navigate to WhatsApp
2. Click on “Click to Chat Tab” under Settings
3. Enable the feature by clicking the checkbox
4. Enter your WhatsApp number with country code but without the + sign (e.g., 919876543210)
5. Set a greeting message (e.g., “Hi there! How can we help you today?”)
6. Choose a button style from the available options
7. Set the button size (48px is recommended for visibility without being intrusive)
8. Select positioning (Bottom Right, Bottom Left, Right Middle, or Left Middle)
9. Adjust offset settings to ensure proper spacing from screen edges
10. Set Z-index to make sure the chat widget appears above other elements
11. Click “Save Changes”

Step 9: Set Up WhatsApp Automation Messages (Optional)

Enhance your customer experience with automated messages:

1. In your PushEngage dashboard, go to WhatsApp
2. Configure automation messages for different scenarios
3. Create templates for:
   • Welcome messages for new customers
   • Order confirmations
   • Shipping updates
   • Abandoned cart reminders
   • Follow-up messages after purchase

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful setup, you might encounter some challenges:

Can’t verify your phone number?

• Check your network connection
• Make sure your phone can receive SMS or calls
• Try requesting a call instead of SMS
• Wait 24 hours if you’ve made multiple attempts

Connection issues between PushEngage and WhatsApp?

• Verify all IDs and tokens are entered correctly
• Ensure permissions are set properly in Meta Business Manager
• Check that your WhatsApp Business account is active
• Contact PushEngage support if issues persist

Best Practices for WhatsApp Business

Follow these tips to maximize your WhatsApp Business results:

Response Time

• Aim to respond within 24 hours
• Use away messages during off-hours
• Set clear response time expectations

Message Templates

• Create templates for common inquiries
• Personalize messages whenever possible
• Keep communications concise and valuable

Privacy and Compliance

• Get consent before adding customers
• Follow WhatsApp’s Business Policy
• Comply with privacy regulations like GDPR

FAQs

Can I have both personal WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on the same phone?

Yes, you can have both apps installed on the same device, but they must use different phone numbers.

Is WhatsApp Business free to use?

The WhatsApp Business app is completely free to download and use. The WhatsApp Business API may have costs depending on your provider.

Can I convert my personal WhatsApp account to a business account?

Yes, you can migrate your personal account to a business account, but you can’t have both types using the same phone number.

How do I get verified on WhatsApp Business?

WhatsApp has a verification process for businesses that meet certain criteria. This typically involves confirming your business information and may require documentation.

Can multiple people use the same WhatsApp Business account?

With the multi-device feature, you can use WhatsApp Business on up to four linked devices. For more extensive team collaboration, you’ll need the WhatsApp Business API.

How is WhatsApp Business different from regular WhatsApp?

WhatsApp Business offers additional features designed specifically for businesses, including a business profile, catalog, quick replies, automated messages, and analytics.

How do I integrate WhatsApp Business with my other marketing tools?

PushEngage makes this easy by allowing you to connect your WhatsApp Business account to your overall customer engagement strategy, creating a seamless omnichannel experience.

Your Next Steps

Setting up a WhatsApp Business account is a powerful step toward meeting your customers where they already are. By following this guide, you’ve created a professional business presence on one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms.

Remember that successful customer engagement is an ongoing process. Regularly update your profile, refine your messaging, and stay responsive to customer needs.

For businesses looking to take their customer engagement to the next level, integrating WhatsApp Business with PushEngage creates a truly omnichannel experience that can significantly boost customer satisfaction and drive business growth.

PushEngage is the #1 customer engagement platform in the market. If you’re not sure where to start, you can sign up for the free version. If you’re looking to scale your business with powerful campaigns, though, you should go for one of the paid plans. Or, you can check out these amazing resources to get started:

Either way, don’t wait. Your customers are already using WhatsApp. The question is: Will you meet them there?

Start with whichever method feels right for your business. You can always upgrade to a more sophisticated solution later. The important thing is to get started and begin building those direct customer relationships that WhatsApp makes possible.

Your customers will thank you for making it easy to reach you. And your business will thank you for the increased engagement and conversions that come with better customer communication.

• Why Mobile App Push Notifications Are Great for Your App
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• What App Engagement Metrics Should You Look At
• What Are Push Notifications? A Simple Guide for Epic Results
• Push Notification Cost: Is It Really Free? (Pricing Analysis)

That’s all for this one.

Get started with PushEngage today!