What is a WhatsApp business account: Setup (instructions) and overview

What is a WhatsApp Business Account? Creating and Setting Up a WhatsApp Business Account - Here's How

Over two billion individuals use the world's most popular messaging service: WhatsApp. Soon, there will be three billion WhatsApp users worldwide. In Germany alone, over 60 million people use the WhatsApp messenger. WhatsApp is therefore both globally and locally the most installed app ever. Studies show that about 90 percent of German smartphone owners use WhatsApp. The app is used by people of all ages and often takes precedence over email, especially among the young and old.

So the question arises: Can I communicate professionally with customers, partners, sponsors, and other professional stakeholders via WhatsApp? A WhatsApp business account makes this possible. For commercial use, WhatsApp offers several solutions.

In this article, you will read about:

• What a WhatsApp business account is
• How to set up your WhatsApp business account
• The advantages of a WhatsApp Business Account

WhatsApp Business App, WhatsApp Business Premium, or WhatsApp Business Platform for Businesses?

To save you an extensive read and provide a quick overview, here are the main differences between the "three WhatsApp Business options":

Book your 25-minute consultation to choose the right WhatsApp Business option for your company:

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If you want to delve deeper into which WhatsApp solution is right for your business communication:

What is a WhatsApp Business Account?

A WhatsApp business account is required to use the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business API. Through a WhatsApp business account, companies gain access to advanced features tailored for commercial use. WhatsApp has developed bespoke solutions for business use.

For customers, a WhatsApp business account is relatively easy to distinguish from a personal WhatsApp account. A business account is marked as an "official business account" or "business account" in the profile. Some accounts also display a green checkmark, indicating official verification. Here is an example of a verified WhatsApp Business Account with a green checkmark, Chatarmin customer waterdrop®. The D2C brand with Shopify and Klaviyo tech stack scales its WhatsApp marketing via Chatarmin with Shopify WhatsApp campaigns and Klaviyo WhatsApp automations:

waterdrop® WhatsApp business account

How Much Does a WhatsApp Business Account Cost?

Using the WhatsApp Business App, the business account is free. For use via the WhatsApp Business API - now called the WhatsApp Business Platform - costs depend on the respective provider. With Chatarmin, you can use your WhatsApp Business Account with numerous features starting at €99.00 per month. More information about our prices can be found on our Chatarmin WhatsApp pricing page. Separate from tool costs, there are direct META costs that regulate the use and cost of the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Here is our detailed blog post on the differences between WhatsApp Private, WhatsApp Business, WhatsApp Business Premium, and the WhatsApp Business Platform, where all costs and features are explained in detail.

Source: Google Play Store WhatsApp App

What Does "This is a Chat with a Business Account" Mean?

To provide users with more transparency, WhatsApp marks conversations with businesses. When a chat with a company begins, customers see whether it is a business account.

Additionally, customers see whether the company accesses the conversation via Facebook or other platforms. The following messages are shown to customers in chats with businesses:

If companies use WhatsApp via a partner: "This company works with other companies to manage this chat." If companies access WhatsApp via Facebook: "This company uses a secure service from Facebook to manage this chat."

You can also recognize whether a WhatsApp business account is a WhatsApp Business App account or a WhatsApp Business Platform account by these two details:

• Differences between a WhatsApp App business account and a WhatsApp Business Platform business account: Voice calls are possible with the WhatsApp Business App. Video calls are neither possible with the WhatsApp Business App nor with the WhatsApp Business Platform (“API”).

Important Detail: As of September 2023, neither voice nor video calls are possible with a WhatsApp Business API account!

Creating a WhatsApp Business Account: Here's How!

Creating a WhatsApp business account differs depending on which WhatsApp Business solution you choose. We now look at the three WhatsApp Business options: Business App, Business Premium, and the Business Platform.

WhatsApp Business App: The Perfect WhatsApp Business Account for Freelancers and Sole Proprietors

The WhatsApp Business App was developed for small businesses with up to five employees. It is therefore particularly suitable for local businesses that do not have a professional service department, such as your hairdresser, lawyer, or farm shop.

The app works similarly to the private WhatsApp you know for messaging friends and family. Additionally, the WhatsApp Business App offers some practical functions for companies in customer communication, such as quick replies, a catalog, and broadcasts.

Source: Google PlayStore WhatsApp App

Setting Up the WhatsApp Business App: The Five Steps to Your WhatsApp Business Account

Follow these next steps to create your WhatsApp Business App account:

1. Download the WhatsApp Business App (Android, iOS) and open it.
2. Read and accept the terms of use.
3. Add your phone number and confirm it with a 6-digit code via SMS.
4. Enable 2-factor authentication.
5. Create your account by specifying the company name, category, and profile picture. You can update and change these at any time.

After creating the business account, we recommend adding additional information to the business profile. Refer to the example Human Instinct. In the app, choose "DISCOVER" followed by "Business Profile" to add or adjust the following information:

• Company name
• Phone number
• Address
• Business category
• Opening hours
• Email address
• Websites and social media URLs

WhatsApp Business Premium: The Intermediate Solution Between WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business Platform

WhatsApp Business Premium is a subscription model that extends the functionality of the WhatsApp Business App. As of September 2023, it is not yet widely available in German-speaking countries and is being gradually rolled out, starting in developing countries.

Currently, two features are unlocked by subscribing to WhatsApp Business Premium:

• The number of linked devices increases from four to ten, allowing WhatsApp Business Premium subscribers to use up to 11 devices. Only one smartphone can be used, all other devices must be desktop-based. Tablets are also excluded. Chats can be assigned to specific employees for better team organization.
• The automatically generated “WhatsApp website” of your company includes brand name and profile picture in the basic version. In the premium version, opening hours, address, website link, and the WhatsApp catalog are added. In the basic version, the website link is based on the phone number (the so-called wa.me link), while in the premium version, you can choose an additional custom link name leading to your business overview (if not already taken).

NOTE: WhatsApp Business Premium is currently not yet widely available in German-speaking countries as of September 2023.

This new "WhatsApp Business Premium" feature is beneficial if you are satisfied with the Business App's functionality but want to involve more employees and keep better track of who answers which chats.

For medium-sized and large companies, WhatsApp Business Premium is not suitable. It still lacks many support functions that are standard in professional chat support, such as employee routing, forwarding, and chatbots. For this, WhatsApp offers the WhatsApp Business API. The API connects your WhatsApp business account with enterprise software for WhatsApp – the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Privacy issues remain with WhatsApp Premium. By accessing the connected smartphone's contact list, numbers are improperly shared with WhatsApp. Using the API, this is excluded.

Currently, two features are unlocked by subscribing to WhatsApp Business Premium:

• Number of linked devices increases from four to ten, allowing a total of 11 devices. Only one smartphone can be used; all other devices must be desktop-based. Tablets are also excluded. Chats can be assigned to specific employees for better team organization.
• Automatically generated "WhatsApp website" of your company includes brand name and profile picture in the basic version. The premium version adds opening hours, address, website link, and the WhatsApp catalog. The website link in the basic version is based on the phone number (wa.me link), while in the premium version, you can choose a custom link name leading to your business overview (if not already taken).

To learn more about WhatsApp Business Premium, read our blog post.

Accessing the WhatsApp Business API

You can access the WhatsApp Business API through specific META partners, known as BSPs (Business Service Providers) or ISVs (Initial Software Vendors). To register with one, you can use an "Embedded Signup" of the BSP provider via Chatarmin. To create a business account through "Embedded Signup," you need the following:

• Valid phone number (mobile or landline)
• Personal Facebook account
• Facebook Business Manager account with admin rights
• Company information, commercial register, company register, or association register extract
• Payment option, usually VISA or MASTERCARD credit card

NOTE: If you are already using WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business App, you can use the stored phone number for the API. However, this cannot be undone. We recommend creating your WhatsApp Business Platform account with a "fresh" WhatsApp number. This must be initially unlocked for two-factor authentication by call or SMS and should have an active or valid contract to retain the number.

Once you have completed the "Embedded Signup," you can already access certain API functions. For full functionality of your WABA (WhatsApp Business Account), you should request verification.

The "WhatsApp API" or "WhatsApp Business Platform" is not a ready-to-use dashboard tool. You only have the option to program your own application using publicly available API webhooks or to use the services of a WhatsApp marketing tool like Chatarmin.

WhatsApp Business Account: Should I Create and Use a WhatsApp Business App, WhatsApp Business Premium, or WhatsApp Business Platform Account?

We summarize the pros and cons of the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business Platform for you. This will help you make the right decision.

WhatsApp Business App Summary: Key Points About Your WhatsApp Business App Business Account

The official WhatsApp Business App offers companies extended features for communicating with customers. The app is an extension of the regular WhatsApp app and remains free. This solution is primarily aimed at small businesses that want to present themselves better on WhatsApp.

A WhatsApp business account allows you to save text templates, create a business profile, and send automated messages.

Although WhatsApp Business is intended for commercial use, we advise larger businesses with employees and a broader target audience against its use. The WhatsApp Business App is not GDPR compliant and is therefore not the optimal solution for scalable communication.

For micro and sole proprietors, the WhatsApp Business App is the ideal solution for the reasons mentioned above.

WhatsApp Business App Overview

• Employee accounts: 1
• Linked devices: 5
• WhatsApp desktop compatible: Yes
• Assign chats to employees: No
• Approved WhatsApp newsletters: No
• Sales and support features: Basic functions
• GDPR compliant: No

WhatsApp Business Premium Summary

WhatsApp Business Premium is a subscription model that extends the functionality of the WhatsApp Business App.

WhatsApp Business Premium is currently not yet widely available in German-speaking countries as of September 2023.

This new feature is beneficial if you are satisfied with the Business App's functionality but want to involve more employees and keep better track of who answers which chats.

For medium-sized and large companies, WhatsApp Business Premium is not suitable. It still lacks many support functions that are standard in professional chat support, such as employee routing, forwarding, and chatbots.

WhatsApp Business Premium App Overview

• Employee accounts: 1
• Linked devices: 11
• Assign chats to employees: Yes
• Approved WhatsApp newsletters: No
• Sales and support features: Extended basic functions
• GDPR compliant: No

WhatsApp Business Platform Summary

Since spring 2022, there has been a fully functional, GDPR-compliant, and stable "WhatsApp API" that can be used through various third-party providers, BSP or ISV, such as Chatarmin. You can manage your WhatsApp business account through the Facebook Business Manager and/or the respective API provider. Chatarmin is the most transparent, flexible, and affordable WhatsApp marketing tool based on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

In addition to text templates, a multi-agent and ticketing system, integrations, automations, or automated messages, many other features are available to companies.

Chatarmin offers the best Shopify and Klaviyo WhatsApp integration of all WhatsApp marketing tools, so we confidently recommend our own solution for D2C brands with a MarTech stack of Shopify & Klaviyo.

"I had the dilemma of choice. After a thorough analysis of all WhatsApp marketing providers, I chose Chatarmin because it guarantees integration with Shopify & Klaviyo while offering a good price-performance ratio." - Leoni Hutzler, Klosterkitchen CRM Lead

Chatarmin can be used on various devices and by multiple users simultaneously. Campaign dispatches and campaign analytics are at the heart of Chatarmin, as is our flow builder with flow analytics. No matter which BSP or ISV you choose: The WhatsApp Business Platform ("API") is GDPR compliant.

WhatsApp Business Platform Benefits Overview:

• Unlimited scalability of your target audience
• GDPR-compliant customer contact
• Use with unlimited devices
• Agent system: assignment and access for all marketing, sales, and support employees
• Automations, flows, and integrations
• Segmentation, tagging, and analytics
• WhatsApp templates and text modules
• Multimedia WhatsApp campaigns and newsletters in outbound and inbound

Conclusion: Create and Scale Your GDPR-Compliant WhatsApp Business Account with Chatarmin

Forward-thinking companies rely on a WhatsApp business account. Email is yesterday, WhatsApp is today's key to modern stakeholder communication. Whether in contact with customers, partners, sponsors, or employees.

Several million companies already use the WhatsApp Business App, WhatsApp Business Premium, or the WhatsApp Business Platform. And the number is growing daily. With your WhatsApp business account, you are where your customers are: WhatsApp, the world's most popular messenger. Fast contact, transparent communication, and marketing features are just a few of the many benefits of WhatsApp Business.

With Chatarmin, you get access to the WhatsApp Business Platform. Our universal inbox enables the use of various messaging tools for WhatsApp customer service, marketing, and sales.

Our Shopify, Shopware & Klaviyo integrations are unique for D2C brands offering WhatsApp marketing, sales, or support. The price-performance ratio is right with us.

We hope this blog post has helped you choose the right WhatsApp Business option for you.

If you want to read an even more detailed article about the costs and features of the different WhatsApp options, find it here.

Feel free to book a 25-minute consultation with us at any time: