How to Verify a Business in Facebook Business Manager

Verifying your business in Facebook Business Manager often feels like one of those tasks you’ll get to “later,” but it’s a foundational step for unlocking powerful features and building trust on the platform. This guide breaks down the entire process step-by-step, explaining what you need, how to do it, and what to watch out for along the way.

What is Facebook Business Verification and Why Bother?

Facebook Business Verification is the process Meta uses to confirm that your Business Manager account represents a real, legitimate business or organization. Think of it as a background check for your business profile. By submitting official documents that prove your company's identity and legal standing, you gain a stamp of approval from Meta.

But why does this matter? Completing business verification isn't just about getting a virtual gold star. It unlocks several professional-grade tools and builds credibility:

• Access to Advanced Features: Certain products and services, like the WhatsApp Business Platform and advanced ad features, are only available to verified businesses. If you plan to scale your messaging or advertising efforts, verification is a non-negotiable step.
• Increased Trust and Security: A verified status signals to Meta (and to customers) that you are a legitimate entity. This can help protect your Brand Page from being copied, improve your delivery in messaging, and generally enhance the security of your business assets on the platform.
• Higher Advertising Limits: In some cases, verified businesses may have access to higher ad spending limits or be less likely to have their ad accounts flagged for security reviews.
• Developer Access: If you're building an app or integration that requires access to specific Meta APIs, business verification is often a mandatory prerequisite.

In short, it’s about moving from a casual user profile to a professionally recognized business account within the Meta ecosystem. It shows Meta that you’re serious, and in return, you get access to the tools serious businesses need.

Before You Start: Get Your Documents in Order

The biggest hurdle in the verification process isn't the technical steps - it’s having the right paperwork ready. Meta is very specific about the documents it accepts, and everything must match exactly. Take 15 minutes to gather these items before you click "Start Verification," and you’ll save yourself hours of frustration.

All your documents must clearly show your business’s legal name and physical address or phone number. These details must be identical to what you enter in Business Manager.

1. Proof of Legal Name

This document proves your business exists and is registered. Pick one from this list:

• Business license or permit from your city, county, or state
• Certificate of Formation or Articles of Incorporation
• Business tax or VAT registration certificate

Pro Tip: Make sure the name on this document is your full, legal business name ("Coastal Brews LLC"), not your public-facing brand name ("Coastal Coffee").

2. Proof of Address or Phone Number

This demonstrates your business has a physical presence. Again, just choose one:

• Utility bill (electric, water, phone, internet)
• Bank statement with your address visible
• Business license or permit that includes your address

The name on this document must match your legal business name, and the address must be identical to the one you submit. If you're a remote company and use a coworking space or virtual address, make sure that address is legally registered to your business.

3. Domain and Email Verification Access

One of the easiest ways to verify your business is by showing you own its website domain. To do this, you’ll need:

• Access to your website's domain records (DNS settings).
• A business email address at your domain (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com).

If you don’t have these or someone else manages them, find out who does before you begin. It's often the fastest path to approval.

Step-by-Step Guide to Verifying Your Business

Once your documents are scanned and ready, you can start the verification process inside your Facebook Business Manager (now called Meta Business Suite). Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Navigate to the Security Center

Start from your Meta Business Suite homepage. In the left-hand navigation menu, look for Business Settings (you might have to click the "All tools" hamburger menu to find it). Once you're in Business Settings, find and click on Security Center.

The Security Center is where you manage all high-level security settings, including two-factor authentication and, most importantly, business verification.

Step 2: Start the Verification Process

In the Security Center, you should see a section for "Business verification." If your business is unverified, there will be a blue button that says Start Verification. Click it.

What if the button is greyed out? This is a common issue. It usually means your business account hasn't performed an action that requires verification yet. The most common fix is to create a Facebook app associated with your Business Manager. You don’t need to be a developer. Just go to developers.facebook.com, create a new "Business" type app, and link it to your Business Manager. This action usually makes the verification button clickable within 24 hours.

Step 3: Enter Your Business Information

A new window will pop up, asking you to fill in your business details. This is where your careful document preparation pays off. Enter the following information, making sure it matches your legal documents perfectly:

• Legal Business Name
• Country
• Street Address
• City, State, and ZIP Code
• Business Phone Number
• Website

Do not use abbreviations if the full word is on your documents (e.g., write "Street" not "St."). Accuracy here is everything. A single typo or mismatch will get your application rejected.

Step 4: Select and Confirm Your Business

After you submit your details, Meta will search official records for businesses that match the information you provided. A list of potential matches will appear.

• If you see your business in the list, select it.
• If you don’t see it, choose the "None of these match" option. This will allow you to proceed with uploading your documents manually.

Step 5: Upload Your Supporting Documents

Now it’s time to prove everything you’ve entered. You'll be prompted to upload the legal documents you prepared earlier. Make sure your scanned copies or photos are clear, high-resolution, and capture the entire document from corner to corner.

1. Upload proof of your legal name: Use your Articles of Incorporation, business license, or tax certificate.
2. Upload proof of your address/phone: Use a utility bill, bank statement, or business license. The name and address on this document MUST match the document from the previous step.

Double-check that the file formats are accepted (usually PDF, JPG, or PNG).

Step 6: Choose Your Verification Method

Finally, you need to prove you are actually connected to the business. Meta will offer you one or more of the following options to receive a verification code:

• Email: This is often the simplest option. Meta will send a code to a business email address (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com). You cannot use a generic address like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com for this. The email domain must match your website domain.
• Phone Call or Text: You can opt to receive an automated phone call or text message with the verification code. The phone number must be the one listed on your official business documents.
• Domain Verification: This method confirms you own the business website. It involves adding a DNS TXT record to your domain's settings or uploading an HTML file to your web server. If you have admin access to your website's backend, this is a very reliable option. Your Business Manager will provide detailed instructions on how to do this.

Choose the method that’s easiest for you to access. Enter the code you receive, and click "Submit."

Step 7: Wait (Patiently) for Review

And now, we wait. Your application is now in the hands of Meta’s review team. The review timeline can vary wildly. Sometimes you'll hear back in a few business days, other times, it can take several weeks. You can check the status of your verification in the Security Center.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

What if your verification is rejected? Don’t panic. It's common, and usually, it's for a fixable reason. Here are the most common rejection issues and what to do about them.

1. Mismatched Information

The Problem: The name, address, or phone number you entered doesn't exactly match the documents you submitted.

The Fix: Review every character of your submitted data and your documents. Look for typos, abbreviations (Ave. vs. Avenue), or different business names (like a DBA vs. your legal entity name). Resubmit with perfectly aligned information.

2. Unacceptable Documents

The Problem: You submitted an expired license, a blurry photo, or a document type that Meta doesn't accept (like an invoice or a company letterhead).

The Fix: Go back to the list of approved documents. Make sure what you’re submitting is current, legible, and on that list. Take a fresh, clear scan or photo if necessary.

3. Website-Related Issues

The Problem: Your website looks incomplete, is under construction, or doesn't clearly show your business name and contact information. Meta wants signs of a legitimate, active business.

The Fix: Before resubmitting, make sure your website’s footer or contact page clearly lists the same legal business name, address, and phone number from your official documents. The website must be live and functional.

Final Thoughts

Getting your business verified in Facebook Business Manager is an essential step towards unlocking the full potential of Meta's business tools. While the process requires patience and attention to detail, preparing your documents beforehand and following these steps carefully will set you up for success and establish your Brand Page as a secure, credible presence on the platform.

Once you’re verified, the focus shifts back to what really matters: creating great content and engaging with your community. We know that managing the day-to-day work of scheduling for TikToks and Reels, replying to every comment, and tracking performance across different platforms can feel anything but simple. That's why we built Postbase - a modern social media management tool designed to streamline your workflow so you can confidently plan, schedule, and analyze your content across all your channels without the chaos.