Where this happens
WABAs are created and configured directly in Meta Business Portfolio (formerly Business Manager) at business.facebook.com — Octopods does not host a WABA application form. Once a WABA exists in your portfolio with at least one verified phone number, Octopods discovers it through Meta Business Login and lets you activate its phone numbers as channels.
The same Meta-side requirements apply regardless of which customer platform (Intercom or HubSpot) you eventually connect WhatsApp to in Octopods.
Meta Business Portfolio
You must have a Meta Business Portfolio (formerly Business Manager) for your company before you can create a WABA. If you don’t already have one, create it at business.facebook.com and finish the basic company profile before starting on WhatsApp.
Facebook Business ID
Meta uses a numeric Business ID to identify your portfolio. This is the ID of your Business Portfolio, not a Facebook Page ID. You can find it in Meta Business Portfolio under Business settings → Business info. Confusing a Page ID with a Business ID is one of the most common reasons setup steps fail.
Phone number requirements
The phone number must be able to receive either SMS or voice calls so Meta can verify ownership.
The number must not have been used on WhatsApp in the last six months. This includes the WhatsApp personal app and the WhatsApp Business App. If the number is currently active on WhatsApp, delete it from WhatsApp first and wait out the six-month window, or pick a different number.
The number must be one you control — Meta rejects numbers that cannot be verified or that point to third-party services.
Warning: A phone number can be registered on only one WABA at a time. If you need the same number on multiple Octopods workspaces, you’ll need to pick a single workspace to host it.
Display name guidelines
The display name is what customers see next to your messages in WhatsApp. Meta reviews every display name against its content policies:
Under 26 characters.
No special characters beyond standard letters, spaces, and common punctuation.
Cannot contain “WhatsApp” — the term is reserved by Meta.
Must match your brand or legal business name. Meta rejects display names that look unrelated to the registered business.
Avoid all caps, excessive punctuation, or promotional phrases like “Sale!” or “Buy now”.
Logo specifications
Dimensions: at least 250×250 pixels.
Shape: square.
No transparency — the background must be solid, not a transparent PNG.
Clear and on-brand — Meta rejects logos that look stretched, low-resolution, or inconsistent with your registered business.
Business category
Choose a category from Meta’s preset list. The category should describe what your business actually does. Picking an unrelated category — for example, selecting “Retail” when your business is a travel agency — can lead Meta to reject the WABA’s profile or business verification later.
Business description
Maximum 256 characters.
Should clearly describe what the business does and how customers can expect to be helped on WhatsApp.
Contact info and website
Meta asks for a business email, a phone number customers can reach you at, and a website. The website should belong to the business and match the brand on the rest of the WABA profile.
Business verification
Business verification is a separate Meta process you complete in Meta Business Portfolio. It is not required to start using WhatsApp, but completing it unlocks higher messaging limits, Official Business Account eligibility, and more feature access. Complete it as soon as practical — Meta’s review can take time.
Pre-flight checklist
Run through this list before you finish setting up the WABA in Meta Business Portfolio:
The Business ID is a portfolio ID — not a Page ID.
The phone number has not been on WhatsApp in the last six months.
The display name is under 26 characters, has no reserved words, and reads as a real brand.
The logo is a square image, at least 250×250 pixels, with no transparency.
The business category matches what your business actually does.
The business description fits inside 256 characters.
The legal business name and address match public records.
The website belongs to the business and is live.
What’s next