SMS Knowledge Base Series
- Overview
- Account Setup & Billing (this article)
- Sending SMS Messages
- Incoming SMS & Replies
Before your organization can send text messages, you need to complete a one-time account setup and add funds. This article walks through each step of the process and explains how billing works.
Only administrators can complete the SMS setup. Once set up, all users with SMS access can send messages.
The Setup Wizard
The setup wizard is located at Settings (gear icon) → SMS. It walks you through four steps to get your organization registered and ready to send.
Saving Your Progress
You do not need to complete the entire wizard in one session. Your progress is saved automatically, so you can come back later and pick up where you left off.
Terms & Conditions
Before completing setup, you will be asked to accept the SMS Terms & Conditions. These cover:
- Acceptable use of SMS messaging
- Billing terms and prepaid balance policies
- Compliance with carrier and legal requirements
- Cancellation and refund policy
How Billing Works
Balance Warnings
Low Balance
When your balance is getting low, a dismissable notice appears in the header bar. This reminds you to add funds before your next send. You can dismiss this notice, and it will reappear on your next login.
Zero or Negative Balance: If your balance reaches zero or goes negative (from monthly fees), your SMS account remains active but you will not be able to send any messages until funds are added. A persistent notice will appear in the header that cannot be dismissed until the balance is resolved.
Billing History
Your complete billing history is available in the SMS settings area. It includes:
- Transaction log — every fund addition, message charge, and monthly fee with dates and amounts
- Current balance — your real-time prepaid balance
- Monthly summaries — how much you spent each month
- Lifetime totals — cumulative spending since you started using SMS
Initial Setup Cost
When you first set up SMS, the brand registration and campaign fees are deducted from your initial balance. This means you will need to add funds before completing the final steps of the wizard.
The wizard will clearly show the required initial balance before you proceed.
Cancellation
If you decide to stop using SMS, any remaining prepaid balance is non-refundable as stated in the Terms & Conditions. If you have concerns, please contact CMS support before cancelling.
Status Notifications
Throughout the setup process, you will receive notifications when important status changes occur:
- Brand approved/rejected — in-app banner and email notification
- Campaign approved/rejected — in-app banner and email notification
- Phone number activated — in-app confirmation