Glossary
What is a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP)?
What people mean by a WhatsApp BSP, how Meta's current terms (Solution Partner, Tech Provider) map to it, and how to check what a provider really is.
By Broadchat teamPublished Updated 3 min read
Definition
Business Solution Provider (BSP): A Business Solution Provider (BSP) is a company that Meta has approved to give other businesses access to the WhatsApp Business Platform. In Meta's current terms a BSP is a Solution Partner: a Meta Business Partner that onboards clients through Embedded Signup and can pay Meta for their messages through its own credit line, then bill the clients. Software companies without a credit line are Tech Providers instead.
Also called: BSP, WhatsApp BSP, Solution Partner, WhatsApp API provider
How the term is used today
"BSP" is the name the market still uses, but Meta's developer documentation now sorts providers into partner types. The mapping is simple:
| What people say | Meta's term | Has a credit line? | Who pays Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSP | Solution Partner | Yes | The partner, who bills its clients |
| Software platform, ISV | Tech Provider | No | The client directly, or through a Solution Partner's line |
| Tech Partner | Tech Provider that is or can become a Meta Business Partner | Depends | Depends on the set-up |
A Tech Provider and a Solution Partner can also serve the same client together through a Multi-Partner Solution: the client uses the Tech Provider's software and the Solution Partner's credit line.
What a BSP does
- Onboards businesses through Embedded Signup, so the WhatsApp account and number are created inside the client's own business portfolio.
- Pays Meta for the client's messages and sends one invoice, often in INR.
- Gives support when numbers are restricted or templates are rejected. The decisions still belong to Meta.
Example
Priya runs Sunrise Clinic in Pune and does not have a company credit card that Meta accepts. A Solution Partner attaches its credit line to her WhatsApp account. Priya's appointment reminders go out, the partner pays Meta, and Priya receives a monthly invoice from the partner instead of from Meta. If she later moves to a platform without a credit line, she adds her own payment method in WhatsApp Manager.
How to check a provider's claim
Many vendors call themselves an "official BSP". Ask three questions: is the company listed as a Meta Business Partner, does it bill Meta charges itself, and does your WhatsApp account stay in your own business portfolio? The last answer matters most, because it decides whether you can leave with your number.
Where Broadchat fits
Broadchat is not a BSP or Meta Business Partner. It is a white-label platform built on the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta. Numbers connect through Meta's Embedded Signup under Channels → All Channels, and Meta billing works either through the client's own payment method or through a Solution Partner's credit line. Agencies that want to resell WhatsApp under their own name can read how to start a reseller business and the partner program.
Related terms
Sources
- Solution providers overview — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
- Embedded Signup overview — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
Broadchat team · Product and partner success team
The people who build and support Broadchat, the white-label WhatsApp Business API platform. We write from what we see while onboarding partners and their clients on the official WhatsApp Cloud API, and we check every article against Meta's current documentation.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a BSP to use the WhatsApp Business API?
Not necessarily. You can connect through a Tech Provider's platform and pay Meta directly with your own payment method. A BSP (Solution Partner) is useful mainly when you want the partner to pay Meta and invoice you.
Is a BSP the same as a reseller?
No. A BSP has a direct relationship with Meta. A reseller or agency sells a platform under its own brand and may rely on a BSP or Tech Provider underneath.
Can I change BSP without losing my number?
Yes, if the WhatsApp account sits in your own business portfolio. For accounts on Meta's new account model, you share the WhatsApp account with the new partner rather than migrating the number.