What you need before you start

A Facebook business account is separate from a personal profile and gives you tools to post updates, run ads, and track how many people see your content. You will need an email address that belongs to your company (or one you control), a company name, and a phone number or mailing address where Facebook can reach you if there are questions about your account.

Facebook will ask you to verify your business is real by checking your phone number or email. This takes a few minutes and happens right after you create the account. You do not need to have a business license or legal registration yet — Facebook accepts sole proprietors and informal businesses — but you do need to be honest about what your company actually does.

If you already have a personal Facebook profile, you can use the same email address for your business account. Facebook treats them as separate, so your personal friends will not automatically see your business posts, and your business followers will not see your personal timeline.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a business account by going to facebook.com/business, clicking "Create a Page", and choosing your business type from the list Facebook provides.
  • Use a company email address rather than your personal email so that multiple team members can manage the account if you add them later.
  • Facebook will ask you to verify your phone number or email within a few days of creating the account — respond to this message or your account may be restricted.
  • Add a profile picture, cover photo, and business description in the "About" section so people can find you and understand what you do.
  • Turn on two-factor authentication in Settings so that only people with your phone can log in, protecting your business account from being hacked.

Step-by-step: creating your business page

Go to facebook.com/business in your web browser. Click the blue "Create a Page" button in the upper right. Facebook will show you a list of business types: choose the one that matches what you do. If you run a restaurant, click "Restaurants or Cafes". If you sell products online, click "Shopping and Retail". If you offer a service like plumbing or consulting, click "Professional Services". The category you pick determines which tools Facebook shows you later, so pick the closest match.

Enter your company name exactly as you want it to appear. This is the name people will see when they search for you or follow your page. You can change it later, but Facebook limits how often you can do this, so take a moment to get it right. Enter your phone number or mailing address in the next field — this is how Facebook contacts you if something looks wrong with your account.

Click "Create Page". Facebook will send you a verification message to your email or phone within a few minutes. Open that message and click the link or enter the code it provides. This step confirms you control the email address and that you are a real person, not a bot. Do this within a few days or Facebook may limit what you can do with the account.

Adding your business information

After you verify, you will land on your new business page. The first thing you see is a prompt to add a profile picture. Click "Add Profile Picture" and upload a logo, a photo of your storefront, or a clear image that represents your business. This picture appears next to every post you make, so choose something people will recognize. If you do not have a logo, a straightforward photo of your business or a clear headshot if you are a solo business works fine.

Next, add a cover photo by clicking the camera icon at the top of the page. This is the large banner image that spans the width of your page. You can use a photo of your products, your team, your location, or anything that shows what you do. Facebook recommends 1200 by 628 pixels, but it will resize whatever you upload.

Click the "About" tab on the left side of your page. Fill in the "Business Description" field with two or three sentences explaining what you do, who you serve, and how people can reach you. Write this for a person who has never heard of you — avoid jargon and be specific. Instead of "We provide solutions", write "We repair laptops and phones, same-day service, walk-ins welcome." This description appears when people search for your business type in their area.

Setting up contact information

In the "About" section, scroll down to "Contact Information". Add your phone number, email address, and physical address if you have a storefront or office. If you work from home or are online-only, you can leave the address blank — Facebook will not force you to add one. Add your website URL if you have one. These details make it straightforward for customers to reach you without leaving Facebook.

Click "Business Hours" and enter when you are open. If you are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., enter those times. If you are open different hours on different days, Facebook lets you set each day separately. If you do not have set hours, you can skip this — it is optional. Customers will see your hours on your page and in search results, so they know when to call or visit.

Protecting your account with two-factor authentication

Click the down arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook and select "Settings and Privacy", then "Settings". On the left side, click "Security and Login". Scroll down to "Two-Factor Authentication" and click "Edit". Facebook will show you options: you can use your phone number (Facebook texts you a code when someone tries to log in) or an authentication app like Google Authenticator (the app generates a code without needing a text).

Choose "Text Message (SMS)" if you want simplicity — Facebook will text you a six-digit code whenever someone tries to log in from a new device. Choose an authentication app if you want stronger security and do not want to rely on text messages. Either way, write down the backup codes Facebook gives you and store them somewhere safe, like a password manager. If you lose your phone, these codes let you get back into your account.

Two-factor authentication takes an extra 30 seconds when you log in, but it stops someone from accessing your business account even if they steal your password. For a business account that represents your company, this is worth the small inconvenience.

Adding team members to manage your page

If other people in your company need to post updates or respond to messages, you can add them without giving them your password. Click the down arrow in the upper right, select "Settings and Privacy", then "Settings". On the left, click "Roles and Permissions". Click "Assign a New Page Role" and enter the email address of the person you want to add.

Facebook will show you role options: "Admin" lets them do everything you can do, including removing you. "Editor" lets them post, respond to messages, and manage content, but not change settings or remove other people. "Moderator" lets them respond to comments and messages but not post. "Analyst" lets them see reports about how many people view your posts, but not post or respond. Choose the role that matches what they need to do. They will get an email invitation and can start managing the page once they accept.

You can change or remove someone's role anytime by going back to "Roles and Permissions". If someone leaves your company, remove their access when ready so they cannot post as your business.

What to do after your page is live

Your page is now ready to use. Before you start posting, take 10 minutes to customize the "Call to Action" button that appears on your page. Click the "Add Button" option near your cover photo and choose what you want people to do: "Call Now", "Send Message", "Learn More", or "Shop Now". This button makes it straightforward for customers to take the action you want them to take.

Write and post your first update so your page does not look empty when people find you. You can post text, photos, or videos. Keep your first post straightforward — introduce your business, thank people for following, and tell them what to expect from your page. Post regularly after that, even if it is just once a week. A page that has not been updated in months looks abandoned.

Check your messages daily. When someone sends you a message through Facebook, respond within a few hours if you can. People use Facebook messages the same way they use text messages — they expect a quick reply. If you cannot respond when ready, turn on "when ready Replies" in Settings so Facebook sends an automatic message saying you will get back to them soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my personal Facebook profile as my business account instead of creating a separate page?

No. A personal profile and a business page are different things. A personal profile is for you as an individual; a business page is for your company. Facebook's rules say you should not use a personal profile to represent a business. If you do, Facebook may disable the account. Create a business page instead — it takes five minutes and gives you better tools for reaching customers.

What if Facebook asks me to verify my business with documents?

Facebook sometimes asks for proof that your business is real, especially if your page gets a lot of activity quickly or if the name is similar to another business. They may ask for a business license, a utility bill with your business address, or a tax ID. Respond to their request within the timeframe they give you — usually 10 days — or your account may be disabled. If you do not have formal documents yet, explain what you do and provide whatever proof you have, like a website or a photo of your storefront.

Can I change my business page name after I create it?

Yes, but Facebook limits how often. You can change your page name once every 28 days. Go to Settings, click "Page Information", and edit the name field. If your page is brand new, change it right away if you made a typo. If you want to change it again later, you will have to wait 28 days.

What if I want to run ads on Facebook?

You can run ads from your business page, but you will need to set up a payment method first. Go to Settings, click "Ads Manager", and add a credit card or debit card. Facebook charges you only when someone clicks your ad or sees it, depending on how you set it up. Start with a small budget — even $5 a day can reach local customers if you target the right area and interests.

Is it safe to let employees post on my business page?

Yes, if you give them the right role and trust them. Add them as an "Editor" or "Moderator" rather than an "Admin" so they cannot remove you or change important settings. Tell them what they can and cannot post — for example, they can respond to customer questions but should not post about politics or controversial topics. Check your page regularly to see what they are posting, and remove their access if they post something that does not represent your business.