How to create an Ad account
Learn how to create a Meta Ad Account, the requirement for setting up Click-to-WhatsApp (CTWA) ad campaigns connected to your WhatsApp Business number.
Without an active Ad Account, Click-to-WhatsApp (CTWA) campaigns cannot be created or connected to WhatsApp — here's how to set one up correctly.
What's covered
Prerequisites
Before creating the Ad Account, make sure:
You have access to a Meta Business Portfolio
You have Admin access to the business
The business is (or will be) used for WhatsApp onboarding
You know the correct time zone and currency (these cannot be changed later)
Step-by-step process to create an ad account
Step 1: Go to Meta Business Manager Open your browser and visit business.facebook.com.
Step 2: Select your business portfolio If you manage multiple businesses, choose the correct Business Portfolio from the list.
Step 3: Open Business Settings From the left-hand menu, navigate to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts.
Step 4: Create a new ad account Click Add, then select Create a New Ad Account.
Step 5: Enter ad account details Enter an Ad account name — use a clear, identifiable name — then choose your Time zone carefully and select the billing Currency.
Step 6: Assign the ad account to your business Select My Business and complete the setup to link the ad account to your Business Portfolio.
Post-creation checklist
After creating the ad account:
Add a payment method.
Give Admin access to the required team members.
Make sure the ad account is connected to the same Business Portfolio as your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and Facebook Page.
Confirm the ad account is available when creating CTWA campaigns.
Key takeaways
An active ad account is required before you can create or connect CTWA campaigns to WhatsApp.
Choose your time zone and currency carefully during setup — neither can be changed later.
You'll need Admin access to the Business Portfolio and a payment method added to the ad account.
The ad account must be connected to the same Business Portfolio as your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) and phone number.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the time zone or currency after creating the ad account? No. Both the time zone and currency are locked in at creation and cannot be changed later, so choose carefully.
What access level do I need to create an ad account? You need Admin access to the Meta Business Portfolio.
Do I need a payment method right away? Yes — add a payment method to the ad account as part of your post-creation checklist, before running CTWA campaigns.
Why does the ad account need to be in the same Business Portfolio as my WhatsApp number? CTWA (Click-to-WhatsApp) campaigns require the ad account, WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), and phone number to all sit under the same Business Portfolio to connect correctly.
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