> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.digifist.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Requirements

> Accounts and platforms you need before installing Galantis WhatsApp on your Shopify store.

Before you install Galantis, make sure you have the four accounts below in place. The setup itself is fast — connecting WhatsApp to your Shopify store typically takes around 5 minutes after install — but each platform has its own one-time signup and verification you should clear first.

<Note>
  You do **not** need a pre-existing WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) before installing Galantis. The connection modal can create one for you. See [Connect WhatsApp](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/whatsapp-connection).
</Note>

## What you need

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Shopify store" icon="shopify">
    Any plan that allows installing third-party apps from the Shopify App Store. Both new stores and established stores work.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Meta Business account" icon="meta">
    A Meta Business account that you (or someone on your team) administrates. If you don't have one, the Embedded Signup modal will help you create one.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Phone number for WhatsApp" icon="phone">
    A number for your WhatsApp Business identity. Dedicated new numbers are strongly recommended — see [Choose a phone number](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/choose-phone-number).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payment method in Meta" icon="credit-card">
    Meta bills WhatsApp messaging directly. Add a valid payment method in Meta Business Manager before going live with real campaigns.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Detailed checklist

### 1. Shopify store

Galantis installs as a standard Shopify app. There's no minimum plan, but you'll need at least Shopify's basic permissions to install apps and grant the data scopes Galantis requests (orders, customers, products). See [Shopify installation](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/shopify-installation) for the exact permissions and what each one enables.

### 2. Meta Business account

A Meta Business account (sometimes called a Business Portfolio) is the umbrella that holds your WhatsApp Business Account, ad accounts, catalogs, and Pages. If you already run Facebook or Instagram ads for the store, you almost certainly have one. If not, the [Embedded Signup](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/whatsapp-connection) flow inside Galantis lets you create one without leaving the app.

### 3. Phone number for WhatsApp

This is the identity customers will see and message. The default and recommended choice is a fresh dedicated number — but you can also use an existing number, or migrate one from the WhatsApp Business app, all from inside the Embedded Signup modal. [Choose a phone number](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/choose-phone-number) walks through the three options.

### 4. Payment method in Meta

Galantis charges through Shopify Billing for plans, Conversation tiers, and add-ons. **Meta charges separately** for the underlying WhatsApp messaging — billed in Meta Business Manager. Without a Meta payment method, you can still install Galantis and explore the dashboard, but you cannot send real WhatsApp messages.

* Add or update payment methods in **Meta Business Manager → Billing**
* This is independent of any Facebook/Instagram ads payment method, although you can reuse the same card
* See [Meta rate card](/galantis/whatsapp/billing/meta-rate-card) for what Meta charges per message

<Warning>
  **Opt-in required for marketing messages.** Before you can send WhatsApp marketing to a customer, they must have explicitly opted in to receive WhatsApp messages from your store. See [Opt-in & consent](/galantis/whatsapp/compliance/opt-in-consent) for the consent capture methods Galantis supports. Marketing without consent is a Meta policy violation and risks template rejection or account restriction.
</Warning>

## Policies to read once

WhatsApp has two policies every store on the platform must follow:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy" icon="arrow-up-right-from-square" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy">
    The rules for what you can message customers, how often, and with what kind of content.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WhatsApp Commerce Policy" icon="arrow-up-right-from-square" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/commerce-policy">
    Restrictions on what products and services can be sold or promoted on WhatsApp.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Galantis enforces template approval and opt-in capture at the product level, but the policies apply to **your business** — review them before launching.

## Summary checklist

* Shopify store with permissions to install apps
* Meta Business account (or willingness to create one in the modal)
* Phone number for WhatsApp — [pick one](/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/choose-phone-number)
* Payment method on file in Meta Business Manager
* Plan to capture opt-in before sending marketing messages

***

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Choose a phone number" href="/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/choose-phone-number">
    Three legitimate paths — dedicated, existing, or migrate from the WhatsApp Business app.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Install Galantis on Shopify" href="/galantis/whatsapp/getting-started/shopify-installation">
    The actual install flow from the Shopify App Store.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>