How to Create a KakaoTalk Channel: General vs Business Channel

To create a KakaoTalk Channel, sign up for Kakao Business with a Kakao account, enter your channel info under [+New Business], then turn on channel visibility and search permission. Opening a channel is free, and you can start with a general channel even if you have no Korean business registration number or unique ID number. To send Alimtalk (Kakao's notification message service), you must switch to a business channel (Alimtalk guide, checked on October 3, 2026).

What to know before you create a KakaoTalk Channel

A KakaoTalk Channel is a space where a business or brand shares news and talks with customers inside KakaoTalk, Korea's dominant messaging app. It appears in KakaoTalk search and the Friends tab, and anyone can start for free (Kakao Business guide: Channel overview).

According to an official guide whose revision date is September 1, 2026, the basic unit in Partner Center (Kakao's business management console) changed from a channel to a "business." A business bundles a KakaoTalk Channel, a Kakao Maps store, KakaoTalk Booking, and Biz Membership so you can manage them together (Current business). That is why you now start channel creation from [+New Business].

Steps to create a KakaoTalk Channel

Step 1. Sign up for Kakao Business

Log in with your Kakao account and switch to a Kakao Business integrated member to use channels. The name you enter at sign-up can use Korean letters, English letters, numbers, and a period (.), up to 10 characters. For the phone number, enter the number that will receive KakaoTalk notifications. The same phone number can be verified only 5 times a day (Creating a channel).

Step 2. Create a new business and enter the business registration number

Click [+New Business] and choose a business type. A screen will ask for your business registration number. If you do not have one, click [No, I'll do it later.]. If a channel already exists under the same business registration number, it appears in the list. If you were invited as an administrator, join right away with [Accept administrator invitation].

Step 3. Enter the channel info

• Profile photo: the recommended size is 640 x 640px.
• Channel name: the name shown on the channel home, the chat tab, and in chat windows. Use the same name as your brand.
• Search ID: used as the search term for finding your channel in KakaoTalk. Pick an ID that is easy to remember and distinct from other channels.
• Adult verification channel: you must set this if you handle harmful content such as alcohol or e-cigarettes. Once set, it cannot be switched back to an all-ages channel.
• Channel description: you can edit it at any time.

Step 4. Turn on channel visibility and search permission

In the dashboard, check [Make channel public] and [Allow search]. Visibility must be on for users to enter the channel home and add it as a friend. Search permission must be on for the channel to appear in KakaoTalk search (Channel management). Then, under [Message > Welcome message], update the intro and greeting that are sent right after someone adds your channel as a friend (Creating a channel).

When setup is done, search for your channel name or search ID in the KakaoTalk search bar to check that it appears. If it does not, first check that search permission is on.

Differences between a general channel and a business channel

A general channel is one created without a Korean business registration number or unique ID number. A business channel is one that has passed review and been confirmed as a real brand or business. General channels show the warning "Business information has not been verified." If you plan to use the channel for customer support, this warning can hurt trust, so it is better to prepare your documents and switch (Creating a channel).

Item	General channel	Business channel
Requirements to open	Possible without a business registration number or unique ID number	Submit business info and documents, then pass review
Message shown to customers	Warning that business info is unverified	Confirmed as a business through review
Business info card, brand card	Not available	Provided on business channels
Alimtalk	Not available before switching	Send through an official dealer after making the home public and entering customer center info

The card items are covered in the Channel management guide, and the Alimtalk requirements are in the Alimtalk guide. Alimtalk automatically sends information buyers must receive, such as order confirmations and delivery notices. The per-message price differs by dealer, meaning the agency that contracts with Kakao.

How to switch a KakaoTalk Channel to a business channel

Enter the channel info, agree to the terms, and apply for review. If approved, the channel becomes a verified business channel. If rejected, you can fix the issues and apply again. The documents you submit depend on the applicant type.

Applicant	Documents to submit
Sole proprietor owner	KakaoTalk electronic certificate in your own name
Corporate owner	Business registration certificate, mobile identity verification of the representative
Employee	Business registration certificate, KakaoTalk electronic certificate in your own name
Agency	Advertiser's business registration certificate, agency's business registration certificate, service agreement or power of attorney

Files must be jpg, jpeg, png, or pdf, up to 10MB each and 100MB in total. Mask personal information before uploading. Low resolution or cropped images can cause rejection. If the company name on the business registration certificate differs from the channel name, write the reason in up to 300 characters. Regulated industries such as food, medical, and alcohol sales must also attach their permit documents (Creating a channel). If you have a physical store, select a store registered on Kakao Maps or register it yourself with [Register my store as new].

Common mistakes when creating a KakaoTalk Channel

• Choosing the search ID in a hurry. The search ID cannot be changed, so pick a brand name you will use for a long time.
• Choosing the channel name carelessly. You can change the name only once, and only while you have 100 friends or fewer (Channel management).
• Not turning on search permission. With it off, the channel is left out of search results and can be reached only by URL, so new customers cannot find it.
• Turning on adult verification casually. Once on, it cannot be switched back to an all-ages channel.
• Uploading blurry document photos. Poor resolution and cropped images are reasons for rejection.

KakaoTalk Channel FAQ

What is the difference between a master and a manager on a KakaoTalk Channel?
Their channel operating permissions are the same. Only the master can invite or remove managers, create and link a channel wallet, or request channel deletion (Kakao Business guide).

Is a business channel the same as a "business" in Partner Center?
No. A business channel is a channel type that has passed review (Channel management). A business is the Partner Center unit that bundles channels, stores, booking, and more for management (Current business).

Can I create a channel now and make it public later?
Yes. To prepare content in advance, keep visibility OFF, then switch it to ON when you are ready. While it is OFF, users cannot enter the channel home or add the channel as a friend (Channel management).

Once your channel is created, first check in the dashboard that channel visibility and search permission are on.

Official documents checked: October 3, 2026. Kakao may change screen names and document requirements, so recheck the Partner Center guide before you apply. The images are generated illustrations that explain the concept and are not actual Kakao screens.