A client-owned WABA keeps the WhatsApp number, business identity and Meta charges with the client while the agency supplies the AI service. WhatsApp and Instagram come with every Dvaarik account: partners pay ₹0.03 per AI reply at wholesale, Meta bills its message charges to the client's own WhatsApp account and Dvaarik adds nothing to them. Ownership and offboarding stay much cleaner.
What does own-WABA architecture mean?
WABA means WhatsApp Business Account. The client connects its own business portfolio and number through the supported onboarding flow, grants the necessary access and remains the owner of the Meta asset. Meta's embedded signup documentation, read 4 Aug 2026, describes the official business onboarding model. The agency should record who owns the number, portfolio, templates, payment method and administrator access before launch.
Which charges go to whom?
| Charge | Billed by | Agency implication |
|---|---|---|
| Meta WhatsApp messages | Meta to the client's own account | Dvaarik adds zero markup |
| Dvaarik partner plan | Dvaarik to the partner | ₹2,000 a month, flat at any client count; WhatsApp and Instagram come with every account |
| AI text replies | Dvaarik partner wallet | ₹0.03 per successful AI reply at wholesale |
| Agency service and support | Agency to client | Partner sets its own price |
The comparison above states the published row-by-row differences; read each row with its source, date, and qualifying notes.
Meta's WhatsApp pricing documentation, read 4 Aug 2026, remains the source for Meta charges. The Dvaarik white-label WhatsApp page explains the product layer.
How should an agency handle access and offboarding?
Use named business administrators, least-privilege access and a written incident contact. Keep template approvals and opt-in evidence in the client's environment. On termination, revoke agency access, export agreed records and confirm what remains in the client account. Do not hold the WABA hostage as a retention tactic. The white-label mechanics guide explains the wider client relationship, while the Instagram agency guide covers the adjacent Meta channel.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dvaarik mark up Meta message charges?
No. Meta bills the client's own WhatsApp account directly and Dvaarik adds zero markup to those charges.
Who owns the WhatsApp number?
Under the own-WABA model, the client owns the business account and connected number while granting the agency the access needed to operate the service.
Are Dvaarik's AI-reply charges the same as Meta charges?
No. Dvaarik charges the partner ₹0.03 at wholesale for each successful AI reply. Meta message charges remain separate: Meta bills them to the client's own WhatsApp account and Dvaarik adds nothing.
Client-owned WABA is the cleaner agency architecture because ownership, Meta billing and exit are explicit. The agency can still package onboarding, AI configuration, campaign operations and support at its own retail price. Zero markup on Meta charges means the client sees the underlying platform cost instead of a hidden pass-through uplift.
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Written by
Rohith Sriramula
Founder & CEO, Dvaarik AI
A laid-off engineer who went all in on Dvaarik AI. He builds the platform and product workflows from hands-on work with Indian businesses, not theory.