What you need before you start

A Facebook Business Page is separate from a personal profile. You'll need a personal Facebook account first — if you don't have one, you'll create that before the business page. Facebook requires you to use your real name for the personal account, but the business page can use your company name instead.

Have these details ready: your business name exactly as you want it to appear, your business category (restaurant, retail store, service provider, etc.), your business phone number or email, your business address if you have a physical location, and a profile photo or logo. You don't need these to start, but having them ready makes the process faster.

You'll also need to decide who will manage the page. Only the person who creates the page can add other managers later, so if multiple people need access, the person creating it should be someone who will stay with the business.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have a personal Facebook account before you can create a business page, and Facebook requires you to use your real name on the personal account.
  • The business page itself is created from your personal account settings and can use your company name instead of your personal name.
  • You can add other people as managers or editors after the page is created, but only the original creator can remove all other managers.
  • Facebook asks for your business category and contact information during setup, but you can change these details anytime after the page goes live.
  • The page is free to create and use, and you can start posting immediately after setup is complete.

Step-by-step: Creating the page from your personal account

Log into your personal Facebook account on a computer or phone. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Create Page" from the menu. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Create Page."

Facebook will ask you to choose a page type. Select the category that best matches your business — for example, "Restaurant," "Retail," "Professional Services," or "Local Business." If your business doesn't fit neatly into one category, "Local Business" works as a catch-all. You can change this later if needed.

Enter your business name in the field provided. Use the exact name you want customers to see. Facebook will check whether that name is already in use; if it is, you'll need to choose a different name or add a descriptor (like your city or what you do).

Add your business category again if prompted, then enter your business phone number, email address, or website. If you have a physical location, add your street address. You can skip any of these fields and add them later — they're not required to create the page.

Click "Create Page" or the equivalent button on your phone. Facebook will take you to your new business page, which is now live and visible to the public.

Filling in your page details after creation

After your page is created, you'll see a prompt to add a profile picture. This should be your business logo or a clear image that represents your business. Click the camera icon on the profile picture area, upload an image from your computer or phone, and adjust it so the important part is centered. This image appears next to every post you make.

Next, add a cover photo — the large banner image at the top of your page. Click the camera icon on the cover photo area and upload an image. Many businesses use a photo of their storefront, a product photo, or a branded image. Facebook recommends a size of 1200 by 628 pixels, but it will resize most images automatically.

Scroll down to the "About" section and fill in your business description, hours of operation, and any other details you want customers to see. Include what your business does in the first sentence or two, since many people will read only that much. You can add your website URL here, and Facebook will make it clickable.

Adding other people to manage the page

Only you can manage the page at first. To add other managers or editors, go to your page's settings. On a computer, click "Settings" in the left menu. On a phone, tap the three dots at the top right of your page, then tap "Settings."

Look for "Page Roles" or "Roles and Permissions" in the settings menu. Click or tap it, then click "Add Page Role." Enter the email address or name of the person you want to add. Facebook will send them a notification that they've been added to the page.

You can assign different permission levels: Admin (full control, can add and remove other people), Editor (can post and respond to messages but can't change settings), Moderator (can respond to messages and comments but can't post), Analyst (can view page statistics but can't post or change settings), or Advertiser (can create ads but can't post or change settings). Most team members should be Editors unless they need a specific limited role.

What happens after you publish your first post

Your page is now ready to use. You can post text, photos, or videos immediately. Click "Create Post" or the equivalent button on your phone, write your message, add images or video if you want, and click "Post." The post appears on your page and may show up in the feeds of people who follow your page.

Facebook will start showing you basic statistics about your page — how many people have seen your posts, how many have engaged with them (liked, commented, or shared), and how many people follow your page. These numbers update daily and help you understand what content your audience responds to.

You can also turn on messaging so customers can contact you directly through Facebook. Go to Settings, find "Messaging," and toggle it on. Customers will see a "Message" button on your page, and their messages will appear in your inbox.

Common settings to adjust early on

In your page settings, you can control who can post on your page. By default, anyone can post on your page wall. Most businesses change this to "Only You" so you control what appears on your page. Go to Settings, find "Posts," and change "Who Can Post on Your Page" to your preference.

You can also set your page to "Unpublished" while you're setting it up, which hides it from the public until you're ready. Once your profile picture, cover photo, and basic information are in place, you can publish it. Go to Settings, find "Page Visibility," and toggle "Publish Page" on.

Consider turning on "Page Transparency" in settings, which shows visitors when the page was created and who manages it. This builds trust with customers, especially for local businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a business page without a personal Facebook account?

No. Facebook requires a personal account to create and manage a business page. Your personal account must use your real name, but the business page can use your company name. You don't need to use your personal account for anything else if you don't want to.

What if someone else already created a page with my business name?

You can request to take over the page if you're the official representative of that business. Go to the existing page, click the three dots at the top, select "Report Page," and choose "This page doesn't represent my business." Facebook will ask for proof that you own or represent the business, like a business license or tax ID. The process takes a few days to a few weeks.

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

Yes, but there are limits. You can change it once every 60 days. Go to Settings, find "Page Info," and click "Edit" next to your page name. Facebook will warn you that changing your name might affect how people find your page, but it won't delete your page or your posts.

Do I need to pay to create or use a business page?

No. Creating a page and posting on it is free. Facebook offers paid advertising options if you want to reach more people, but you don't need to pay to have a page or use its basic features.

What's the difference between a business page and a group?

A business page is for a company to share information and connect with customers. A group is for people with a shared interest to discuss topics together. Most businesses use a page, not a group. Pages are better for one-way communication (you post, people see it), while groups are better for community discussion.