- Business or creator: choosing the Instagram account type
- Before you set up an Instagram business account
- Switching your Instagram profile to a business account on your phone
- Switching to an Instagram business account on a computer
- Adding contact details to your Instagram business profile
- What an Instagram professional account gives you
- Things an Instagram business account can't do
- Switching your Instagram account type later
- Making your Instagram business account worth following
- If you can't find Instagram's professional account option
- Frequently asked questions
To create a business Instagram account, log in, go to your profile, tap More, tap Account type and tools below For professionals and choose Switch to professional account. Pick a category, then choose Business. Instagram says a private account becomes public when you switch.
If you run a business, a personal Instagram profile does the job for a while. Then someone asks how to contact you, you want to see which posts landed, or you realise your customers can't tell what you do. A business account fixes those things, and Instagram makes switching quick.
I've followed Instagram's Help Centre for every step, so the labels match what Instagram says. One thing to know first: there isn't a separate sign-up page for business accounts. You make an ordinary account, then switch it to a professional one.
Business or creator: choosing the Instagram account type
Instagram calls both options professional accounts, and you pick one during setup. Its description is straightforward. Business accounts are best for retailers, local businesses, brands, organisations and service providers. Creator accounts are best for well-known public personalities, content producers, artists and influencers.
Instagram also notes that the category you choose, such as a shop or a coach, doesn't decide whether you end up with a business or creator account. That choice comes in a separate step, so you can pick the category that describes what you do and then choose Business.
Before you set up an Instagram business account
- You'll need an Instagram account first, either a new one or an existing one.
- If your personal account is private, switching to a professional account will make it public. Instagram says all pending follow requests will be accepted automatically when you go public.
- You can have up to 10 accounts logged in at once, so keeping your personal one separate is possible.
- You can switch back to a personal account, or change your professional account type, anytime.
That public point matters. If you have a private personal profile with family photos, switching it will expose them. In that case, use the approach in Instagram's page on adding profiles to create a separate account for the business, and switch that one instead.
Switching your Instagram profile to a business account on your phone
Here are Instagram's steps from the app:
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap More to go to your Settings and activity.
- Below For professionals, tap Account type and tools.
- Select Switch to professional account.
- Select the category that best describes what you do.
- Tap Switch to professional account.
- Choose Business. To set up a creator account, you'd choose Creator instead.
- Tap Next.
Instagram says you now have access to the professional dashboard to see your insights.
Switching to an Instagram business account on a computer
- Click More, then select Settings.
- Below For professionals, select Account type and tools.
- Click Switch to professional account.
- Choose Business, or Creator for a creator account, and click Next.
- Select your category.
- Click Done, then click Continue to confirm the switch.
Adding contact details to your Instagram business profile
After the switch, Instagram walks you through finishing the setup. On a phone, you add contact details for your business and tap Next, or tap Don't use my contact info to skip. You can also connect to an existing Facebook Page, which Instagram describes as optional, and you can tap Skip.
Then decide what the public sees. Instagram says you can show or hide your category label and your contact info. On a phone, go to your profile, tap Edit profile and look for Profile display below Public business information. Remember that, once contact details are showing, Instagram says anyone who taps Contact can see them.
What an Instagram professional account gives you
Instagram lists these features for professional accounts:
| Feature | What Instagram says |
|---|---|
| Professional dashboard | Track performance and find professional tools |
| Insights | Details about your followers and how each post performed |
| Contact button | Directions, a phone number and an email address, shown near the top of your profile |
| Category label | Shows a category below your profile photo, which you can hide |
| Secondary inbox | Primary, General and Requests folders |
| Manage followers | Review suspected spam followers and bot accounts |
To make sense of the numbers it shows, see my guide to reading your Instagram dashboard. And if you're wondering which add-on tools are worth your time, the Instagram apps that help small business owners is where I'd start.
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Things an Instagram business account can't do
Instagram points out some limits. Professional accounts can't be set to private. And if you've linked a Facebook Page to your professional account, you can only share your Instagram posts to Facebook through that Page, not to another Page or a personal profile.
If you later change your mind, that's fine. Instagram says you can switch back to a personal account whenever you like, or change from business to creator.
Switching your Instagram account type later
On the app, go to your profile, tap More, tap Account type and tools, then tap Account type and Switch account type. Choose the one you want and tap Switch. It's worth reviewing this if your plans change, for instance if you start as a brand and later become more of a public personality.
Making your Instagram business account worth following
Setting the account up is the easy bit. The profile itself needs a clear photo, a short line saying who you help, and a reason to follow. Before you post much, have a plan; an Instagram marketing strategy gives you a way to think about what to share and why.
Keep your login safe, too. Never share codes with anyone, including people offering to run or recover your account.
If you can't find Instagram's professional account option
- Update the Instagram app and restart your phone.
- Look below For professionals in Settings and activity for Account type and tools.
- Menus can vary by app version, so search Settings for professional.
- If the option doesn't appear at all, report a problem through Menu, Help and Report a Problem.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a business account on Instagram?
Log in to an Instagram account, go to your profile, tap More, tap Account type and tools under For professionals, tap Switch to professional account, pick a category and choose Business.
Is a business account different from a creator account?
Yes. Instagram says business accounts suit retailers, local businesses, brands, organisations and service providers, while creator accounts suit well-known public personalities, content producers, artists and influencers.
Will my account become public if I switch to business?
Yes, if it's private. Instagram says switching to a professional account will make a private account public, and pending follow requests are accepted.
Can I switch back to a personal account?
Yes. Instagram says you can switch back to a personal account, or change your professional account type, anytime.
Do I need a Facebook Page for an Instagram business account?
No. Instagram describes connecting a Facebook Page as optional and lets you skip the step.
