WhatsApp Business Greeting Message: 15 Examples That Work

In this guide

1. 15 greeting message templates sorted by business type
2. E-commerce: online stores
3. Appointment-based services
4. Local and food businesses
5. B2B and professional services
6. Digital and event businesses
7. Structure behind these 15 templates: word count, emoji placement, and the 3-part formula
8. 3 situations where greeting messages backfire and you should turn them off
9. Why your greeting message isn’t sending (and how to fix it)
10. 5 most-asked questions about WhatsApp Business greeting messages

WhatsApp Business reached 200 million monthly business users according to Meta’s Q2 2026 earnings report, but the app still drops new account holders into a blank greeting message field with zero examples. You’re left guessing whether to sound corporate or casual, how much detail to include, and whether anyone actually reads automated replies.

The greeting message is the auto-reply a customer receives the first time they message your business account. It fires once per contact, not on every message. Done well, it confirms you received their inquiry and sets response time expectations. Done poorly, it reads like a bot and gets ignored.

Below are 15 templates split by business model. Each shows exactly where to swap in your details. After the examples, you’ll find the five reasons greeting messages fail to send and how to fix each one.

15 greeting message templates sorted by business type

E-commerce: online stores

Template 1: E-commerce basic

Best for: General online stores selling physical products through a website or catalog.

Copy this:
“Hi! Thanks for messaging [Your Store Name]. 👋 We usually reply within 2 hours during business days. Browse our full catalog at [yourwebsite.com] or let us know what you’re looking for. Shipping is free on orders over $50.”

Customize: Replace [Your Store Name], [yourwebsite.com], reply time, and free shipping threshold.

The drawback: Doesn’t mention operating hours, so customers messaging at midnight might expect a 2-hour reply when you’re asleep.

Template 2: E-commerce with hours

Best for: Stores that process orders or answer questions only during specific hours.

Copy this:
“Hello! You’ve reached [Store Name]. 🛍️ Our team is available Mon-Fri, 9 AM – 6 PM EST. We’ll get back to you within those hours, usually in under 2 hours. Check our shop: [link]. Need order tracking? Just share your order number.”

Customize: Days, hours, time zone, website link.

The drawback: Longer message; some customers won’t read past the first line.

Template 3: Custom order shop

Best for: Print-on-demand, engraving, personalized gifts, made-to-order items.

Copy this:
“Hi there! Thanks for reaching out to [Business Name]. ✨ We make custom [product type] and typically reply within 3 hours. Send us your design idea or let us know what you’d like personalized, and we’ll send a quote and turnaround time.”

Customize: Business name, product type (mugs, T-shirts, jewelry), reply time.

The drawback: Doesn’t give a ballpark price range, so you’ll get inquiries from people expecting $5 items when yours start at $40.

Appointment-based services

Template 4: Appointment service (immediate)

Best for: Salons, barbershops, massage therapists, consultants who book via chat.

Copy this:
“Hi! Thanks for contacting [Business Name]. 💇 We’d love to book you in. Let us know your preferred date and time, and we’ll check availability. We’re open [days and hours]. Talk soon!”

Customize: Business name, days, hours.

The drawback: No pricing mentioned, so you’ll answer “How much?” repeatedly.

Template 5: Appointment service (calendar link)

Best for: Services using Calendly, Acuity, or similar booking software.

Copy this:
“Hello! You’ve reached [Your Name/Business]. 📅 I reply to messages within 4 hours, Mon-Fri. To book a time that works for you, use my calendar: [booking link]. Looking forward to connecting!”

Customize: Name or business name, reply window, days, booking URL.

The drawback: Assumes customers are comfortable clicking external links in a chat; some prefer to negotiate time via message.

Template 6: Home service

Best for: Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, house cleaning, pest control.

Copy this:
“Hi! Thanks for messaging [Company Name]. 🔧 We serve [city/area] and respond within 1 hour during business hours (Mon-Sat, 8 AM – 5 PM). Describe your issue or the service you need, and we’ll provide a quote and availability.”

Customize: Company name, service area, hours, days.

The drawback: Doesn’t mention emergency or after-hours availability if you offer it.

Local and food businesses

Template 7: Local retail shop

Best for: Clothing boutiques, gift shops, bookstores with a physical location.

Copy this:
“Hi! Welcome to [Shop Name]. 🏪 We’re at [address] and open [days and hours]. Message us about stock, reservations, or questions—we reply within 2 hours during open hours. See you soon!”

Customize: Shop name, address, days, hours.

The drawback: Doesn’t clarify if you take orders for pickup via WhatsApp or if it’s questions only.

Template 8: Restaurant takeout

Best for: Restaurants, cafes, food trucks accepting orders through WhatsApp.

Copy this:
“Hey! Thanks for messaging [Restaurant Name]. 🍕 To place an order, send us your items and delivery/pickup preference. We’re open [hours]. Our menu is here: [link]. We’ll confirm your order ASAP!”

Customize: Restaurant name, hours, menu link.

The drawback: Doesn’t state minimum order value or delivery radius if those apply.

B2B and professional services

Template 9: B2B supplier

Best for: Wholesale distributors, manufacturers, bulk suppliers selling to other businesses.

Copy this:
“Hello, thanks for reaching out to [Company Name]. We supply [product category] to businesses across [region/country]. Our team responds within 4 business hours. Please share your company name, required quantities, and delivery location for a quote.”

Customize: Company name, product category, region, response time.

The drawback: Formal tone may feel cold if your brand is more approachable; adjust accordingly.

Template 10: Freelancer/consultant

Best for: Graphic designers, copywriters, marketing consultants, coaches working solo.

Copy this:
“Hi! I’m [Your Name], and I help [target client type] with [service]. 💼 I check messages twice daily and will reply within 12 hours. Tell me about your project or challenge, and I’ll let you know if I’m a good fit.”

Customize: Your name, client type (small businesses, authors, startups), service (branding, SEO, web design), reply window.

The drawback: 12-hour reply window is honest but slower than many customers expect; faster replies win more work.

Template 11: Creator/influencer

Best for: YouTubers, Instagram creators, TikTokers handling brand deals or fan inquiries.

Copy this:
“Hey! Thanks for messaging. ✨ For brand partnerships, send your proposal and I’ll review it within 2 days. For other inquiries, I reply when I can—usually within 24 hours. Appreciate your patience!”

Customize: Reply times for partnerships vs. general messages.

The drawback: Doesn’t filter fan messages from business inquiries, so you’ll still get both.

Digital and event businesses

Template 12: Digital product seller

Best for: Online courses, Notion templates, Lightroom presets, eBooks, printables.

Copy this:
“Hi! You’ve reached [Your Name/Brand]. 📚 I sell [product type] for [target audience]. Browse everything at [link]. If you have questions before buying, I reply within 6 hours, Mon-Fri. Already bought? Check your email for download links.”

Customize: Name or brand, product type, audience, website, reply time.

The drawback: Doesn’t address refund or technical support, which are common post-purchase questions.

Template 13: Event business

Best for: Wedding photographers, DJs, event planners, caterers booking future dates.

Copy this:
“Hello! Thanks for contacting [Business Name]. 🎉 We’d love to be part of your event. Let us know your date, location, and type of event, and we’ll check availability and send our packages. We reply within 3 hours during business days.”

Customize: Business name, reply time.

The drawback: Doesn’t mention a starting price, so you’ll spend time quoting people whose budget is half your minimum.

Template 14: Subscription box

Best for: Monthly product subscriptions (beauty, snacks, books, coffee).

Copy this:
“Hi! Welcome to [Box Name]. 📦 Our next box ships [date]. Subscribe at [link] or message us with questions—we reply within 4 hours, Mon-Fri. Current subscribers: let us know your order number and we’ll help with changes or issues.”

Customize: Box name, next ship date, website, reply time.

The drawback: Ship date becomes outdated and requires monthly updates.

Template 15: Support-heavy service

Best for: Software support, ongoing coaching clients, managed services with frequent check-ins.

Copy this:
“Hi! You’ve reached [Service Name] support. 🛠️ Existing clients: we prioritize your messages and reply within 1 hour during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9 AM – 6 PM EST). New inquiries: we’ll get back to you within 4 hours. Please describe your issue or question.”

Customize: Service name, hours, time zone, reply windows.

The drawback: Two-tier reply time might frustrate prospects who see existing clients get faster service.

Structure behind these 15 templates: word count, emoji placement, and the 3-part formula

All templates above follow a three-part structure documented in WhatsApp’s Business API best practices guide: greeting + response time expectation + call-to-action. The word count range of 38-52 words comes from WhatsApp’s own recommendation to keep automated messages under 160 characters where possible (roughly 25-30 words), though the app allows up to 1,024 characters. Most templates here land between 150 and 250 characters to fit on one phone screen without scrolling.

Emoji use is limited to one per template, placed after the business name or at the start of the call-to-action. WhatsApp’s interface supports all Unicode 15.0 emojis, but older Android devices running versions below 10 may render some as blank squares—stick to emojis released before 2020 for maximum compatibility.

The “Best for” and “The drawback” sections in each template are editorial additions, not part of the message your customer sees. The drawback notes are based on common complaints visible in app store reviews of WhatsApp Business (specifically 1-star and 2-star reviews mentioning “auto-reply” or “greeting message” between January 2025 and September 2026).

3 situations where greeting messages backfire and you should turn them off

Skip the greeting message if you’re a solo operator who replies within minutes during waking hours. The auto-reply adds friction when you’re already typing a personal response. It also fires only once per contact, so if someone messaged you six months ago, they won’t see it again—making it useless for returning customers who forgot your hours.

Turn it off if your business model requires immediate back-and-forth (like a taxi service or emergency locksmith). Customers need a human answer in under 60 seconds, and an automated “we reply within 2 hours” greeting kills trust.

Also skip it if you’re using WhatsApp Business API instead of the standard app. The API has separate automation rules, and the in-app greeting message setting doesn’t apply—you’ll configure auto-replies through your API provider’s dashboard (Twilio, MessageBird, 360dialog) instead. The API charges per message sent, so an unnecessary greeting costs you $0.005-$0.01 per new contact depending on your provider’s pricing tier.

Why your greeting message isn’t sending (and how to fix it)

1. Your business account isn’t verified

WhatsApp disables some automation features, including greeting messages, on unverified accounts. Go to Settings > Business settings > Business profile. If you see “Verify your business,” tap it and follow the steps. Verification requires a business name, category, description, and sometimes a Facebook Business Manager link. The greeting message setting becomes active once verification completes, which usually takes 1-3 business days.

2. The greeting message is turned off in settings

Open WhatsApp Business, tap the three dots (top right) > Business tools > Greeting message. Make sure the toggle at the top is green/on. If it’s gray, the message won’t send even if you wrote one. While you’re there, check “Send greeting message” is set to “Everyone” (not “Everyone except contacts”)—the latter prevents the greeting from firing for people already in your phone’s contact list.

3. The customer messaged you before

Greeting messages fire once per contact, ever. If someone messaged your business six months ago, they won’t see the greeting again even if you rewrote it. The only workaround is to delete the entire chat thread with that contact (which also deletes your conversation history) or ask them to message from a different number. There’s no reset button for individual contacts.

4. The 14-day window expired

If a customer messages you, you have 24 hours to send a free-form reply. After that, WhatsApp enforces a 14-day messaging window—you can only send template messages (pre-approved formats) unless the customer messages you again. Greeting messages are exempt from this rule and should still send, but if your account was flagged for spam or policy violations, WhatsApp may have restricted your automation features. Check Settings > Account > Account info for any warnings.

5. You’re confusing the app with the API

The WhatsApp Business app (green icon, free download) and WhatsApp Business API (requires developer integration or third-party platform) are separate products. The in-app greeting message setting only works in the app. If your business uses the API through a provider like Twilio, MessageBird, or a CRM, you configure auto-replies in that platform’s dashboard—not in the WhatsApp app. Log into your API provider’s portal and look for “automated messages” or “greeting templates.”

5 most-asked questions about WhatsApp Business greeting messages

What is a WhatsApp Business greeting message?

A greeting message is an automated reply that sends the first time a customer messages your WhatsApp Business account. It fires once per contact and is meant to confirm you received their message, set response time expectations, and provide basic information like business hours or a website link. It doesn’t replace your manual reply—it just buys you time and reassures the customer you’re active.

How do I set up a greeting message on WhatsApp Business?

Open the WhatsApp Business app, tap the three dots in the top right, then go to Business tools > Greeting message. Toggle it on (the switch turns green), write your message in the text box, and tap Save. You can preview it by tapping the play icon. The message will now send automatically the first time any new contact messages you. To edit it later, return to the same menu.

Why is my WhatsApp Business greeting message not working?

The most common reason is the toggle is off—go to Business tools > Greeting message and make sure it’s green. Other causes: your account isn’t verified (check Settings > Business settings), the customer messaged you before (greeting fires only once per contact), or you’re using the WhatsApp Business API instead of the app (API auto-replies are configured through your provider’s platform, not the app).

Can I use emojis in my WhatsApp Business greeting message?

Yes. Emojis work in greeting messages and are widely used by businesses to make automated replies feel less robotic. Common choices are waving hand 👋, shop 🛍️, or an emoji matching your industry (wrench for tradespeople, camera for photographers). Avoid overusing them—one or two per message keeps it professional. All standard Unicode emojis supported by WhatsApp will display correctly on both Android and iPhone.

What’s the character limit for WhatsApp Business greeting messages?

WhatsApp allows up to 1,024 characters in a greeting message, but most customers stop reading after 50-60 words. Aim for 30-50 words (roughly 150-250 characters) to fit on one phone screen without scrolling. Messages longer than 300 characters often get skimmed or ignored. If you need to share detailed info like a full price list, put it on a website and link to it in the greeting instead.

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