WhatsApp Business greeting message examples

A greeting message is the automatic reply WhatsApp Business sends when a customer messages you for the first time or after 14 days without messaging you. A good one says hello, names your business and tells the customer what they can ask you. Below are 20 examples to copy and how to turn it on.

What makes a good greeting message

It says hello and names your business.
It tells customers what they can ask (prices, bookings, orders).
It says when they'll get a reply if you can't answer right away.
It's short: easy to read at a glance on a phone.

20 greeting messages to copy

Replace whatever is in [brackets] with your business details.

General

1. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Business]. Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you shortly.
2. Hi! Welcome to [Business]. Ask us about prices, stock or delivery. We'll reply as soon as we can.
3. Hi, this is [Name] from [Business]. Thanks for your message! Send us your full question and we'll answer faster.
4. Hi! We're open [days], [time] to [time]. Leave your question and we'll help you.

Restaurants

5. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Restaurant]. Here's our menu: [link]. To order, send us your order and address.
6. Hi! Booking or order? To book, tell us the day, time and number of guests. For delivery, see the menu: [link].

Online stores

7. Hi! Welcome to [Store]. Tell us which product you're after (and size or color) and we'll confirm price and stock.
8. Hi! We ship to [areas]. If you already ordered, send your order number and we'll check it.

Clinics

9. Hello, thank you for contacting [Clinic]. To book an appointment, please send your name, the specialty and your preferred day.
10. Hello! For emergencies, call [phone]. For appointments and questions, message us here.

Real estate

11. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Agency]. Buying, renting or selling? Tell us the area and budget and we'll send options.
12. Hi! Asking about a property? Send the link or address and we'll share details and viewing times.

Salons and beauty

13. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Salon]. To book, tell us the service and the day that suits you.
14. Hi! Here are our services: [link]. We'll confirm availability as soon as we see your message.

Repair shops

15. Hi! Tell us the device or vehicle and the problem, and we'll send you a quote.
16. Hi! If you've already dropped something off, send your name and we'll update you on the repair.

Hotels

17. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Hotel]. Send your check-in and check-out dates and number of guests and we'll confirm availability.
18. Hi! If you already have a booking, send your name and booking number.

Professional services

19. Hello, thank you for contacting [Firm]. Please describe your question briefly and we will get back to you shortly.
20. Hello! If you're already a client, send your name and we'll route you to your advisor.

How to set up a greeting message (Android)

1 Open WhatsApp Business and, from the Tools tab, tap Greeting message.
2 Turn on Send greeting message.
3 Tap Greeting message to edit it, paste yours and tap OK.
4 Tap Recipients and choose: Everyone, Everyone except…, Only send to… or Everyone not in address book.
5 Tap Save.

On iPhone, three things change: in step 3, under Message, you tap the message to edit it and then tap Save; there is no final Save step; and Everyone not in address book is called Exclude my contacts.

Steps from the official WhatsApp Help Center ↗

Why isn't my greeting message showing?

It's only sent to people messaging you for the first time or after 14 days of inactivity. Testing from a number that messaged you recently won't trigger it.
Check the recipients: with Everyone not in address book, saved contacts don't get it. With Only send to… or Everyone except…, some customers won't either.
Check it's turned on under Tools → Greeting message. If it's on and still not sending, turn it off, wait a moment and turn it back on.
If you connected Meta Business Agent, WhatsApp turns greeting messages off automatically. To use them, you need to delete Meta Business Agent.
If it still doesn't send, update WhatsApp Business and restart your phone.

Frequently asked questions

When is the greeting message sent?

When a customer messages you for the first time or after 14 days without messaging you.

Can I have a different greeting for each customer?

No. It's the same text for everyone, so it pays to say what customers can ask you.

How is it different from an AI assistant?

A greeting message says hello and always says the same thing. An assistant answers the customer's actual question (price, stock, booking) with your business information.

Busy WhatsApp? A greeting says hello; AnswerForMe also answers prices, stock and bookings for you, with OpenAI's GPT-6.

You start free with 500 credits and then pay only for what you use: one-time packs from US$10 that never expire, no monthly fee.

Try it free