25 WhatsApp Greeting Messages for Business (Copy and Paste)

When someone messages your business on WhatsApp for the first time, the first few seconds decide a lot. A friendly instant reply tells them they’ve reached a real, organised business. Silence makes them wonder if anyone’s there, and they may message a competitor instead.

That’s what a greeting message is for: an automatic welcome that WhatsApp Business sends the moment a new customer messages you. Below are 25 greeting messages you can copy, grouped by type of business, plus how to turn the feature on.

At a glance

Time: 2 minutes to set up
Cost: free in the WhatsApp Business app
Where: Tools → Greeting message
You’ll get: an instant reply to every new chat

How to turn on your greeting message

Greeting messages are built into the free WhatsApp Business app. Here’s the path, as described in Rasayel’s WhatsApp Business guide:

Open WhatsApp Business and tap Tools.
Under Organize your chats, tap Greeting message.
Switch on Send greeting message, then edit the text.
Choose who receives it: everyone, everyone not in your address book, everyone except some contacts, or only certain contacts.
Tap Save, then test it by messaging your business from another phone.

Tip: pick “Everyone not in address book” so new customers get the welcome but your regular contacts don’t.

Greeting message or away message?

They do different jobs, and most businesses should use both.

	Greeting message	Away message
When it’s sent	When someone messages you for the first time	On a schedule you set, such as outside business hours
Job	Welcome them and say what happens next	Tell them you’re closed and when you’ll reply
Where to set it	Tools → Greeting message	Tools → Away message

What makes a good greeting message

A good greeting does three things in one or two short lines: says hello with your business name, tells them when they’ll get a real reply, and asks one question that moves things forward.

Short. People read greetings on a phone. One or two lines is plenty.
Specific. “We reply within 15 minutes during opening hours” beats “We’ll get back to you soon.”
One question. Ask for the detail you need first, like the property, the service or the date.

General greetings (any business)

1 · Simple welcome

Hi, thanks for messaging [business]! We usually reply within [time]. How can we help you today?

2 · With opening hours

Hello and welcome to [business]. We’re open [days] from [hours]. Tell us what you need and we’ll get straight back to you.

3 · Ask for details up front

Hi! Thanks for reaching out to [business]. To help you faster, please tell us your name and what you’re looking for.

4 · Menu of options

Welcome to [business]! Reply with a number: 1 for prices, 2 to book, 3 to speak to our team.

5 · Friendly and personal

Hi, it’s [your name] from [business]. Thanks for your message! I’ll reply personally within [time]. What can I do for you?

Real estate agents

6 · Property enquiry

Hi, thanks for contacting [agency]! Which property are you interested in? Send the address or a link and we’ll share details and viewing times.

7 · Buyer or seller

Welcome to [agency]. Are you looking to buy, sell or rent? Reply and an agent will be with you within [time].

8 · Valuation request

Hi! Thinking of selling? Send us your postcode and property type and we’ll arrange a free valuation.

9 · Developer or new build

Thanks for your interest in [development]! Would you like the price list, floor plans or to book a site visit?

Clinics, salons and wellness

10 · Booking

Hi, welcome to [clinic]! Would you like to book an appointment? Tell us the treatment and your preferred day and time.

11 · New patient

Hello and thanks for messaging [clinic]. Are you a new or existing patient? Our team will reply within [time].

12 · Salon

Hi lovely, thanks for messaging [salon]! Which service are you after, and when would suit you?

13 · Not for emergencies

Thanks for contacting [clinic]. We’ll reply during opening hours. For urgent medical help, please call your local emergency number.

Home services and trades

14 · Quote request

Hi, thanks for contacting [business]! Tell us what needs doing and your area, and send a photo if you can. We’ll reply with a quote.

15 · Urgent job

Hello! Is this urgent? Reply URGENT and we’ll prioritise you. Otherwise tell us the job and a good time to visit.

16 · Cleaning service

Hi, welcome to [business]! How many bedrooms is the property, and which day works for you?

Restaurants and cafés

17 · Reservations

Hi, thanks for messaging [restaurant]! To book a table, tell us the date, time and number of guests.

18 · Orders

Welcome to [restaurant]! Here’s our menu: [link]. Send your order and address and we’ll confirm the delivery time.

19 · Events and parties

Hi! Planning an event? Tell us the date, group size and what you’re celebrating and we’ll send options.

Online stores

20 · Product question

Hi, thanks for messaging [store]! Which product are you asking about? Send the name or a screenshot and we’ll help.

21 · Order status

Hello! Checking on an order? Send your order number and we’ll update you within [time].

22 · Catalogue

Welcome to [store]! Browse our catalogue here on WhatsApp, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll suggest options.

Agencies and professional services

23 · New enquiry

Hi, thanks for contacting [firm]. Briefly, what would you like help with? We’ll reply within one working day.

24 · Book a call

Hello! The fastest way to get started is a short call. Book a time here: [booking link], or reply with your question.

25 · Qualify the lead

Thanks for reaching out to [agency]! To point you to the right person, what’s your business and what’s your main goal right now?

What most guides leave out

A greeting isn’t a reply. It buys you a few minutes, not a few hours. If the real answer takes all afternoon, the customer may already have booked with someone else.
Promise a time you can keep. “We reply within 15 minutes” builds trust only if you actually do. If you can’t, say “within a few hours” and beat it.
Pair it with quick replies. Save your most common answers (prices, location, booking link) as quick replies so your human follow-up takes seconds too.

Make it easy to message you in the first place. Create a free WhatsApp link with a ready-typed message using our WhatsApp Link Generator, and put it on your website, bio and flyers.

FAQ

What is a WhatsApp greeting message?

It’s an automatic welcome the WhatsApp Business app sends when someone messages your business for the first time. You write it once and it goes out instantly to every new customer.

Is the greeting message free?

Yes. Greeting and away messages are free features in the WhatsApp Business app.

Can I choose who gets the greeting?

Yes. You can send it to everyone, to everyone not in your address book, to everyone except chosen contacts, or only to chosen contacts.

What’s the difference between greeting and away messages?

A greeting welcomes new customers. An away message replies when you’re unavailable, on a schedule you set, such as outside business hours.

Sources and update notes

Setup steps and recipient options are from Rasayel’s guide to WhatsApp Business greeting and away messages. Menu names can differ slightly between app versions. Last updated: October 2026.

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