WhatsApp Business is WhatsApp's free app for businesses. On top of regular WhatsApp it adds a business profile, catalog, automatic messages, quick replies and labels, which makes it a good fit for trade inquiries and overseas support. Here is how to set it up.
Setup steps
- Install and sign in to WhatsApp Business: Download WhatsApp Business from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with your number (a number already on WhatsApp can be moved over).
- Fill in the business profile: Settings → Business tools → Business profile: add your company name, category, description, address, hours, email and website.
- Add a catalog: Business tools → Catalog: add product photos, names, prices, links and descriptions, then share them straight into chats.
- Set a greeting message: Business tools → Greeting message: reply automatically to first-time messages or after 14 days of no contact, for example with a short company intro.
- Set an away message: Business tools → Away message: choose "Outside of business hours" so customers in other time zones still get a reply.
- Create quick replies: Business tools → Quick replies: save answers about prices, payment and shipping as "/" shortcuts.
- Organise customers with labels: Long-press a chat → Add label. Use labels such as New inquiry / Quoted / Paid and filter the chat list to follow up.
Tips for export sales and support
- In the greeting, state your company, main products and reply hours so customers know they reached the right place.
- Set business hours for your customers' time zone, and say in the away message when you will reply.
- Keep one quick reply each for quotes, payment, shipping and after-sales so everyone sharing the number answers the same way.
- Put wa.me/yournumber (no + or spaces) on your website, store and business card so customers can open a chat in one tap.
- Only send promotions to customers who agreed to receive them; many reports lead to a ban.
Business app vs Business API
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business API | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid, usually through a provider |
| How you use it | Phone app, linkable to a computer | Connected to a help desk or CRM with many agents |
| Best for | Small businesses and individual traders | Companies with high volume or system integration |
The WhatsApp Business accounts we sell are Business app accounts without Meta Verified. If you already have a regular WhatsApp account, you can sign in to it from the WhatsApp Business app. Numbers for other countries are in the Social (Global Trade) category.