WhatsApp auto reply messages for business: 30 samples and how to set them up

An auto reply makes sure nobody who messages your business is met with silence. Below are samples you can copy, how to set them up, and where fixed auto replies stop being enough.

How to set up auto replies in the WhatsApp Business app

1. Open WhatsApp Business and go to Settings → Business tools.
2. Tap Greeting message to welcome people who message you for the first time or after 14 days of no messages. Turn it on, write your message and save.
3. Tap Away message to reply when you are not available. Choose Always send, a custom schedule, or outside of business hours (set hours in your business profile first).
4. Use Quick replies for answers you type often: type / in a chat to pick one.

These are free, but they are fixed messages. They cannot answer the actual question.

Greeting message samples

1. Hi! Thanks for messaging [Business]. How can we help you today?
2. Welcome to [Business]! Tell us what you are looking for, and we will reply in a few minutes.
3. Hi there! 👋 For prices, reply PRICE. To book, reply BOOK. Or just type your question.
4. Thanks for contacting [Business]. Our timings are [hours]. A team member will reply shortly.
5. Hello! You have reached [Business], [one-line description]. What can we do for you?
6. Hi! Here is our price list: [link]. Questions? Ask away, we reply quickly.

Away and after-hours message samples

7. Thanks for your message! We are closed right now and will reply by [time] tomorrow.
8. Hi! Our team is offline. Our hours are [hours]. We will get back to you first thing in the morning.
9. Thank you for reaching out. We are away and will reply within [n] hours. For urgent help, call [number].
10. Hi! We have received your message. Meanwhile, here is our catalogue: [link].
11. Thanks for messaging [Business]. We reply between [hours]. Tell us what you need, and we will have an answer ready.
12. You have reached us after hours! Leave your question and best time to call, and we will be in touch tomorrow.

Holiday message samples

13. Happy [festival]! We are closed from [date] to [date] and will reply when we are back on [date].
14. Our office is closed today for [holiday]. We will reply tomorrow. Thank you for your patience!
15. We are on a short break until [date]. For urgent matters, please call [number].

Busy-hour samples

16. Thanks for your message! We are a bit busy right now and will reply in about [n] minutes.
17. Hi! We are helping other customers at the moment. Your message is in the queue, and we will be with you shortly.

FAQ quick replies

18. Timings: We are open [days] from [time] to [time].
19. Location: We are at [address]. Map: [link]. Parking is available [where].
20. Price: Our [service] starts at [price]. The final price depends on [factor].
21. Booking: To book, share your name and a preferred time. We will confirm in a few minutes.
22. Payment: We accept UPI, cards and cash. Pay here: [link].
23. Delivery: We deliver to [areas] in [n] days. Delivery is free above [amount].
24. Documents: Please bring [document list] for your visit.

Industry samples

25. Clinic: Thanks for messaging [Clinic]. OPD timings are [hours]. For emergencies, call [number]. Share the patient’s name and preferred time to book.
26. Real estate: Thanks for your interest in [Project]! Reply with your budget and preferred size, and we will share matching options.
27. Coaching: Hi! Tell us the course and class you are interested in, and we will share batch timings and fees.
28. Salon: Hi! Share the service and a preferred time, and we will confirm your slot. Price list: [link].
29. Restaurant or caterer: Thanks for messaging! For bookings, share the date, time and number of guests.
30. Travel: Hi! Tell us your destination, dates and number of travellers, and we will send options.

Where auto replies fall short

Fixed auto replies are a good start, but they have limits:

• They send the same message to everyone, whatever was asked.
• They cannot answer “Is Dr. Mehta available tomorrow at 6?” or “Do you deliver to Whitefield?”
• Menu-style bots (“reply 1 for…”) feel robotic, and many people ignore them.
• They do nothing to follow up if the person goes quiet.

By the time a person replies in the morning, many leads have already got an answer from someone else. Read speed to lead for why that matters.

The next step: an AI assistant on WhatsApp

With the WhatsApp Business Platform (API), software can read each message and reply properly. An AI sales assistant answers the actual question from facts you write down, asks one or two qualifying questions, and hands the chat to your team when the lead wants to book or the AI is unsure. See what an AI sales assistant can and can’t do.

OakDeal does exactly this. You write your business facts once (what you sell, prices, timings, what never to promise), and the AI replies to every new WhatsApp lead in seconds, day or night, then marks it Hot, Warm or Cold so your team knows who to call first.