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WhatsApp Business in 5 Steps: A Setup Guide for Small Shops

Published 10 November 2026 · Harshith Creations · 5 min read

Most of your customers already use WhatsApp. The free WhatsApp Business app lets you present your shop properly and answer common questions faster, using the phone you already have.

Before you start

WhatsApp Business is a separate free app, available for Android and iPhone. It is meant for small businesses that handle messages on a phone. Larger businesses that need automated, high-volume messaging use a different, paid product called the WhatsApp Business Platform, which is not covered here.

It is best to use a number that is dedicated to your business. If you register a number that is already on personal WhatsApp, you can move that chat history to the new app, but the same number cannot stay on both apps.

Step 1: Install the app and register your number

Download WhatsApp Business from the Play Store or App Store. Enter your business phone number, confirm the code you receive, and allow access to contacts if you want to message existing customers.

Step 2: Complete your business profile

Open Settings, then your business name, and fill in:

• Business name, and a clear logo or shop photo.
• Category, for example “Grocery store” or “Tailor”.
• A short description of what you sell.
• Address, opening hours, email and website.

A complete profile makes your business look reliable to a new customer.

Step 3: Add a catalogue

The catalogue works like a small shop window inside WhatsApp. Open Settings, then Catalogue, and add each product or service with a photo, name, price and a short description. Add the products customers ask about most, and update the prices whenever they change. Customers can browse the catalogue and share items with friends.

Step 4: Set up greeting, away message and quick replies

• Greeting message: sent automatically to a new customer, for example “Hello! Thank you for contacting us. How can we help?”
• Away message: sent outside your working hours, telling the customer when you will reply.
• Quick replies: saved answers you can insert by typing a slash and a shortcut. Good ones to save are your address, working hours, delivery details and payment options.

Keep these messages short, polite and honest about your reply times.

Step 5: Organise customers and share your link

• Labels: tag chats as “New customer”, “Order placed”, “Payment pending” or “Delivered” so that nothing is forgotten.
• Short link and QR code: create a link that opens a chat with your business, and print the QR code on your bill book, shop board or visiting card.
• Broadcast lists: send an update to many customers at once. Only people who have saved your number in their contacts will receive a broadcast.

Good practices

• Message only people who have asked to hear from you or are existing customers. Do not add people to groups without asking.
• Do not send promotional messages too often. Customers who feel spammed will block you, and too many blocks can put your number at risk.
• Reply as quickly as you reasonably can, and never ask for OTPs, card PINs or passwords.
• Keep prices and offers in the catalogue current.
• Back up your chats from the app settings so you do not lose orders if you change your phone.