How to take orders on WhatsApp

To take orders on WhatsApp smoothly, use the WhatsApp Business app, put your products and prices in its catalogue, use quick replies and labels, and ask every buyer for the same details in the same format. A link with a ready-written message, or an order app that sends the order to WhatsApp, cuts the back-and-forth.

Updated 2026-11-09

Set up the WhatsApp Business catalogue

The catalogue shows your products inside WhatsApp, with photo, price, description and a code. Buyers can browse it from your profile and send you an item in a chat. Keep it current: remove items you no longer sell, mark seasonal ones, and update prices before a festival rush. Group items into collections such as 'Sweets', 'Namkeen', 'Gift boxes' so people don't scroll through everything.

Quick replies and labels

Quick replies: type a shortcut like /price, /delivery or /upi to send a saved message
Keep one quick reply with your full order format, so buyers know what to send
Labels: colour-code chats as New order, Paid, Packed, Out for delivery, Done
Greeting message for first-time chats, with your timings and a link to the catalogue
Away message for closed hours that says when you will reply

A clear order message format

Most order mix-ups come from missing details. Ask every buyer for the same things, in this order, and confirm them back before you start:

Item name or code, size or weight, and quantity
Name and phone number
Full address with landmark and pincode, or 'pickup'
Delivery date and time slot, if you offer slots
Payment: UPI, cash on delivery or already paid
Total, including delivery charge, written out in your confirmation

A link with a ready message

WhatsApp's click-to-chat link has the form https://wa.me/91XXXXXXXXXX?text=your message. When someone taps it, WhatsApp opens a chat with you and the message already typed, for example 'Hi, I want to order: Item, Quantity, Address'. They fill in the blanks and send. Put this link in your Instagram bio, your Google Business Profile, on your website and in your WhatsApp status. Remember that a link can't attach photos or files; the buyer sends those in the chat.

Keep a record outside the chat

Chats scroll away. At the end of each day, write each order down: a notebook, a spreadsheet, or an app. Note what was ordered, paid and delivered. It helps you plan stock, spot regular buyers and settle any dispute later. For UPI payments, always check your own UPI app or bank, not a screenshot.

When order volume grows

With a few orders a day, chat works well. With many, copying item names, quantities and totals from messages takes time and mistakes creep in. An order app helps: buyers pick items from a list, see the total, and tap a button that opens WhatsApp with the whole order written out. You receive a tidy message every time, and the buyer still talks to you on WhatsApp.

Where AppCub fits

AppCub builds Android order apps from a chat in English, Hindi or Hinglish: a product list with photos and prices, search, a cart and a 'Send order on WhatsApp' button that opens WhatsApp with the order ready for the buyer to send. Nothing is sent automatically; a person taps send. The app can also keep your own list of orders on your phone, or, if you connect your own Supabase database, share it with your staff. With Razorpay connected as well, buyers can pay inside the app. Share it as a web link, an APK or on Google Play.

If you only need a page with your menu or products and a WhatsApp button, an AppCub website does that: 4 to 6 English pages with WhatsApp, call and Google Maps buttons, without a cart or payments. Seeing the plan is free; building starts with the ₹99 two-day trial.

Questions

Is WhatsApp Business different from normal WhatsApp?

Yes. WhatsApp Business adds a business profile, catalogue, quick replies, labels and greeting and away messages.

How do I make a WhatsApp link with a ready message?

Use https://wa.me/ followed by your number with 91 and no plus sign, then ?text= and your message. Most link tools encode the spaces for you.

Can a WhatsApp link attach a photo?

No. Click-to-chat links can only fill in text. The buyer sends photos in the chat.

How do I keep track of WhatsApp orders?

Use labels such as New order, Paid and Done, and write each order down daily in a notebook, spreadsheet or app.

Can an app send orders to my WhatsApp automatically?

No app should send without the buyer. An AppCub order app opens WhatsApp with the order written out, and the buyer taps send.

Can buyers pay inside an AppCub order app?

Yes, once you connect your own Razorpay account and Supabase database. The money goes to your account.

Make yours with AppCub

Seeing the plan is free. Building starts with a 2-day trial for ₹99.

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