Guides · Updated 3 November 2026
How to take orders on WhatsApp for your shop, without losing any
Your customers already message you on WhatsApp. The problem isn't getting orders there; it's that they arrive as "bhaiya 2 wala bhej do", get buried under forwards, and some never get made. These steps turn the chat into an order book that doesn't drop anything.
Step by step
- 1
Use WhatsApp Business on the shop's number
Install the free WhatsApp Business app (it can move your existing chats over). Add the shop name, category, address, hours and a short line about what you sell, so a new customer knows they've reached the right place.
- 2
Put your items in the catalogue, with prices
Add your best sellers with a clear photo and the price. Customers can then tap an item and send it to you, so you know exactly what they mean. Start with 15 to 20 items; you don't need everything on day one.
- 3
Set an order message that asks the right things
Make a quick reply (type / to use it) like: "Please send: item and quantity, your name, address or pickup, and time." Send it to anyone who orders in one word. It saves five back-and-forth messages.
- 4
Label every chat: New order, Paid, Ready, Done
WhatsApp Business has labels. Mark each order as it moves. At closing, open "New order" and "Ready" and nothing is left waiting by mistake.
- 5
Confirm with a total before you pack
Reply with the items, the total and the time: "2 kg atta, 1 L oil: ₹410, ready by 6." A written total stops arguments at the door and is your record of the sale.
- 6
Take the money by UPI
Send your UPI ID or QR with the total. Money comes straight to your bank with no commission. Ask for a screenshot, or check your UPI app, before you mark it Paid.
- 7
Give customers a link that sends a ready-made order
A link to your price list with an "Order on WhatsApp" button means the message arrives already written: item, quantity and total. Put it in your WhatsApp status, Instagram bio and on the shop board.
- 8
Write every order down somewhere that adds up
Once orders come every day, the chat isn't a ledger. Note each sale (and any udhaar) where it's totalled for you, so you know today's takings and who still owes.
Messages to copy
Change the words in {curly brackets} before you send.
Quick reply when someone orders in one line
Thank you! Please send: 1) item and quantity, 2) your name, 3) address (or pickup), 4) when you need it. We'll confirm the total.
Order confirmation
Confirmed: 2 kg atta, 1 L mustard oil = ₹410. Ready by 6 pm. Pay by UPI to yourshop@okaxis or at pickup. Thank you!
Get these right
- Reply within a few minutes when you can; a customer who waits often orders elsewhere.
- Keep personal chats on a different number, so orders don't get lost among family messages.
- Never ask a customer to send money before you've confirmed the total in writing.
- Post your catalogue link in your WhatsApp status once a week; regulars forget you have one.
Where BridgeAux helps
- A website with your items and prices where every order button opens WhatsApp with the order already written (item, quantity, total). No commission. On every plan, including Free
- Write each sale in two taps, with cash, UPI or udhaar, and see today's takings and who owes. On every plan, including Free
- Website orders also save into your dashboard's Orders, with the customer, and a WhatsApp update when it's ready. From Growth
Questions
Is WhatsApp Business free?
Yes. The WhatsApp Business app is free on Android and iPhone. The paid WhatsApp Business API is only needed for sending messages at large scale.
Can customers pay me on WhatsApp?
The simplest way is to send your UPI ID or QR code with the total; the money goes straight to your bank. Check the payment in your UPI app before marking the order paid.
How do I stop missing orders on WhatsApp?
Use labels (New order, Paid, Ready, Done) on every order chat, confirm each order with a written total, and check the New order and Ready labels before closing.
Do I need a website if I take orders on WhatsApp?
Not to start, but it helps: a page with your prices and an order button sends you complete orders instead of "how much is this?" messages, and it's one link to share everywhere.