How to reply to "how much?" on WhatsApp
"How much?" is the most common first message a small business gets on WhatsApp, and the one most often left unanswered or answered badly. A bare number ends the conversation. A number with context and a next step starts one. This guide gives you replies for the situations you meet every week, a full example conversation, the mistakes that make people go quiet, and the notes to give an AI agent so it answers price questions the way you would.
The short answer
Give a real price or a clear range in the first reply, say what it includes, and finish with one simple question that moves towards a booking. Do not make people ask twice or "call for a quote" unless the job truly cannot be priced.
Replies you can adapt
Change the details to match your business. Names, prices and times are examples.
| When | Reply |
|---|---|
| A fixed-price service | A gel manicure is £32 and takes about 45 minutes. I have Thursday at 4pm or Saturday at 11am. Would either suit you? |
| A price that depends on the job | Most kitchen tap repairs are £60 to £90, including parts. If you send a photo under the sink, I can give you an exact price. |
| Several options | We have three packages: Basic at £49, Standard at £79 and Full at £120. Most people choose Standard. Shall I send what is included in each? |
| They say it is too expensive | I understand. Our Basic option at £49 covers the essentials, and many customers start there. Would that work better? |
| They only wrote "how much?" | Happy to help! Which service are you interested in? Our most popular are a full groom (from £45) and a bath and tidy (from £30). |
| They sent a photo and asked the price | Thanks for the photo. That looks like a standard replacement, so it would be £85 including the part and fitting. I could come on Tuesday morning. Would that work? |
| They asked for the full price list | Of course. Here are our main prices: cut and finish £38, colour from £65, highlights from £80. Tell me what you have in mind and I will give you an exact price. |
| The message arrived out of hours | Thanks for your message. A standard clean is £60 for a two-bedroom flat. We are closed now, but I can book you in first thing tomorrow. Which day suits you? |
| They mention a cheaper competitor | Thanks for telling me. Our price includes all materials and a 12-month guarantee on the work. If that matters to you, I would be glad to book you in. |
What to avoid
- Replying with only a number, which gives the customer nothing to reply to.
- "Please call us for a price" when you could answer in the chat.
- Long price lists pasted as one block of text.
- Waiting hours to reply. People who ask for prices usually ask several businesses.
What to tell your AI agent
- Give it your price list with what each price includes and how long each service takes.
- Tell it which jobs need a photo or details before quoting.
- Tell it to end every price reply with one question, such as offering two times.
- Tell it never to invent a price that is not in your list.
When a person should take over
- Custom jobs and quotes outside your list.
- Discount requests, if you do not have a set policy.
- Business and bulk orders.
Why a bare number loses people
When someone asks "how much?" they are rarely asking only about money. They want to know whether you are the right fit, whether you can fit them in, and whether the price covers what they need. A reply of "£45" answers one of those questions and leaves the other three hanging.
The customer then has to do the work of the next message. Many will not bother, especially if they asked three businesses at once. A reply with the price, what it includes and a simple next step does that work for them, so the easiest thing to do is say yes.
A good price reply has three parts. First the price or a range. Then one line on what it includes or how long it takes. Then one question that is easy to answer, such as a choice of two times. Keep it to two or three short sentences, because people read WhatsApp on their phones.
A worked example
Here is a typical conversation for a dog grooming business, answered by an AI agent working from the owner's price note. Names and details are examples.
| Who | Message |
|---|---|
| Customer | Hi, how much for a groom? |
| Business | Hi! A full groom is from £45 for small dogs and from £60 for medium dogs, including a bath, cut, nails and ears. What breed is your dog? |
| Customer | Cockapoo, quite fluffy |
| Business | Lovely. A cockapoo is usually £55 and takes about two hours. I have Wednesday at 10am or Friday at 1pm. Would either suit you? |
| Customer | Friday please. Do you do nails only as well? |
| Business | Yes, nails only is £12 and takes 15 minutes. I have booked Friday at 1pm for the full groom. Could you send me your dog's name and your phone number for the booking? |
| Customer | Bella, 07700 900123 |
| Business | Thank you. Bella is booked in for Friday at 1pm. We will send a reminder the day before. See you then! |
Notice that every reply gives a fact and asks one question. The customer never has to wonder what to say next, and the booking is made in six messages.
Before and after
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| £80 | A deep clean of a two-bedroom flat is £80 and takes about three hours. I have Monday or Thursday free next week. Which is better for you? |
| Depends on the job. Call us. | Most boiler services are £70 to £95, depending on the model. If you tell me the make, I can give you an exact price and a time this week. |
| Prices are on our website. | A one-hour lesson is £35, or £160 for a block of five. Would you like to try a first lesson this Saturday? |
How to write the price note your agent answers from
An AI agent is only as good as the information you give it. The most useful thing you can do is write one short price note, in plain words, and keep it up to date. Follow these steps.
- List every service or product people ask about, with its price or price range.
- Next to each one, write what is included and how long it takes.
- Mark the jobs that need a photo or more details before you can give an exact price.
- Write down any extras that change the price, such as a call-out charge or a larger size.
- Say whether prices include VAT, if you are VAT-registered.
- Add the questions the agent should ask to move towards a booking, such as which day suits.
- Put the date at the top, and update it whenever a price changes.
Price note, updated 1 November
Full groom, small dog: £45, about 1.5 hours. Bath, cut, nails, ears.
Full groom, medium dog: £60, about 2 hours. Cockapoos and spaniels are usually £55.
Full groom, large dog: from £75. Ask for breed and coat before quoting.
Bath and tidy: from £30, about 1 hour.
Nails only: £12, 15 minutes.
Matted coats: extra £10 to £20. Ask for a photo first.
Rules:
- Always give a price or range in the first reply.
- End every price reply with one question, ideally a choice of two times.
- Never quote a price that is not in this note. If unsure, say a person will confirm today.
- Pass any request for a discount or a group booking to Sam.If this happens, do this
| If the customer | Do this |
|---|---|
| Asks the price of something not in your list | Say you will check and reply by a set time, then pass it to a person. |
| Asks the price and then goes quiet | Send one friendly follow-up the next day with two times. Stop if they do not reply. |
| Asks for a written quote | Collect the details in the chat, then send the quote by email or as a document in the chat. |
| Asks the price for a group or business | Pass it to a person, who can price it properly. |
| Asks whether you have offers | Mention only the offers you have written down, or say your prices are the same for everyone. |
Price enquiries on other channels
The same three-part reply works everywhere, but each channel has its own habits. Adjust the length and the next step to fit.
| Channel | What to adjust |
|---|---|
| Short replies and a choice of times. People expect a quick, personal answer. | |
| People often ask about a post or a story. Mention the item they saw, and keep the reply to two sentences. | |
| Messenger | Many enquiries come from your Facebook Page or Marketplace. Answer the price and offer a time or a link. |
| People expect a little more detail. A short list of options and a clear next step works well. |
Common mistakes when an AI agent answers prices
- Giving the agent an old price list. It will answer confidently from whatever you gave it.
- Leaving out what each price includes, so the agent can only give bare numbers.
- Letting the agent offer times you have not shared. Connect it to your booking times or give it a list.
- Forgetting to tell it what to do when it does not know. It should say a person will confirm, never guess.
- Never reading the conversations. Check a handful each week and improve your note.
Sum up and next step
Answer "how much?" with a price, what it includes and one easy question, and answer it quickly. Write one price note that you keep up to date, and give it to your AI agent with clear rules about what it may and may not quote.
If you want an AI agent to answer these messages on your own WhatsApp number, Spaces connects the account to the agent you already use and keeps sending inside safe limits. Read the WhatsApp notes above first, because automating a personal account carries risk that Spaces lowers but cannot remove.
Pricing
FAQ
Should I put prices on WhatsApp at all?
Yes, if you can. Customers who get a clear price quickly are more likely to book than those asked to call. If a job truly cannot be priced, give a typical range and say what you need to give an exact figure.
What if my prices change often?
Keep one price note and update it. An AI agent will always answer from the latest version you give it. Put the date at the top so you can see at a glance when you last checked it.
Can I use the WhatsApp Business catalogue too?
Yes. Your agent can point people to it, and still answer questions in the chat. Many customers still prefer a short answer in the chat to browsing a catalogue.
Should I give a range or an exact price?
Give an exact price whenever you can. Use a range only when the job really varies, and say what decides where in the range it falls. Then ask for the one detail that lets you be exact.
What if someone just writes "how much?" with no detail?
Reply warmly, ask which service they mean, and give the prices of your two or three most popular options. That way they get useful numbers straight away, even before they answer.
Will an AI agent ever quote the wrong price?
It can if your note is wrong, out of date or unclear. Tell it never to quote a price that is not in your note, and to say a person will confirm when it is unsure. Read a few conversations each week to catch problems early.
Should I follow up if they go quiet after the price?
One friendly follow-up the next day is fine for someone who asked you for a price. Offer two times and stop there if they do not reply. Repeated chasing feels pushy and can annoy customers.