WhatsApp Business away messages for trades

To set up an away message in the WhatsApp Business app, go to Tools, then Away message, turn on "Send away message", write your message, then choose a schedule: always, a custom schedule, or outside business hours (WhatsApp Help Centre). For trades, the best away messages say you're on a job, when you'll reply, and what to do in an emergency.

By the TradiesMate team · Facts checked 2 November 2026

Why do trades need an away message?

Customers message when it suits them, and that's often the evening or the weekend. On the UK Tiling Forum, one tiler wrote: "at 5.31 this morning, via fb messenger, a customer asked for a price for plastering. Wheres the emergency" (UK Tiling Forum). When Installer Online asked its readers how they handle out-of-hours messages, answers ranged from "Leave the reply til working hours" to "My phone goes to divert at 6pm until 7am and then Friday until Monday morning" (Installer Online).

An away message sits in the middle. The customer knows you've got their message and when to expect a reply, and you don't have to pick up the phone at 10pm. WhatsApp itself says away messages help you "protect your personal time" while showing customers you "aren't neglecting them" (WhatsApp Help Centre, as above).

How do you set up an away message?

1. Open the WhatsApp Business app and go to the Tools tab.
2. Tap Away message and turn on Send away message.
3. Tap the message to edit it, then tap OK.
4. Tap Schedule and choose Always send, Custom schedule, or Outside of business hours.
5. Tap Recipients and choose who gets it: everyone, everyone not in your address book, everyone except selected contacts, or only selected contacts.
6. Tap Save.

"Outside of business hours" only appears once you've set business hours in your business profile. Your phone needs an internet connection to send away messages (WhatsApp Help Centre, as above). Away messages are a WhatsApp Business feature, so if you're on the normal WhatsApp app you'll need to switch to the Business app first.

What makes a good away message for trades?

• Say why you can't reply: on a job, out of hours, on holiday.
• Say when you will reply: "by 6pm", "Monday morning". Only promise what you can keep.
• Ask for the details you need: the job, the postcode, photos.
• Give an emergency route, if you offer one, or say clearly that you don't.
• Keep it short. People read it on their phone.

What are some away message examples?

Swap in your own name, times and numbers.

During the working day

1. On a job > Thanks for your message! I'm on a job right now. I'll reply by [time]. If you can, send your postcode and a photo of the problem so I can give you an idea of price.

2. Busy period > Hi, thanks for getting in touch. I'm fully booked today, so I'll reply by the end of the day. What's the job and your postcode?

3. Driving > Thanks! I'm driving between jobs and will reply as soon as I've stopped.

Out of hours

4. Evenings > Thanks for your message. I'm finished for the day and will reply from [8am] tomorrow. For emergencies, call [number].

5. Weekends > Thanks for getting in touch. I don't work weekends but will reply first thing Monday. Please send the job details and postcode and I'll pick it up then.

6. No emergency cover > Thanks for your message. I'll reply during working hours ([hours]). I'm sorry, I don't offer an emergency service.

Holidays

7. On holiday > Thanks for your message. I'm away until [date] and will reply when I'm back. If it's urgent, please contact another local [trade].

8. Christmas > Thanks for your message. We're closed from [date] and back on [date]. Merry Christmas! We'll reply in date order when we're back.

Trade-specific

9. Plumber > Thanks for your message. If water's leaking, turn off your stopcock now. I'll reply by [time]. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (Great Britain).

10. Electrician > Thanks for getting in touch. I'm on a job and will reply by [time]. If there's sparking, smoke or a burning smell, keep away and call 999 if there's a fire.

11. Builder > Thanks for your enquiry! I'm on site and will reply this evening. Photos and rough measurements help me give you a quick idea of cost.

12. New enquiries only > Hi, thanks for messaging. If you're a new customer, please send the job, your postcode and when you need it done. I'll get back to you by [time].

The 0800 111 999 gas emergency number covers England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the gas emergency number is 0800 002 001 (nidirect). If you work in Northern Ireland, use that number in example 9.

Who should get your away message?

Under Recipients you can send it to everyone, to everyone not in your address book, to everyone except contacts you pick, or only to contacts you pick (WhatsApp Help Centre, as above). If your mates and family message the same number, "Everyone not in address book" stops them getting your work auto-reply, while new customers still do.

What about greeting messages and quick replies?

The WhatsApp Business app also has greeting messages, sent automatically when a customer messages you for the first time or after a gap, and quick replies, saved answers you insert with a shortcut. Use quick replies for the questions you answer every day: areas you cover, how to pay, and what details you need to quote.

What about phone calls?

An away message only works on WhatsApp. Plenty of customers still ring first, and a call you miss on a job doesn't get an auto-reply. Set up a voicemail greeting that says when you'll call back, and send a short text to anyone you miss. See our missed-call text templates and how to handle missed calls on the tools.

How often should you review it?

Check your away message whenever your hours change, before every holiday, and at least every few months. An away message that still says "back on 2 January" in March tells customers nobody's minding the shop.

Key takeaways

• Set it up in Tools, then Away message, then choose a schedule and recipients.
• "Outside of business hours" needs your hours set in your business profile.
• Say why you're away, when you'll reply and what details you need.
• Give an emergency route, or say clearly that you don't offer one.
• Away messages don't cover phone calls. Set up a voicemail greeting and missed-call texts too.

Questions

Sources

• WhatsApp Help Centre, "How to use away messages", checked 2 November 2026.
• nidirect, "Energy, power supply and utilities" (Northern Ireland gas emergency number), checked 1 November 2026.
• UK Tiling Forum and Installer Online, tradespeople's comments on out-of-hours messages, read 2 November 2026.

Divert the calls you miss to TradiesMate and the caller gets a text from TradiesMate on your behalf, asking what the job is. Covered is £19.50 for your first 30 days, then £39 every 30 days. Try TradiesMate Covered.

Last checked 2 November 2026.

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