Steps at a glance
- Save your ready texts in one placeKeep each message in a note on your phone, so you copy instead of typing every day.
- Put the date and price in menu messagesCustomers should never have to ask what day it is for or what it costs.
- Ask for one clear replyTell customers exactly what to send back, such as Yes, No, or a number of boxes.
- Confirm every order in writingRepeat the order, the time and the amount, so mistakes are caught early.
- Send at the same time every dayFor example, tomorrow's menu at 7 pm and the cut-off at 9 pm.
- Use a broadcast list or your statusAvoid big groups, so customers' numbers stay private.
What makes a good order message?
- It names the day: "Tomorrow, Tuesday" is better than "tomorrow" alone, because people read messages late.
- It lists the dishes in one or two lines.
- It shows the price, so nobody has to ask.
- It asks for one simple reply and says the last time to reply.
- It ends with your name, so it is clearly from you.
Use the words your customers use at home for each dish. One or two emoji, like a lunch box or a sun for lunch, help a message stand out in a busy chat, but too many make it hard to read. Write numbers as numbers: "2 rotis" is quicker to read than "two rotis".
What should a menu message say?
Single box ₹110.
Reply YES for a box by 9 pm tonight. Monthly customers: reply NO if you want to skip.
— Ana
Mon: Dal, rice, mixed vegetables
Tue: Chana masala, rice
Wed: Kadhi, rice, beans
Thu: Dal, rice, okra fry
Fri: Lemon rice, dal, small sweet
Sat: Chickpea pulao, raita
All with 2 rotis. Single box ₹110 · Monthly ₹2,600
— Ana
How should customers order, and how do you confirm?
Give new customers a simple format to copy. Orders that arrive in the same shape are easy to read, even when twenty come in at once.
Name: Mia
Boxes: 2
Address: Flat 4B, Green Park Road
Note: less spicy, please
Always repeat the day, the number of boxes, the address and the amount. If anything is wrong, the customer tells you now, not at lunchtime.
When someone becomes a monthly customer, send one welcome message with everything they need to know. They will scroll back to it many times.
Delivery: 12 to 1:30 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Menu: I share the week every Sunday, and tomorrow's menu every evening.
To skip a day: tell me by 9 pm the day before.
Payment: ₹2,600 by the 5th of each month, cash or UPI.
Please save this number so you get the menu. — Ana
How do you say no or sorry politely?
You will have to say no sometimes: you are sold out, the address is too far, or the kitchen is closed. A quick, kind reply keeps the customer for next time. Silence loses them.
Which other messages do you send every day?
Pauses work best with clear rules. See how to handle pauses and leaves.
How do you ask for payment on WhatsApp?
Send payment reminders one by one, never in a group. Mention the amount and the month, and keep the tone warm.
Always confirm a payment the same day. It tells the customer the money reached you, and it gives both of you a written record if there is ever a doubt.
More reminders and how to keep track: how to collect tiffin payments on time.
Should you use a group, a broadcast list or your status?
| Way | Good for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Status | The daily menu, for everyone who has your number. | People must open your status to see it. |
| Broadcast list | Menus and notices, sent as a private message to each person. | It reaches only people who saved your number. |
| Group | A small office or hostel that orders together. | Every member sees everyone's number and replies. |
| One-to-one chat | Orders, confirmations, pauses and payments. | Takes more time, but it is private. |
Use status or a broadcast list for menus, and one-to-one chats for anything about a person's order or money. Ask new customers to save your number, or your broadcast will not reach them.
Do not send more than you need. One menu a week, one short message the evening before and the messages about orders and payments are enough. Customers who get five messages a day start to mute the chat, and then they miss the one that matters.