Away Message for Business: 40 WhatsApp Templates + Setup

An away message for business is an automatic WhatsApp reply that tells customers you are closed or busy, when you will reply, and what they can do meanwhile. In the WhatsApp Business app you set it under Tools, then Away message, and schedule it for outside business hours. The best ones end with a booking link.

Below are the official setup steps, then 40 copy-paste away messages: after-hours, busy, Sunday closed, lunch break, Diwali and other Indian festivals, vacation, and sets for clinics, salons, tutors, coaches, trainers, photographers and consultants. Each template ends with a booking link, so the message keeps taking bookings while you are offline.

How to set an away message on WhatsApp Business

These steps follow WhatsApp's own help page, How to use away messages. They are the same on Android and iPhone, except the button you tap after editing the text (OK on Android, Save on iPhone).

1. 01Open the WhatsApp Business app and go to the Tools tab.
2. 02Tap Away message and turn on Send away message.
3. 03Tap the message text to edit it. Paste one of the templates below, then tap OK (Android) or Save (iPhone).
4. 04Tap Schedule and choose Always send, Custom schedule, or Outside of business hours.
5. 05Tap Recipients and choose Everyone, Everyone not in address book, Everyone except…, or Only send to….
6. 06Tap Save.

One catch: WhatsApp's help page says “Your device must have an active internet connection in order to send away messages.” If your phone is switched off at night or on a flight, the away message will not go out. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi and charging, or use a booking page that works without your phone.

Which schedule and recipients to choose

The Outside of business hours option appears only after you set business hours in your business profile, so do that first. If you open late on some days, set the real hours per day rather than one range for the week.

What makes the best away message for WhatsApp Business

• Say you are away, in one line. No long apology.
• Give a reply time with the day: 'We'll reply by 10 AM Monday', not 'soon'.
• Offer one thing the customer can do now, usually a booking link.
• Give an emergency route if your work needs one (doctors, vets, home repairs).
• Match the language your customers write in: English, Hindi or Hinglish.
• Keep it under five lines so it reads in the notification preview.

After-hours away messages

Hi! Thanks for your message 🙏 We're closed right now. Our hours are Mon–Sat, 10 AM to 7 PM. We'll reply first thing tomorrow. To book a slot now, use: [booking link]

1. After hours (standard)

Thanks for reaching out! It's after hours here, so I'll reply by 10 AM tomorrow. In a hurry? You can see open slots and book directly: [booking link]

2. After hours (solo professional)

Hello! We've received your message. Our team is offline till 9 AM. For prices, timings and bookings, everything is here: [booking link]

3. After hours (send people to the page)

नमस्ते 🙏 आपका मैसेज मिल गया। अभी हम बंद हैं (समय: सोम–शनि, सुबह 10 से शाम 7 बजे)। कल सुबह जवाब देंगे। अभी अपॉइंटमेंट बुक करनी हो तो इस लिंक पर करें: [booking link]

4. After hours (Hindi)

Busy away messages (in a session or with a client)

Hi! I'm with a client right now and will reply within 2 hours. If you'd like to book, you can pick a time here: [booking link]

5. Busy with a client

Thanks for your message! We're fully booked today and replying a little slower than usual. The fastest way to get a slot is here: [booking link]

6. Busy day

Hi! Abhi session mein hoon, 1 ghante mein reply karta hoon 🙂 Booking ke liye ye link use karein: [booking link]

7. Busy (Hinglish)

Sunday closed and weekend away messages

Hi! We're closed on Sundays 🌿 We'll reply on Monday morning. You can still book for the week ahead here: [booking link]

8. Sunday closed

Thanks for messaging! I don't work on weekends, so I'll get back to you on Monday by 11 AM. To grab a weekday slot now: [booking link]

9. Weekend off

नमस्ते! रविवार को हमारी छुट्टी रहती है। सोमवार सुबह आपको जवाब देंगे। अगले हफ़्ते की बुकिंग अभी कर सकते हैं: [booking link]

10. Sunday closed (Hindi)

Lunch break away messages

Hi! We're on a lunch break from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. We'll reply right after. To book a slot meanwhile: [booking link]

11. Lunch break

Back at 2:30 PM 🍱 Your message is safe with us. Bookings stay open here: [booking link]

12. Lunch break (short)

Diwali, festival and holiday away messages

Set festival messages with Custom schedule so they switch off on their own. Update your Google listing too: Google's special hours help page says special hours cover closures of up to 6 days in a row, and closures of 7 days or more should be marked as temporarily closed.

Happy Diwali! 🪔 We're closed from [date] to [date] to celebrate with family. We'll be back on [date]. Bookings for after Diwali are open now: [booking link]

13. Diwali closure

दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं 🪔 हम [तारीख] से [तारीख] तक बंद रहेंगे और [तारीख] से फिर शुरू करेंगे। दिवाली के बाद की अपॉइंटमेंट अभी बुक करें: [booking link]

14. Diwali closure (Hindi)

Happy Holi! 🎨 We're closed today and back tomorrow at 10 AM. Book your next visit here: [booking link]

15. Holi

Eid Mubarak! 🌙 We're closed for Eid today and will reply tomorrow. You can book your slot for later this week here: [booking link]

16. Eid

Season's greetings! 🎄 We're off from [date] to [date] and back on [date]. New year slots are open: [booking link]

17. Christmas and New Year

Ganpati Bappa Morya! 🙏 We're closed for Ganesh Chaturthi on [date] and back on [date]. Book for after the festival here: [booking link]

18. Ganesh Chaturthi

Shubho Pujo! We're closed for Durga Puja from [date] to [date]. We reopen on [date]. Book your slot now: [booking link]

19. Durga Puja or Navratri

Vacation and out-of-office away messages

Hi! I'm on leave from [date] to [date] with limited access to messages. I'll reply after I'm back on [date]. Bookings for after my return are open: [booking link]

20. Vacation

Thanks for your message! I'm at a training workshop until [date]. Replies may take a day. To book a session from [date] onwards: [booking link]

21. Training or conference

Hi, due to a family emergency we're closed until [date]. Sorry for the delay in replying. If you'd like to book for later, please use: [booking link]

22. Unplanned closure

Away messages by business type

Trade-specific away messages answer the one question each type of customer always asks. A patient wants to know what to do in an emergency, a salon client wants prices, a parent wants batch timings.

Namaste! Dr. Mehta's clinic is closed now. OPD timings: Mon–Sat, 10 AM–1 PM and 6–9 PM. For a medical emergency, please go to the nearest hospital or call 112. To book an OPD appointment: [booking link]

23. Doctor or clinic (after hours)

Hi! The doctor is consulting right now and can't read messages. Our staff will reply after OPD. Book or move your appointment here: [booking link]

24. Clinic (OPD running)

Thank you for contacting Smile Dental. We're closed today. For tooth pain or swelling, please call [emergency number]. Book a check-up for this week: [booking link]

25. Dental clinic

Hi gorgeous! 💇‍♀️ The salon is closed right now (open Tue–Sun, 11 AM–8 PM, Monday off). See the price list and book your slot: [booking link]

26. Salon (after hours)

Thank you for your bridal enquiry 💍 We reply to bridal and party bookings within 24 hours with a full quote. To book a trial session now: [booking link]

27. Bridal makeup artist

Hi! Our therapists are in sessions right now. Walk-ins depend on availability, so booking ahead is best: [booking link]

28. Spa or massage centre

Hello! I'm teaching a batch right now and will reply after 8 PM. For a free demo class, pick a time here: [booking link]

29. Home tutor

नमस्ते! अभी क्लास चल रही है, रात 8 बजे के बाद जवाब देंगे। फ्री डेमो क्लास के लिए यहां समय चुनें: [booking link]

30. Tutor or coaching class (Hindi, for parents)

Thank you for your interest in our JEE/NEET batches. The office is closed now and opens at 10 AM. Batch timings, fees and demo-class booking are here: [booking link]

31. Coaching institute

Hi, thanks for reaching out. I check messages twice a day and will reply within 24 hours. If you're ready to start, you can book a first session here: [booking link]

32. Life or career coach

Thank you for writing in. I'm in sessions and reply to messages by evening. If you are in crisis, please call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or go to the nearest hospital. To book a session: [booking link]

33. Therapist or counsellor

Hi! I reply to all new enquiries within one working day. To book a 15-minute discovery call now: [booking link]

34. Consultant (discovery call)

Hey! I'm coaching on the floor right now 🏋️ Will reply after 9 PM. Book a trial session here: [booking link]

35. Personal trainer

Namaste 🧘 Morning batches are on, I'll reply after 10 AM. To join a batch or book a trial class: [booking link]

36. Yoga instructor

Hi! I'm on a shoot today 📸 and will reply tonight. Check available dates and book a shoot here: [booking link]

37. Photographer

Thank you for your message. Our office hours are Mon–Fri, 10 AM to 6 PM. During ITR season replies may take 1–2 days. To book a consultation slot: [booking link]

38. CA or tax consultant

Thank you for contacting the chambers. We will reply on the next working day. Please don't send case documents over WhatsApp. To book a consultation: [booking link]

39. Lawyer

Hi! We're closed right now. For bookings of the turf, all open slots with prices are here: [booking link]

40. Sports turf or court booking

Why every away message should end with a booking link

An away message without a next step tells the customer to wait. Many will message the next business on their list instead. A booking link gives them something to do while you are offline: see open slots, pick one, and pay. For more on handling the whole flow on WhatsApp, read how to manage appointments on WhatsApp, and use the WhatsApp appointment reminder templates once the booking is in.

On Book A Sloth, your booking page lives at bookasloth.com/yourname. Clients pick a slot, verify with a phone OTP and pay up front by UPI, card or netbanking, with no app to download. The booking confirms on payment and the client gets email and WhatsApp confirmations and a reminder. That is the link to paste at the end of every template above. The free Sloth plan has no monthly fee and charges 5% per paid booking only. Add the same link as a Book button on Google too, using this Google Business Profile guide.