WhatsApp Business Readiness Checker

How the score works

The checker scores twelve practical checks out of 100. Each answer counts fully (“yes”), half (“partly”) or not at all. Consent and customer support carry the most weight, because they protect your customers and your number:

• Consent (heaviest): how people opt in, whether you record it, and whether opting out is easy and respected.
• Support: who answers, how quickly, and whether you have standard answers and a rule for passing chats on.
• Profile: a complete business profile, opening hours, a catalogue and a dedicated business number.

Checks that do not apply to you are left out, not counted against you. A catalogue does not matter to every business, and a sole trader does not need a handover rule. Under 50 means “not ready yet”, 50 to 79 “partly prepared” and 80 or more “well prepared”.

App or Platform: how the recommendation works

The WhatsApp Business app is built for small business owners. It has a business profile, catalogue, greeting and away messages, quick replies and labels. One phone can link up to four more devices, so a small team can share the work.

The WhatsApp Business Platform is for automated flows, approved message templates and connections to your own systems. Your answers count towards it when:

• more than five people need to reply from one number (more than ten points strongly to it);
• you want a chatbot, ordering in the chat, payment confirmations or automatic notifications;
• chats must connect to a CRM, online shop or booking system;
• you plan marketing campaigns to large lists, or get hundreds of chats a day.

If you only need some of that later, the report says to start with the app and plan for the Platform. Every reason in your report quotes the answer it came from, so you can check it.

Opt-in: what Meta asks for

Meta’s opt-in rules say the person must have given you their number and agreed to hear from your business. The opt-in must clearly name your business and say what the person is agreeing to, and you must follow the law that applies to you. A website form, a checkbox at checkout, an SMS keyword or a paper form can all work. Keep a record of each opt-in, and stop messaging anyone who asks: the Business Messaging Policy says you must respect those requests. If you are updating your privacy notice, our privacy policy generator gives you a draft to review.

How Platform pricing works

Meta charges per message delivered. The rate depends on the message category (marketing, utility, authentication or service) and the recipient’s country code. To estimate your costs, list the messages you expect each month by category and check them against Meta’s pricing page. Meta changes its rates and free allowances from time to time, so we do not copy them here.

Next steps

Fix the high-priority gaps first, then set up the app’s built-in tools or plan your Platform project. If a chatbot is part of the plan, the AI chatbot requirements generator turns it into a project brief. A QR code on your shop counter or flyers is a simple way to start chats. When you are ready, our WhatsApp automation service can set it up with you.