WhatsApp auto reply messages for tutors

Tutors spend their messages talking to parents: fees, trial lessons, missed lessons and how the student is doing. These 16 replies are sorted by situation; put in your own subjects, fees and policies. Progress updates are about one child, so check them yourself before they go out.

Updated · 16 replies

How to use: replace the words in braces with your own details before sending, e.g. {shop name} with your business name.

First hello

  1. A parent messages for the first time

    Hi, thanks for getting in touch with {business name}! Tell us your child’s year, the subject they need help with and when they could come, and we’ll arrange a trial lesson.

  2. Getting to know the student

    Hello, I’m {your name}, thanks for your message! Could you tell me your child’s year, what they’re covering at school and how recent tests have gone? Then I can suggest the right group or one-to-one lessons.

Outside business hours

  1. You are teaching or off

    Thanks for your message! I’m teaching or off right now and will reply by {time}. If it’s urgent, please call {phone}.

Prices and quotes

  1. Asked about fees

    {subject} lessons are {price} a month: {number} lessons a week, {minutes} minutes each, materials {price} extra. One-to-one tutoring is {price} an hour. Timetable: {link}

    Suggested shortcut /fees

  2. Asked about a trial lesson

    A trial lesson is {trial fee}, and you can decide afterwards whether to sign up. Would {option 1} or {option 2} work?

    Suggested shortcut /trial

Trial lessons, absences and make-ups

  1. Confirming a trial lesson

    {child’s name} is booked for a trial on {date} at {time}, {address}. Please bring {what to bring}. Afterwards we’ll tell you how it went.

  2. A student will be absent

    Got it, {child’s name} is off on {date}. The lesson can be made up before {deadline}: {option 1} or {option 2}. Reply with one and I’ll book it.

    Suggested shortcut /absent

  3. A lesson is cancelled

    Because of {reason}, the lesson on {date} is cancelled. I’ll send a make-up time separately. If you have any questions, just reply here.

Deposits and payment

  1. Fee reminder

    Just a reminder that {month}’s fee of {amount} is due by {date}, payable by {payment method}. If you’ve already paid, please ignore this message. Thank you!

    Suggested shortcut /payment

  2. Payment received

    Thank you, we’ve received {amount} for {child’s name}’s {month} lessons. Your receipt will {how you send receipts}.

Lessons and progress

  1. Weekly update

    This week {child’s name} worked on {topics} and {how it went}. The thing to practise is {what needs work}; at home, {practice idea}. Ask me anything.

  2. Test results are in

    {child’s name} got {score} in {test}, {compared with last time}. Next we’ll work on {focus}, and I’d like to hear what you see at home too.

Complaints and refunds

  1. A parent is worried about progress

    Thank you for telling me; I understand the worry. I’ll go through {child’s name}’s recent lessons and homework and call you before {date} so we can agree what to change.

  2. A refund request

    Thanks for letting me know. Under our terms, {refund policy}. I’ll work out the amount and send it to you by {date} to confirm.

Thank-you and repeat business

  1. Signing up for the next term

    {child’s name} has worked really hard this term! Next term starts on {date}, and signing up now keeps the same lesson time. Shall I hold it for you?

Asking for a review

  1. End of a term

    Thank you for trusting us this term. If the lessons have helped, would you leave us a Google review? {review link}

How to set these up in WhatsApp Business

The WhatsApp Business app has three places for saved replies. Menu names differ slightly between Android and iPhone and change with app updates, so follow WhatsApp’s help pages linked below.

  1. Greeting message: in the app’s business tools, turn on a greeting message for people who message you for the first time. Use one of the first-hello replies.
  2. Away message: turn on an away message and schedule it for outside business hours. Use one of the after-hours replies.
  3. Quick replies: save the rest as quick replies with a short shortcut, then type “/” in a chat to pick one.
  • Keep each saved reply to one question and one next step; long replies go unread.
  • Check your hours, prices and policies in every saved reply whenever they change.

Replies you type or pick yourself in the WhatsApp Business app are ordinary chats. Messages sent through the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API that tools use) follow Meta’s pricing: from 1 October 2026 each business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month, then they are charged. Meta: WhatsApp pricing

WhatsApp Help Center: greeting messages, away messages and quick replies (checked 2026-10-25): greeting messages, away messages, quick replies

Questions people ask

Can I copy the refund policy from the template?

No, the template only holds a placeholder. Write your real policy, and check any rules that apply to tutoring businesses where you are.

Can progress updates be automated?

They are about one child, so they should not go out automatically. Use the template as a format and add your own notes each week before sending.

Can I paste these straight into WhatsApp Business?

Yes. Replace the words in braces with your own details and save them as a greeting message, away message or quick reply. Send yourself a test message from another phone afterwards.

What is the difference between a greeting, an away message and a quick reply?

A greeting goes out automatically when someone messages you for the first time, an away message goes out automatically while you are away or closed, and a quick reply is a saved message you choose yourself in a chat.

Is it OK to send an automatic reply to every message?

Keep automatic messages to the first hello and after-hours replies. Everything else reads better when a person picks or checks it, which is why Rex drafts and waits for your approval instead of sending on its own.