WhatsApp Business Profile: What to Fill In, With Examples
How to set up a WhatsApp Business profile that customers trust: every field in the Business app and the API (about, description, address, hours, email, websites, category, photo), character limits, examples for Indian businesses and how to edit it.
Your WhatsApp Business profile is what customers see when they tap your name: photo, description, category, address, hours, email and website. In the WhatsApp Business app you edit it under Settings → Business tools → Business profile; on the API it’s set through WhatsApp Manager or your provider, with fixed limits such as 139 characters for About and 512 for the description.
A complete profile answers the basic questions (who you are, where, when you’re open, how to reach you) before a customer has to ask. This guide lists every field, the limits Meta sets, and example text for common Indian businesses.
Key takeaways
- Fill in everything: photo, description, category, address, hours, email and website.
- API limits: About 139 characters, description 512, address 256, email 128, up to 2 websites.
- Business hours power the app’s “Outside of business hours” away message.
- Your display name is separate from the profile and follows Meta’s naming rules.
- Numbers on the API without a verified badge aren’t found in WhatsApp search unless the customer has saved you.
The fields, in the app and on the API
| Field | Business app | API (business profile) | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile photo | Yes, public by default | Yes, uploaded through the API | Your logo, centred, readable when small |
| About | Custom text or a preset | 1 to 139 characters; links aren’t clickable | One line: what you do and where |
| Description | Yes | Up to 512 characters | Products or services, area served, how to order |
| Category | Up to 3 from WhatsApp’s list | One of 21 fixed verticals (e.g. RETAIL, EDU, HEALTH) | Pick the closest; “Other Business” if none fits |
| Address | Yes, with a map pin | Up to 256 characters | Full address customers can search |
| Business hours | Yes | Not stated officially | Needed for the app’s outside-hours away message |
| Yes | Up to 128 characters | A monitored inbox | |
| Websites | Yes | Up to 2, starting with http(s) | Website and a store or booking page |
| Catalog, cover photo, price range, linked Facebook/Instagram | Yes (app) | Not in the business profile fields | Catalog lets customers browse products in the chat |
How to edit your WhatsApp Business profile
In the WhatsApp Business app
- Open Settings → Business tools → Business profile (on some phones: Tools → Business profile).
- Tap each field to edit it; save.
- Some fields, such as your name, can only be edited in the mobile app, not on WhatsApp Web or desktop.
On the WhatsApp Business API
- Edit it in WhatsApp Manager (Meta Business Suite) for your phone number, or
- In your provider’s settings; in Automate AI, Settings → Business Profile updates your profile on WhatsApp, or
- With the API: the
whatsapp_business_profileendpoint on your phone number ID.
Example profile text
Sample text for example businesses. Replace the details with your own.
| Business | About (up to 139) | Description (up to 512) |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing store | Sarees & ethnic wear in Jaipur · Ships across India | Example Store sells handloom sarees, kurtas and lehengas. Order on WhatsApp or at example.com. Free delivery in Jaipur; 3–5 days across India. Exchanges within 7 days. Open 10 AM–8 PM, Mon–Sat. |
| Coaching institute | JEE & NEET coaching in Kota · Admissions open | Example Academy offers classroom and online coaching for JEE, NEET and Class 11–12. Batches start every quarter. Message us for fees, timings and a free demo class. |
| Clinic | Dental clinic in Andheri West · Appointments on WhatsApp | Example Dental Clinic: check-ups, cleaning, fillings, braces and implants. Book, reschedule or ask about treatments here. Please don’t share medical reports in chat; bring them to your visit. Emergencies: call 98XXX XXXXX. |
| Real estate | New homes in Pune · Site visits every day | Example Realty: 1, 2 and 3 BHK homes in Hinjewadi and Wakad. Ask for brochures, prices and site visit slots. |
Profile tips that build trust
- Match your other channels: same logo, name and address as your website and Google listing.
- Say how you reply: hours, and whether a bot or a person answers first.
- Add a website and email so customers can check you’re real.
- Keep hours current for holidays, so away messages are right.
- Don’t put offers in the About line; it’s for who you are, and it changes less often than your promotions.
Customers also judge you by your name. On the API, your display name is reviewed against Meta’s rules; see WhatsApp display name rules. The verified badge is covered in what the WhatsApp Business API is.
Will customers find my business on WhatsApp?
Mostly through you: your website, Google listing, ads and QR codes. Meta says a number on the WhatsApp Business Platform without Official Business Account status doesn’t appear in WhatsApp search unless the customer has saved it, and WhatsApp’s business directory is currently available only in Brazil. Make it easy to start a chat with a WhatsApp link and QR code or Click-to-WhatsApp ads.
Frequently asked questions
How do I edit my WhatsApp Business profile?
In the WhatsApp Business app, go to Settings → Business tools → Business profile. On the API, edit it in WhatsApp Manager, in your provider’s settings (Automate AI: Settings → Business Profile), or through the business profile endpoint.
How long can the WhatsApp Business “About” be?
On the API, 1 to 139 characters, and links in it aren’t clickable. The description can be up to 512 characters.
How many websites can I add to my WhatsApp Business profile?
Up to 2 on the API, each up to 256 characters and starting with http:// or https://.
Can I change my WhatsApp Business name in the profile?
In the app, yes (Meta Verified businesses need a review). On the API, the name customers see is your display name, which Meta reviews and you change through WhatsApp Manager.
Why can’t customers find my business by searching WhatsApp?
On the API, numbers without Official Business Account status don’t appear in WhatsApp search unless the customer saved your number. Share a wa.me link or QR code instead.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center: Edit your business profile
- Meta: Business profiles (API fields and limits)
- Meta: Official Business Accounts
- WhatsApp Help Center: Business directory
- Meta: Coexistence for WhatsApp Business app users
WhatsApp rules and prices change. We check these guides against Meta’s documentation, but always confirm current terms with Meta before you rely on them. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 836 977 8812.
