{"service":{"id":"whatsapp-business","name":"WhatsApp Business setup and automation","url":"https://ellul.ai/services/whatsapp-business"},"ellul_ai":{"price":1695,"currency":"GBP","basis":"one-off","unit":null,"includes":["WhatsApp Business account set up on your number","Chat button on your website","Automatic replies, with enquiries sent to your inbox or CRM","Meta and messaging platform fees paid by you, at cost"],"time":"1 week"},"read_on":"2026-11-06","fx_to_gbp":{"GBP":1,"USD":0.75,"EUR":0.86},"market":{"counted":4,"median_gbp":1697.5,"p25_gbp":1300,"p75_gbp":2121.25},"counted":[{"provider":"SparkLDN (London)","url":"https://sparkldn.pages.dev/services/whatsapp-automation","figure":1000,"currency":"GBP","gbp":1000,"basis":"one-off","unit":null,"kind":"agency","quote":"From £1,000. Setup, plus API costs"},{"provider":"Andlane Ltd (London)","url":"https://andlane-website.pages.dev/services/ai-chatbots.html","figure":1400,"currency":"GBP","gbp":1400,"basis":"one-off","unit":null,"kind":"agency","quote":"Andlane chatbot builds start at £1,400 for a single channel (web or WhatsApp)"},{"provider":"Paul Walsh (Blackburn, Lancashire)","url":"https://paul-walsh.co.uk/whatsapp-business-api-cost/","figure":1995,"currency":"GBP","gbp":1995,"basis":"one-off","unit":null,"kind":"freelancer","quote":"Two-way messaging: from £1,995 (beside Notifications: from £995 and Support automation: from £2,995)"},{"provider":"Softomate Solutions (UK)","url":"https://www.softomatesolutions.com/ai-chatbot-development-cost-uk/","figure":2500,"currency":"GBP","gbp":2500,"basis":"one-off","unit":null,"kind":"agency","quote":"WhatsApp AI setup starts from £2,500 for implementation."}],"facts":{"pay_separately":["The messaging platform provider's monthly fee, paid to them","Meta's per-message charges, paid at cost"],"needs_from_you":["Your business phone number, and access to it for the verification code","Admin access to your Meta business portfolio and your website","Access to the inbox or CRM that should receive enquiries"],"limits":["Meta decides business verification and any Meta Verified badge","Meta approves message templates; marketing messages go only to customers who opted in"],"rules":[{"fact":"WhatsApp's Business Messaging Policy (updated 23 September 2026) lets a business contact people only if they gave it their number or username and opted in to receive further messages.","source_name":"WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy","source_url":"https://whatsappbusiness.com/policy/"}],"cheaper_route":[{"fact":"For simple automatic replies, the WhatsApp Business app is free to download and has automated greeting and away messages and pre-written quick replies.","source_name":"WhatsApp for Business: WhatsApp plus built-in business tools","source_url":"https://whatsappbusiness.com/resources/resource-library/small-business-use-whatsapp-business-app/"}]},"not_counted":[]}