How do I handle WhatsApp orders that arrive after closing time?
Updated 8 October 2026
Set an away message for outside your opening hours that says when you open and how to order for later. Do not leave late orders unanswered.
- The Business app can send away messages always, on a custom schedule, or only outside business hours.
- Outside-hours sending works only after you set your business hours.
- You can choose who gets it: everyone, people not in your address book, and so on.
- Say when you reopen and what a customer can do next, such as order for tomorrow.
Let late customers book for later
Menuthere lets customers place scheduled orders and pre-orders for a later time, so a late-night customer books tomorrow's order without waiting for a reply.
Next questions
Sources (1)
- WhatsApp help page, WhatsApp, read 2026-09-30
