The short answer
Building a WhatsApp bot starts at $200 for menus and answers, around $350 for orders or bookings with a database, and about $600 with payments and an admin panel. Running it costs a small server (usually $5–10 a month) plus Meta's charges for messages your business starts.
Build price by type
| Type | What it does | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple bot | Menu, FAQ, request form | from $200 | 3–5 days |
| Business bot | Orders or bookings, database, notifications | from $350 | 5–8 days |
| Bot + admin panel | Payments, web admin, WhatsApp and Telegram | from $600 | 8–14 days |
What Meta charges
Bots run on the WhatsApp Business Platform. When a customer writes to you, replies within the next 24 hours are free. Messages your business starts — reminders, order updates, promotions — use approved templates that Meta charges per message. Rates depend on the customer's country and the template category, so I estimate them for your volume before we start.
How to keep running costs low
- Let customers start the conversation: replies inside the 24-hour window are free.
- Send reminders only where they prevent real losses, such as no-shows.
- Use a Telegram bot for your own team — it costs nothing to run.
Questions
How long does Meta's approval take?
Business verification and template approval usually take from a few hours to a few days; I prepare everything so it goes through the first time.
Can I use my existing number?
Usually yes — I check how the number is used today before we start.