How to Create a WhatsApp Business Catalog

Before you start

• Install the WhatsApp Business app (not regular WhatsApp) on the number you will use for the business.
• Complete your business profile: name, category, description, address and hours. A catalog on an empty profile looks untrustworthy.
• Prepare photos, a product name, price and a short description for each item before you begin.
• Check WhatsApp's commerce policy. Some categories, such as alcohol, tobacco, medicines and weapons, cannot be listed.

Step 1: Open the catalog

1. Open WhatsApp Business and go to Settings → Business tools → Catalog.
2. Tap Add new item.

Menu names move between app versions. If you cannot find it, look for "Catalog" under Business tools.

Step 2: Add each product

Step 3: Group items into collections

Once you have more than about ten products, group them into collections such as "New arrivals", "Under ₹999", "Sarees" or "Gift sets". Buyers scan collections the way they scan shelves in a shop, and you can share a single collection when someone asks for one type of product.

Step 4: Share the catalog

• In a chat: tap the attachment icon and choose Catalog to send one product or the whole catalog.
• As a link: share the catalog or product link from the catalog screen. Put it in your Instagram bio, story links and Facebook page.
• In a status: post new products as status updates with the product link.
• Offline: print a QR code that opens your chat, and put it on packaging and the shop counter.

For a click-to-chat link with a message already typed, see step 3 of how to sell on WhatsApp Business.

Step 5: Turn cart messages into orders

When a buyer sends a cart, it arrives as a message with the items and quantities. Reply with the same script every time:

1. Confirm items, size and quantity, and that they are in stock.
2. Ask for the full address with PIN code and landmark.
3. Send the total including shipping.
4. Offer UPI first, then Cash on Delivery.
5. Send a written summary and ask the buyer to reply "Confirm".

Then ship it: see how to send products sold on WhatsApp.

What makes a catalog sell

• Prices on every item. "DM for price" adds a round trip that loses buyers.
• Stock kept current. Hide sold-out items the same day. Accepting an order you cannot ship costs more than the sale.
• Clear delivery promise. "Ships in 2 days, delivered in 4–7" answers the second question every buyer asks.
• Fast replies. Use quick replies for price, delivery and payment questions.

When a WhatsApp catalog is not enough

The catalog has no stock sync, no checkout, no payment collection and no order records. Every order still needs a person to reply, check stock and copy the address. You have outgrown it when:

• Stock on WhatsApp, Instagram and your shop counter keeps going out of step.
• Orders wait hours for a reply.
• COD orders come back because nobody confirmed the address. Work out the cost with the COD RTO calculator.

Doing this with ARSAVO

ARSAVO keeps one product list for your web store and WhatsApp ordering, with stock that updates on every sale. Buyers check out with 2-tap UPI or COD, COD orders are confirmed on WhatsApp before you pack, and a GST invoice is sent for each order, with 0% commission on sales. ARSAVO opens in private beta in January 2027 for 15 founding merchants.

Frequently asked questions