# WhatsApp guides for small business

> Twelve plain-English guides to WhatsApp for small Indian businesses: the API, inbox, automation, templates, pricing, Shopify and ads. By Chirpoo.

Canonical: https://chirpoo.com/guides/
Updated for 2026, 26 Oct 2026.

The Chirpoo guides are twelve plain-English explainers on running WhatsApp for a small Indian business, one topic each: the official WhatsApp Business API, the shared inbox, automation, broadcasts, templates, pricing, Shopify, cash-on-delivery checks, abandoned carts, click-to-WhatsApp ads and AI agents. Each guide links to shorter posts and comparisons on the same topic.

- [WhatsApp Business API for Small Businesses in India](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-business-api-small-business-india/): What the WhatsApp Business API is, who can get it, what Meta charges in India and how a small team sets it up with Chirpoo in a day.
- [WhatsApp Business App vs API: When to Move](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-business-app-vs-api/): A decision guide for owners on the free WhatsApp Business app: what the API adds, what you lose, how to move your number and what Chirpoo costs.
- [Shared WhatsApp Inbox for Teams](https://chirpoo.com/guides/shared-whatsapp-inbox/): What a shared WhatsApp inbox is, how one number serves many logins, and how Chirpoo handles assignment, notes, snooze and alerts for small teams.
- [WhatsApp Automation for Small Businesses](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-automation/): How WhatsApp automation works for small teams: triggers, actions, examples, the 24-hour rule, testing in shadow mode and when to hand over to a human.
- [WhatsApp Broadcast Marketing: Rules, Costs and Setup](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-broadcast-marketing/): How to run WhatsApp broadcasts in India: opt-in rules, marketing template approval, Meta's per-message price, limits and a Chirpoo setup guide.
- [WhatsApp Message Templates: Categories and Approval](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-message-templates/): How WhatsApp message templates work: the three categories and India prices, approval time, rejection reasons, variables, buttons and examples for Chirpoo.
- [WhatsApp Business Pricing in India 2026](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-pricing-india/): What WhatsApp Business costs in India in 2026: Meta's per-message rates, the 1 Oct change, and what Chirpoo and other tools add on top.
- [WhatsApp for Shopify Stores](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-for-shopify/): How to send order, shipping, cart, review and COD messages from a Shopify store on WhatsApp with Chirpoo Commerce at ₹1,499 a month.
- [COD Order Confirmation on WhatsApp](https://chirpoo.com/guides/cod-confirmation-whatsapp/): How to confirm cash-on-delivery orders with a WhatsApp Yes or No button, cut returns, and set it up on Shopify with Chirpoo Commerce.
- [Abandoned Cart Recovery on WhatsApp](https://chirpoo.com/guides/abandoned-cart-whatsapp/): How to win back Shopify shoppers who left checkout with a two-step WhatsApp reminder, with consent, discount codes and tracking in Chirpoo.
- [Click-to-WhatsApp Ads: Setup and Follow-up](https://chirpoo.com/guides/click-to-whatsapp-ads/): Set up click-to-WhatsApp ads, use Meta's free entry point window, and track which chats and orders came from an ad with Chirpoo.
- [AI Agents for WhatsApp Customer Support](https://chirpoo.com/guides/ai-agent-whatsapp-support/): What an AI agent can and cannot do on WhatsApp for a small business, with Meta's rules, human handover and how Chirpoo's agent works.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best guide to start with?

Start with the one that matches the problem on your desk today. If you still run WhatsApp from the free phone app, read [WhatsApp Business app or API](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-business-app-vs-api/) first. It explains where the app stops, where the API starts and when to move.

### How much does WhatsApp cost for small businesses in India?

There are two bills. Meta charges per message by template category, and the business pays Meta directly. A tool adds a monthly fee on top: Chirpoo is ₹999 a month excluding 18% GST and adds nothing per message. [WhatsApp pricing in India](https://chirpoo.com/guides/whatsapp-pricing-india/) covers Meta's side.

### Why move from the WhatsApp Business app to the API?

The WhatsApp Business app is a free phone app for one number. The official API lets your whole team answer that number from one shared inbox, run automations and send broadcasts to people who opted in. Your WhatsApp number stays yours.