How to set up WhatsApp Business (and actually use it well)

Just about everyone in the UK has WhatsApp on their phone, which makes WhatsApp Business one of the easiest, most familiar ways to keep in touch with customers. The trick is doing it from a business number rather than your personal one—so clients aren't pinging your private chats at all hours. This guide walks you through setting up WhatsApp Business, with a few tips for getting the most out of it.

First, the bit people often trip over: you can't use the same number for your personal WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. You'll need a separate one. A virtual business landline for mobile from Rinkel does the job nicely. It runs on the phone you already carry, so there's no second SIM and no second handset to juggle.

Step 1: download WhatsApp Business 
First things first: download the app using the buttons below.

Download for iPhone

Download for Android

Step 2: verify your account 
To verify your WhatsApp Business account, you'll go through a few steps. Here's the run-through:

1. Choose "use a different number"
2. Enter your business phone number (without the leading 0)
3. Tap "next"
4. You'll land on the SMS screen, which says a verification code is on its way. It won't arrive, though, because your Rinkel number doesn't receive texts.
5. Tap "didn't receive code"
6. Choose the "call me" option
7. You'll get a call that reads out the code
8. Jot it down, or pop it straight into WhatsApp Business

One thing to sort first: before you tap "call me", make sure you haven't got a welcome message switched on. Check these features—welcome message, call menu, queue and call recording. Otherwise WhatsApp's robot reads out the code before you've had a chance to pick up.

Step 3: set up your business profile 
Add your business name and upload a logo or company photo. That alone gives you a trustworthy look from the off. You can round out your profile with:

• Opening hours
• Address and contact details
• Any other useful info

You can connect WhatsApp Business to your Rinkel business landline. So whether you've picked a local number (say, 020 for London or 0161 for Manchester) or a national 03 number, you can use it for WhatsApp Business just the same.

Want to see it in action? Watch the demo for a quick walk-through.

Watch the demo

WhatsApp Business works across five devices at once, and that includes up to five phones.

You can link your WhatsApp Business account to four extra phones or computers, so colleagues can pitch in on customer chats too. The phone where you first install the app stays the account's manager. On that phone, head to settings and tap "link a device", then scan the QR code to activate WhatsApp on up to four more computers or phones. No faff.

The business tools built into the app can really up your game in 2026, and they do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

• Catalogue: show off your products in one place and send the lot straight to customers.
• Messaging tools: set up automatic replies. A polite out-of-hours message, for instance, tells customers exactly when to expect a reply.
• Labels: tag chats (think "new customer" or "awaiting reply") so you can find them again in seconds.
• WhatsApp Web: manage WhatsApp Business from your desktop, so it's easy to switch between chats while you run the show.

There's more you can do, too. With a WhatsApp widget from Futy on your website, visitors can get in touch in a tap, including over WhatsApp. Handy for turning more website visits into enquiries.

WhatsApp Business is a simple way to chat to customers professionally—without blurring the line between work and personal. Use the smart tools, spread it across a few devices, and customer contact gets easier than ever.

Want to WhatsApp your customers from a proper business number? See how Rinkel and WhatsApp Business work together, or find out more about how Rinkel works.