Chatbot welcome message examples for 21 kinds of business
Chatbot welcome message examples by industry: the first message your AI chatbot shows, with an AI disclosure, 3 quick replies, what it must never say and when it hands over. With a filled example, a Word file and an Excel library with a weekly test log.
Made by Anatolii Ulitovskyi 
Fact-checked by RH Fardin Updated 1. Chatbot welcome message examples: the 4-part formula
Start hereThese chatbot welcome message examples follow one formula: an AI disclosure, 2 or 3 things the bot can help with, who takes over, then one open question. Add 3 quick replies. Tabs 2 to 8 apply it to 21 kinds of business.
First message (fill in)Hi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for business. I can help with task 1, task 2 and task 3, or pass you to name on our team. What can I help with?
Quick replies (3 buttons)Most asked question
Book, buy or get a quote
Talk to a person
Rules for every industry
- Under 200 characters, so it fits on a phone screen without scrolling. This is the template's rule, not a study.
- 3 quick replies of 25 characters or fewer. Visitors can still type.
- Nothing private in the first message: no health details, card numbers or date of birth.
- If a person answers the chat, drop the AI sentence and use their real name. Then these work as live chat welcome message examples too.
Why the AI sentence comes firstIn the EU, people must be told that they are interacting with an AI system, at the latest at the first interaction, unless it is obvious1. This applies from 2 August 20262. In California, a clear disclosure that it is a bot removes liability under the state's bot law3.
Welcome rules for the bot's instructionsWELCOME RULES
The first message is fixed. If asked, say you are an AI assistant, never a person.
Never: never-say line for your industry.
Pass the chat to name for: hand-over topics, and whenever the visitor asks for a person.
Greetings by page and after hours are in our live chat greeting examples. The rest of the chat is in the chatbot script templates.
2. Welcome messages for clinics and dental practices
No medical advicePatients want an appointment, your hours or your insurance list. Symptoms belong with your team, never with the bot.
2.1Medical clinic
Quick repliesBook an appointment · Opening hours · Insurance we take
Never sayA diagnosis, a dose, or whether a symptom is serious.
Hand to a personAny symptom or test result: the front desk.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, clinic's AI assistant. I can help with appointments, hours and insurance, but not medical advice. Emergency? Call emergency number. How can I help?
2.2Dental practice
Quick repliesBook a checkup · New patients · Toothache today
Never sayA treatment price before an exam, or "it's probably nothing."
Hand to a personPain, swelling or a broken tooth: the front desk, by phone.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, practice's AI assistant. I can help you book a checkup or cleaning and answer new patients' questions. In pain today? Call phone. How can I help?
Why the first message asks no health questionsIn the EU, health data is a special category under the GDPR, with stricter rules for processing it4. Let the bot book; your team asks about symptoms.
Never
- Never ask for symptoms, a date of birth or an insurance number in the first message.
3. Welcome messages for real estate, mortgage and solar
Facts, not promisesThe bot gives facts and next steps. Prices, rates and savings come from a person.
3.1Real estate agency
Quick repliesFirst-time buyer · Book a showing · What's my home worth?
Never sayWho lives in a neighborhood, or that an area suits "families like yours."
Hand to a personOffers, pricing a home, contracts: agent name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for agency. I can help with listings, showings and home values, or pass you to agent name, our agent. Buying, selling or renting?
3.2Mortgage broker or lender
Quick repliesGet pre-approved · Loan types · Talk to a loan officer
Never sayA rate, a monthly payment or "you'll qualify."
Hand to a personAny rate, approval or personal numbers: loan officer.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, company's AI assistant. I can explain loan types and the steps to pre-approval. Rates and approval come only from a licensed loan officer. What's your goal?
3.3Solar installer
Quick repliesGet a quote · Is my roof suitable? · Talk to an advisor
Never saySavings, payback years or tax credits as promises.
Hand to a personQuotes, financing, roof questions: advisor.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, company's AI assistant. I can explain how solar works on a home like yours, check our service area and start a quote. What would you like to know?
Fair housing in the USIt is unlawful to discourage anyone from buying or renting a home because of the race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin of the people in a neighborhood5. Give the bot facts about homes, not about neighbors.
4. Welcome messages for law firms, advisers and insurance
No adviceVisitors read every word as advice, so the "no advice" line goes into the first message.
4.1Law firm
Quick repliesBook a consultation · Practice areas · Fees
Never sayWhat a case is worth, whether to sign, or that this chat makes them a client.
Hand to a personDeadlines, court dates, anything urgent: intake name, by phone.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for firm. I'm not a lawyer and can't give legal advice, but I can explain our practice areas and book a consultation. What is it about?
4.2Financial adviser or accountant
Quick repliesBook a call · Our services · Fees
Never sayReturns, "safe" investments, or what to buy or sell.
Hand to a personThe visitor's own money or taxes: adviser.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, firm's AI assistant. I don't give investment or tax advice, but I can explain our services and fees or book a call with an adviser. What can I help with?
4.3Insurance agency
Quick repliesGet a quote · Report a claim · Talk to an agent
Never sayA price, or "you're covered," before an agent checks the policy.
Hand to a personClaims, cancellations and "am I covered?": agent.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, agency's AI assistant. I can explain our cover, start a quote or help you report a claim. A licensed agent confirms prices and cover. What do you need?
Never
- Never ask for case details, account numbers or policy numbers in the first message.
5. Welcome messages for online stores, shops and car dealers
Shoppers want an answer before they buy: size, delivery, stock or price.
5.1Online store
Quick repliesTrack my order · Sizes and fit · Returns
Never sayA delivery date or a stock level the bot cannot see.
Hand to a personMissing or damaged orders, refunds: name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, store's AI assistant. I can help with sizes, delivery, returns and your order. What are you looking for today?
5.2Retail store
Quick repliesOpening hours · Reserve an item · Talk to the store
Never say"It's in stock" when the bot cannot see live stock.
Hand to a personStock checks, holds, special orders: name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for shop. I can tell you our hours, what we sell and how to reserve an item. Name in the store checks stock. What can I help with?
5.3Car dealership
Quick repliesBook a test drive · Value my trade-in · Financing
Never sayA final price, a monthly payment or "you're approved."
Hand to a personPrices, financing and trade-in offers: name in sales.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, dealership's AI assistant. I can help you find a car, plan a test drive or start a trade-in, or pass you to name in sales. New or used?
On checkout pagesShow no welcome message on checkout. The checkout line is in our live chat greeting examples.
6. Welcome messages for SaaS, IT services and B2B firms
Business buyers want to know fast if you fit. Put the demo or the call in a button.
6.1SaaS and startups
Quick repliesSee plans · Book a demo · Help with setup
Never sayFeatures on the roadmap as if they exist, or a discount.
Hand to a personCustom plans, security questions, contracts: name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, product's AI assistant. I can answer questions about features, plans and setup, or book a demo with name. What are you trying to do?
6.2IT services
Quick repliesUrgent support · Our services · Get a quote
Never say"Fixed" or "safe" about a system the bot cannot see.
Hand to a personOutages and security incidents: on-call name, by phone.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for company. Something down right now? Tap Urgent support and name calls you back. I can also explain our services. What do you need?
6.3B2B and manufacturing
Quick repliesRequest a quote · Product specs · Talk to sales
Never sayA price or a lead time for a custom order.
Hand to a personQuotes, custom specs, samples: name in sales.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, an AI assistant for company. I can help with product specs, minimum orders and lead times, or pass you to name in sales. What are you sourcing?
6.4Agencies and consulting
Quick repliesOur services · See our work · Book a call
Never sayResults such as "page one on Google" or "double your leads."
Hand to a personProposals and budgets: name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, agency's AI assistant. I can show you our services and past work, explain how we price projects or book a call with name. What are you working on?
7. Welcome messages for hotels, restaurants and gyms
The bot answers and sends the booking link. It never says that a room, a table or a class is free.
7.1Hotel or guesthouse
Quick repliesBook a room · Check-in times · Parking
Never sayThat a room or a rate is available.
Hand to a personGroup bookings, special requests, complaints: reception.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, hotel's AI assistant. I can answer questions about rooms, parking, check-in and the area. To book, use booking link. What can I help with?
7.2Restaurant or cafe
Quick repliesBook a table · See the menu · Private events
Never sayThat a dish is safe for an allergy.
Hand to a personAllergies, events, complaints: manager.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for restaurant. I can help with tables, opening hours, the menu and private events. What can I help with?
7.3Gym or fitness studio
Quick repliesClass times · Memberships · Book a trial class
Never sayInjury advice, or results such as "lose 10 pounds in a month."
Hand to a personInjuries, cancellations, membership freezes: front desk.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, gym's AI assistant. I can help with class times, memberships and booking a trial class. What are you looking for?
8. Welcome messages for schools, nonprofits and recruiters
These visitors share personal things fast. The first message offers clear paths and asks for nothing personal.
8.1School, course or tutoring
Quick repliesCourses and dates · Fees · How to apply
Never sayThat someone will be accepted, or get a grade or a job.
Hand to a personAdmissions, financial help, anything about a child: admissions name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, the AI assistant for school. I can help with courses, start dates, fees and how to apply. What would you like to learn?
8.2Nonprofit
Quick repliesDonate · Volunteer · Get support
Never sayTax advice on a gift, or what help a person will get.
Hand to a personPeople in crisis: helpline, at once. Large gifts: name.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, an AI assistant for organization. I can help you donate, volunteer or find support. If you need help urgently, call helpline. What brings you here?
8.3Recruiting and staffing
Quick repliesSee open jobs · I'm hiring · Send my resume
Never sayQuestions about age, family plans, religion, health or disability.
Hand to a personPay talks and job offers: recruiter.
First messageHi, I'm bot name, agency's AI assistant. I can show you open jobs, explain how we work with employers and pass you to a recruiter. Are you looking for a job or for staff?
Why recruiting bots ask lessIn the US, the EEOC says pre-employment questions should be limited to what shows whether a person is qualified, and employers may not ask about disability before a job offer6.
For small sales and support teams
One first message, 3 quick replies, a person when it counts.
In CRMsoftware.pro, the message goes into First Message, the buttons into Suggested Replies and your never-say lines into Instructions. Chat History keeps every chat for your weekly count.
- First Message and Suggested Replies on every plan
- Mobile preview and Try Bot before you go live
- Handover to a person from Launch, $19 a month billed yearly
Free plan: 3 users, AI chat, no credit card.
Filled example
A real estate chatbot welcome message, from the first tap to a lead
Cobalt Coast Realty, a fictional real estate agency in Wilmington, North Carolina, uses the real estate welcome message from tab 3 with its own names: Sky is the AI agent, Hannah Pruitt the agent who takes over. On Thursday 8 October 2026, Avery Kowalski, a first-time buyer, tapped the first quick reply.
The welcome message
| Version | Version 3, live again since Monday 5 October |
| Length | 168 of 200 characters |
| AI disclosure | First sentence |
| Quick replies | First-time buyer, Book a showing, What's my home worth? |
| Avery tapped | First-time buyer |
| Never said | Who lives in Ogden; what Avery can borrow |
What lands in the app and the CRM
| Live Support | Awaiting agent 17:42, claimed by Hannah 17:49 |
| Lead | Added by Hannah: Avery Kowalski, first-time buyer, Ogden; Source: Live Chat; Status: In Progress; Assigned To: Hannah |
| Notes | Up to $350,000; wants the pre-approval steps; text 910-555-0148 |
| Tasks | Text 3 lender names, Deadline: today; Ogden showings, Saturday 10 October, 10:00; Assignee: Hannah |
Test log, week of 5 October
| Version | Chats started | Tapped a quick reply |
|---|---|---|
| Version 3 | 27 | 14, or 52% |
Why it matters
Why an AI chatbot welcome message needs a disclosure and limits
The welcome message is the first interaction, and that is where the AI disclosure belongs. Under the EU AI Act, AI systems intended to interact directly with people must be designed so that people are informed they are interacting with an AI system, unless that is obvious. The information must be clear and given at the latest at the first interaction1, from 2 August 20262. In California, it is unlawful to use a bot to mislead people about its artificial identity in order to get them to buy; a clear and conspicuous disclosure that it is a bot removes liability under that section3. One sentence covers both. This is not legal advice.
Each industry also has lines a bot must not cross: health data is a special category under the GDPR4, steering buyers by who lives in a neighborhood is unlawful in US real estate5, and US hiring questions should cover only what shows whether a person is qualified6. So each tab gives a never-say line and a hand-over rule next to the message.
The 200-character limit and the 3 buttons are this template's own rules, not research: they keep the message and the buttons on one phone screen. Only your own chats show whether a message works, so the weekly test below counts quick-reply taps.
2 Aug 2026
EU AI Act duty to tell people they are talking to an AI system applies (Article 50)
200
characters at most for a first message, with 3 quick replies (this template's rule)
21
industries, each with a first message, 3 quick replies and a never-say line
Weekly test
How to test a chatbot greeting message in 15 minutes a week
No A/B testing tool needed: one version per week, counted by hand from the chats. The Excel test log works out the rate.
| Step | What to do | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Before it goes live | Type 5 real questions from your inbox, plus "hi" and "Are you a real person?" | Each answer keeps the first message's promise; the bot says it is an AI. |
| Count chats | Every Monday, count last week's chats for the bot. | One row per week in the test log. |
| Count quick-reply taps | Count the chats where the visitor's first message is one of your buttons. | Count each chat once. |
| Change one thing | The buttons, the tasks or the question. Never the AI sentence. | Keep it if the rate holds or rises; go back if it drops. |
| Wait for 20 chats | With fewer, 2 or 3 visitors can move the rate by chance. | Under 20, run the same version another week. |
The rate shows whether visitors use your buttons, not whether they buy. When visitors keep typing the same question, make it a button.
Excel library
Welcome message library and test log in Excel
Four sheets: Library, Test log, Summary and Settings. Auto columns fill in by themselves. Opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets.
| Column | What it does |
|---|---|
| Library: industry, first message, AI disclosure | One row per message: the 21 from the tabs and three versions from Cobalt Coast Realty. AI disclosure: Yes or No. |
| Quick reply 1, 2 and 3, never say, hand to a person | The buttons and the industry's limits, ready for the bot's instructions. |
| Characters, longest button Auto | Count the message and the longest of the 3 quick replies. |
| Status (library) Auto | Ready, Too long (over 200), No AI disclosure, Add 3 quick replies or Shorten a button (over 25). |
| Test log: week, version, what changed | One row per week, one change at a time. |
| Chats started, tapped a quick reply | Counted by hand from the week's chats. |
| Rate, change, suggestion Auto | Taps divided by chats, the change in points, and Keep, Go back, Too few chats, Add AI disclosure or First week. |
| Summary Auto | Messages ready, totals, the overall rate and the best version. |
In the sample, 22 of 24 messages are Ready: Cobalt's version 1 has no AI disclosure, and version 4 is too long at 247 characters. 54% and then 52% of visitors tapped a quick reply on version 3, and 36% on version 4, so Cobalt went back to version 3.
How to set up
How to use these chatbot welcome message templates
- 1
Pick your industry
Open its tab, or tab 1 if it is not listed.
- 2
Fill in the brackets
Your names, tasks and numbers. Keep the AI sentence first.
- 3
Check the length
Under 200 characters, 3 short buttons. Read it on a phone.
- 4
Test 5 real questions
Before it goes live, and after every change.
- 5
Log one week at a time
Chats and quick-reply taps, in the Excel test log.
Set it up in CRMsoftware.pro
- In My Bots, choose the bot. On the Basics tab, paste the message into First Message and the welcome rules from tab 1 into Instructions.
- On the Behavior tab, turn on Quick Replies and add 3 Suggested Replies.
- Leave Collect User Data off so visitors can ask first. For clinics, law firms and finance, turn on Require privacy acknowledgment (Advanced tab) to show your Privacy notice first.
- Click Save Bot, check the message in the Mobile preview, then type your 5 test questions in Try Bot.
- Every Monday, count last week's chats and quick-reply taps in Chat History and log them in Excel.
First Message, Suggested Replies and Try Bot are on the Free plan: 3 users, 1 bot, no credit card. Human handover to Live Support comes with Launch, $19 a month billed yearly for 8 users and 2 bots.
Ready when
- The first sentence says AI assistant.
- Under 200 characters, 3 buttons of 25 or fewer.
- The never-say line is in the instructions.
- 5 real test questions pass, dated in the test log.
FAQ
Chatbot welcome messages: common questions
What are good chatbot welcome message examples?
Good ones say that an AI assistant answers, name 2 or 3 things it can help with and who takes over, and end with one question, in under 200 characters with 3 quick replies. For example: "Hi, I'm Sky, the AI assistant for Cobalt Coast Realty. I can help with listings, showings and home values, or pass you to Hannah, our agent. Buying, selling or renting?"
How do you write a welcome message for a chatbot?
Start from your industry's tab, fill in the brackets and keep the AI sentence first. Read it on a phone, and test it with 5 real questions before it goes live.
Should a chatbot welcome message say it is an AI?
Yes. Under the EU AI Act, people must be told they are interacting with an AI system at the latest at the first interaction, unless it is obvious1, from 2 August 20262. In California, a clear bot disclosure removes liability under the state's bot law3. This is not legal advice.
How long should a chatbot greeting message be?
This template's rule: under 200 characters, at most 3 short sentences, plus 3 quick replies of 25 characters or fewer, so it all fits on one phone screen. It is a design rule, not a study.
What should a healthcare or dental chatbot say first?
That it is an AI assistant, what it helps with (appointments, hours, insurance), that it gives no medical advice, and a number for emergencies. It should not ask about symptoms: in the EU, health data is a special category under the GDPR4.
What should a real estate chatbot welcome message say?
That an AI assistant answers, what it helps with (listings, showings, home values) and who the agent is, then "Buying, selling or renting?" It should never describe who lives in a neighborhood5.
What should a law firm, finance or insurance chatbot never say?
Anything that reads as advice: what a case is worth, what to invest in or "you're covered." Say "I can't give legal advice" or "I don't give investment advice" in the first message, and hand deadlines, claims and personal numbers to a licensed person.
How do I test which chatbot welcome message works best?
One version per week, one change at a time. Count the chats and, by hand, the quick-reply taps; the Excel test log works out the rate. Wait for 20 chats, and never test a version without the AI sentence.
Where does the welcome message go in CRMsoftware.pro?
In My Bots: the message goes into First Message on the Basics tab, the buttons into Suggested Replies on the Behavior tab. Test it in Try Bot. This works on the Free plan; human handover comes with Launch, $19 a month billed yearly7.
Related templates
Free tools
Sources
- EU AI Act, Article 50(1) and (5), text as at 27 July 2026, read 13 October 2026: AI Act Service Desk, Article 50: Transparency obligations for providers and deployers of certain AI systems
- EU AI Act, date of application: AI Act Service Desk, Article 113: Entry into force and application
- California Business and Professions Code, section 17941 (bot disclosure): California Code, BPC 17941
- GDPR, Article 9(1) and (2)(a), EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation)
- US fair housing rules on steering, 24 CFR 100.70(a) and (c)(1): eCFR, 24 CFR 100.70: Other prohibited sale and rental conduct
- US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, pre-employment inquiries: EEOC, Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices
- Plans, prices and bots per plan, checked 13 October 2026: CRMsoftware.pro pricing
Write the first message once. Test it every week.
Start free with 3 users, 1 bot and AI chat: paste the message into First Message, add 3 Suggested Replies and test it in Try Bot. Launch, $19 a month billed yearly, adds human handover in Live Support and a second bot.