How to answer a customer asking for a price with a prompt and three examples

When a customer asks how much something costs, give the price you can confirm and explain what it covers. If you need more information to quote, ask one specific question before giving a number.

A possible reply is: “Hi, [service] costs [confirmed price] and includes [scope]. Is that the service you need, or are you looking for something different?” ChatGPT can help write the draft. You supply the price and check the reply.

What to gather first

Open the price list or proposal you use today. Decide whether you can give a fixed price, an approved range you can explain, or a question that needs answering first. If you say “starting at,” explain what that starting price covers and what might change it.

Write down the requested service, what’s included and any conditions needed to understand the amount. Leave out appointment times if you haven’t checked availability. A visit isn’t the right next step for every business.

Use “Customer A” while practicing and remove private details from their inquiry. Keep enough of the question to show what they want. Before asking for a draft, decide what you need the customer to tell you next.

A prompt you can copy

This adapts the price prompt in our free guide with 10 prompts. Replace the brackets with facts you’ve checked:

Help me answer a price question for my [type of business]. [Customer A] asks: [inquiry without private information].

Confirmed facts: [service or product, fixed price or approved range, what it covers and necessary conditions]. If I can’t quote yet, I need to know [missing information]. Confirmed availability, only if relevant: [times, or write not confirmed].

Write a reply of three sentences or fewer for [text, WhatsApp or another channel]. Give the price when it’s confirmed and end with a question that helps us continue. Match how I already speak to this customer: [greeting and tone I use]. If I leave that out, ask me.

Use only my facts. Don’t invent discounts, prices, appointment times or conditions. Don’t turn a range into a final price. If an essential detail is missing, tell me before drafting. For a med spa, keep the message administrative without treatment recommendations or promises about results.

Three example replies

Example for a med spa. Someone asks what a consultation costs. Reception has the approved price and description for that consultation but hasn’t checked the calendar. The example uses a friendly customer tone.

Possible reply: “Hi, the consultation costs [confirmed price] and includes [approved scope]. Would you like us to check available appointment times?”

Fill in the fields before sending. Don’t say the fee will be credited toward another service unless that’s an actual condition. If pricing depends on a professional decision, reception explains the confirmed administrative next step and leaves that decision to the appropriate team.

Example for a bookkeeping office. A customer asks about monthly bookkeeping. The office needs to know which tasks they want included before preparing a proposal. This example uses a more formal tone.

Possible reply: “Hello, before we quote the monthly bookkeeping service, we need to confirm which tasks you’d like included. Are you looking for bookkeeping only, or additional services as well?”

Use the question your office actually needs answered. Replace it if your process asks for something else. Don’t add tax recommendations or a rough figure that nobody has approved.

Example for a local store. A customer asks about a specific product. The store has confirmed the price but hasn’t checked stock. This example uses a friendly tone.

Possible reply: “Hi, [product and size] costs [confirmed price]. Would you like us to check whether it’s available?”

Don’t offer to hold the item until you know you can. Include any price conditions in the same plain language your store normally uses.

What to check before sending

Compare every amount with your current source. Confirm the product or service and remove any promise of availability you haven’t checked. Look for a range that needs explaining or a condition that disappeared from the draft.

Read the final question. It should ask for something you need to continue. Remove pressure based on made-up urgency, then read the whole reply aloud to check the tone. Add the real name only when you’re in the correct customer conversation.

If you’ve already sent a quote, our article on following up over WhatsApp can help you reopen that conversation.

Your next step

Choose one unanswered price inquiry and draft a reply with your confirmed facts. Get the 10 free prompts to adapt the price prompt to your business.