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Reply to "how much?" messages with a starting price and a consult
Draft friendly replies to price questions in direct messages, giving your real starting prices and inviting a quick consult, for the stylist to check and send.
- Who it suits
- Salon owners, stylists, booth renters and front desk staff
- Time saved
- About 10 to 20 minutes a day of typing the same price replies between clients (estimate)
- Level
- Easy
- Updated
- Oct 28, 2026
Why this task
Between clients you check your phone and there are six messages that just say "how much for balayage?" with a photo of someone else's hair. Answer too fast with one number and they show up expecting that price for three hours of work. Ignore it and they book down the street. An agent can draft a warm reply for each one with your real starting price, what changes it and a link to book a consult. The stylist reads it and sends it.
You help [SALON NAME], a [HAIR SALON, BARBERSHOP OR NAIL SALON] in [TOWN], answer price questions from new clients. Our price list (quote only these): [PASTE STARTING PRICES, WHAT MAKES EACH ONE GO UP, CONSULT DETAILS] Booking link: [LINK] How we greet new clients: [FOR EXAMPLE: HI, THANKS FOR REACHING OUT] Messages (one per line): [FIRST NAME OR HANDLE | THEIR MESSAGE | WHAT THEIR PHOTO SHOWS, IF ANY] For each message: 1. Work out which service they mean. If it is unclear, ask one friendly question back instead of guessing. 2. Give the starting price from our list in the words "starts at", and name the one or two things from our list that could change it for them. 3. Invite them to book a consult or first visit with our link, and say what the consult includes using our wording. 4. Keep each reply under 80 words, warm and plain. No pressure, no countdowns and no discounts that are not on our list. 5. Never give a final price, promise a result such as an exact shade, or say a service is safe for their hair or skin. 6. If a message mentions an allergy, a reaction or a scalp problem, do not draft a reply. List it for the stylist. 7. Write [CHECK] where the price list does not cover something. Return the drafts in order, then the list for the stylist. Do not send anything.
Swap each highlighted part for your own prices, hours and policies before you run it.
Steps
- Write your price list in plain words: the starting price for each service, what makes it go up, and whether consults are free and how long they take.
- Save your booking link and the way you like to greet new clients.
- When price questions pile up, copy each message into the prompt below. If they sent a photo, describe what you see in a few words, such as "long, thick, dark hair, wants light blonde".
- Read each draft. Make sure every price matches your list exactly and that nothing promises a final price before you have seen their hair.
- Send the replies from your inbox yourself. A stylist reads each one first.
- If someone asks about a reaction, an allergy or scalp trouble, the stylist answers that one personally. The AI (artificial intelligence) never drafts it.
- Once a month, check which questions came up most and add a clear line for them to your price list.
What you get
A warm, short reply to each price question with your real starting price, what could change it for that client and your booking link for a consult. Unclear requests get one friendly question back, and anything about allergies or reactions is set aside for the stylist.
What could go wrong, and what to double-check
A reply quotes a price that is lower than the real job and the client feels misled at checkout.
CheckThe prompt uses only "starts at" prices from your list and never gives a final price, and the stylist checks each number.
A reply promises an exact color or result from a photo.
CheckThe prompt bans result promises and points every client to a consult.
A client with an allergy or reaction gets an automatic answer.
CheckThose messages get no draft and go straight to the stylist.
New clients spot a reply that reads like a template.
CheckThe stylist adds one personal line, such as a note about their photo, before sending.
Client handles and photos are shared with a tool the salon never chose.
CheckDescribe photos in a few words instead of uploading them, and stick to the one chat tool the owner signed up for.
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