Guides · Updated 2026-10-15

ChatGPT prompts for tradespeople: 16 to copy (UK)

These are prompts for the messages tradespeople write every week and put off: chasing a quote, asking for a review, replying to a complaint, explaining a delay. Fill in the [brackets], paste into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, and edit the result before you send it. Each one asks for British spelling and a short, plain message.

Two rules apply to all of them. Don't paste more customer personal data than the task needs. And always read the draft: AI tools can invent details, so check every date, price and promise before it goes out. Rules mentioned below were checked on 15 October 2026.

There are trade-specific sets too: ChatGPT prompts for electricians (EICRs, consumer units, EV chargers) for plumbers and heating engineers (gas safety, boilers, heat pumps), for builders (Party Wall, building control, variations), for salons, for cleaning businesses, for roofers, for gardeners and landscapers and for garages.

Quote follow-ups

1. First follow-up, a few days after the quote

Write a short, friendly text to [customer name] following up the quote I sent on [date] for [job] at [address area]. Ask if they have any questions, mention the quote is valid until [date], and offer to talk it through on the phone. Under 300 characters, British spelling, no pressure.

2. Second follow-up with a reason to decide

Write a short email to [customer name] about my quote for [job], sent on [date]. Explain that I'm booking work for [month] and can hold a start date of [date] until [date]. Don't use pressure tactics or false deadlines. Under 120 words, British spelling.

Don't invent a deadline: falsely saying an offer is only available for a very limited time is one of the practices banned outright under the DMCC Act 2024 (CMA). Only say you're booking up if it's true.

3. Explain the price when a customer says it's too high

A customer has said my quote of [£amount] for [job] is higher than another quote. Write a polite reply explaining what my price includes ([list: materials, guarantees, waste removal, certificates]) and asking whether the other quote covers the same. Don't criticise the other trader. Under 150 words, British spelling.

See how to write a quote that wins and how to price a job.

Review requests

4. Ask for a Google review after the job

Write a short text to [customer name] thanking them for having me do [job]. Ask if they'd leave an honest Google review here: [link]. Make it easy to say no. Under 300 characters, British spelling, no discount, gift or offer.

5. A review card or QR code message

Write two lines for a small card I leave after a job, asking customers for an honest Google review. Include a space for a QR code. Friendly, plain British English, no incentive.

Google doesn't allow businesses to offer discounts, payment or free work for reviews, or to ask only happy customers (Google). Since 6 April 2025, fake reviews and concealed incentivised reviews are banned under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (GOV.UK). Ask every customer the same way. Tools such as NiceJob can send requests automatically; see Google review tools.

Complaints and bad reviews

6. Reply to a complaint by email

A customer has complained: [paste complaint]. Write a calm reply that thanks them for telling me, says what I understand the problem to be, explains what I'll do next ([action and date]), and invites them to call me on [number]. Don't admit liability for things I haven't agreed, don't argue, and don't make promises I haven't listed. Under 180 words, British spelling.

7. Reply to a negative Google review

Write a short public reply to this Google review: [paste review]. Thank them, acknowledge the issue without arguing, say I've [action taken], and invite them to contact me directly at [phone or email]. Don't mention their address, the job price or any personal details. Under 80 words, British spelling.

Keep personal details out of public replies: customers' names and addresses are personal data under UK GDPR (ICO).

8. Reply to a review you think is fake

This Google review doesn't match any customer I've worked for: [paste review]. Write a short, polite public reply saying I can't find a record of this job and inviting the reviewer to contact me with details at [email]. No accusations. Under 60 words, British spelling.

You can also report it through Google. See can Google detect fake reviews?

Delays and changes

9. Running late today

Write a short text to [customer name] saying I'm running about [minutes] late for today's [job] because [brief reason]. Give a new arrival time of [time] and offer to rearrange if that doesn't suit. Under 200 characters.

10. A job will take longer than planned

Write a short email to [customer name] explaining that [job] will take [extra days] longer than planned because [reason, e.g. what we found when we opened up the wall]. Say what this means for the finish date and the price ([no change / extra cost of £amount, with reason]) and ask them to confirm before I go ahead with any extra work. Under 150 words, British spelling.

Get extra work agreed in writing before you do it. If no price is fixed, a consumer only has to pay a reasonable price (Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 51).

11. Material prices have gone up since the quote

Write a short email to [customer name] explaining that the supplier price of [materials] has risen by [percentage] since my quote on [date]. Attach or refer to the supplier's new price, set out the change to the total ([old total] to [new total]), and explain that under our quote terms they can [accept / cancel without charge before I order]. Under 150 words, British spelling.

Use the price-change clause generator to put fair wording in your quotes first.

Getting paid

12. Friendly payment reminder

Write a short, polite email reminding [customer name] that invoice [number] for [£amount] for [job] was due on [date]. Include how to pay ([bank details or payment link]) and ask them to let me know if there's a problem. Under 100 words, British spelling.

13. Final reminder to a business customer

Write a firm but professional email to [business name] about unpaid invoice [number] for [£amount], due on [date]. Say that under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 I'm entitled to statutory interest of [rate]% a year and a fixed sum of [£40/£70/£100], and that I'll claim them if it's not paid by [date]. Under 150 words, British spelling.

Statutory interest and the fixed sum apply to business-to-business debts, not homeowners (GOV.UK). Work out the figures with the late payment interest calculator and see how to chase a late payment.

Marketing and admin

14. Google Business Profile post from a job photo

Write a Google Business Profile post about a [job] I finished in [town or area]. Describe what we did in two sentences, mention one useful tip for homeowners about [topic], and end with how to get a quote: [phone or link]. Under 100 words, British spelling, no exaggerated claims, no customer address.

15. Turn voice notes into a job sheet

Here are my rough voice notes from a site visit: [paste transcript]. Turn them into a job sheet with: customer and address, work required as a numbered list, materials with quantities, access or safety notes, and questions to ask the customer. Don't add anything I didn't say; mark unclear items with [check].

16. Missed-call text back

Write a short text I can send automatically when I miss a call: say I'm on a job, I'll call back by [time], and they can reply with their name, postcode and a brief description of the job. Under 200 characters, British spelling.

If you miss a lot of calls, an AI receptionist can answer for you; Upfirst starts at $24.95 a month for 30 calls (checked 15 October 2026). Compare options in AI receptionists for trades.

More prompts

Single-prompt pages with tool suggestions: follow up after a quote, ask for a review, reply to a bad review, reply to a complaint, explain a delay and first payment reminder. Browse the full prompt library or the trade pages, which each include a ready-made prompt, such as AI quoting tools for builders and review tools for plumbers.

FAQ

What's the best ChatGPT prompt for a tradesperson?

Start with the messages you write most: quote follow-ups, payment reminders and review requests. Give the AI the facts (names, dates, amounts) and say how long and what tone you want.

Can I use ChatGPT to reply to Google reviews?

Yes, as a first draft. Edit it, keep personal details out, and never offer anything in return for changing or removing a review.

Is it safe to paste customer details into ChatGPT?

Paste only what the task needs, and check your AI tool's data settings. Customer names and addresses are personal data under UK GDPR.

Do I need the paid version of ChatGPT?

No. The free plans of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini handle all 16 prompts here.