How to Use ChatGPT for Your Small Business: 15 Practical Prompts

ChatGPT is free, requires no installation, and works in your browser. But most small business owners open it, type "help me with my business" and get generic rubbish back.

The secret is in the prompts. A good prompt gives ChatGPT context about your business and tells it exactly what you need. Here are 15 prompts you can copy, paste, and use today.

How to Use These Prompts

1. Go to chat.openai.com (free, no download needed)

2. Copy a prompt below

3. Replace the [brackets] with your own details

4. Press Enter

That's it. Let's go.

Customer Emails (5 Prompts)

1. Reply to an Angry Customer

```

I run a [type of business] in [city]. A customer has complained about [issue]. Write a professional, empathetic reply that acknowledges the problem, apologises sincerely, explains what we're doing to fix it, and offers [compensation — e.g. 15% discount on next order]. Keep it under 150 words and friendly in tone.

```

2. Follow Up After a Sale

```

Write a follow-up email for a customer who bought [product/service] from my [type of business] 7 days ago. Ask if they're happy with it, offer help if needed, and gently encourage them to leave a Google review. Keep it casual and short — max 100 words. Sign off as [your name].

```

3. Chase a Late Payment (Politely)

```

Write a polite payment reminder email. The invoice is [X days] overdue for [amount] for [service provided]. This is the [first/second/third] reminder. Keep it professional but firm. Include our bank details: [sort code, account number] and reference [invoice number]. End by saying we value the relationship.

```

4. Welcome New Customer/Client

```

Write a welcome email for a new client who just signed up for my [service]. Introduce myself as [your name], explain what happens next in [2-3 steps], set expectations for response times [e.g. within 24 hours], and include a link to our FAQ at [URL]. Warm, professional, under 150 words.

```

5. Request a Testimonial

```

Write an email asking a happy customer for a testimonial. We completed [project/service] for them [timeframe] ago and they said they were very pleased. Make it easy for them — include 3 optional questions they could answer: What was the problem? How did we help? What was the result? Keep it short and no-pressure.

```

Marketing (5 Prompts)

6. Write a Week of Social Media Posts

```

I run a [type of business] in [city] targeting [audience]. Write 5 social media posts for this week — one for each weekday. Mix of: 1 tip/advice post, 1 behind-the-scenes, 1 customer success story (make it realistic), 1 promotional post about [offer], 1 engaging question. Each post max 50 words. Include relevant hashtags for UK audience.

```

7. Write a Google Business Description

```

Write a Google Business Profile description for my [type of business] in [city]. We specialise in [services/products]. Our target customers are [audience]. Include keywords: [2-3 keywords]. Max 750 characters. Professional but approachable. Mention we serve the [local area] area.

```

8. Create an Email Newsletter

```

Write a monthly email newsletter for my [type of business]. Include: a short intro (2 sentences about what's new), one useful tip related to [topic], a mention of [current offer/event], and a call-to-action to [book/buy/visit]. Keep total length under 200 words. Tone: friendly, like writing to a regular customer.

```

9. Write a Blog Post Outline

```

Create a blog post outline for the topic "[topic]" for my [type of business] website. Target audience: [audience]. Include: compelling title options (give 3), introduction hook, 5-7 main sections with subheadings, conclusion with CTA. The goal is to rank for "[keyword]" on Google.

```

10. Generate Seasonal Promotion Ideas

```

I run a [type of business] in the UK. Give me 5 promotion ideas for [month/season/event — e.g. "summer", "back to school", "Christmas"]. Each idea should include: the offer, a catchy headline, which channel to promote it on (social/email/in-store), and expected impact. Keep suggestions realistic for a small business with limited budget.

```

Operations (5 Prompts)

11. Write a Job Advert

```

Write a job advert for a [job title] at my [type of business] in [city]. The role is [full-time/part-time], [salary range]. Key responsibilities: [list 3-5]. Requirements: [list 3-5]. Include something about our company culture (we're [describe briefly]). Post format suitable for Indeed/LinkedIn. Include "How to apply" section.

```

12. Create a Standard Operating Procedure

```

Write a step-by-step SOP (standard operating procedure) for [task — e.g. "closing the shop at night", "handling a customer complaint", "processing an online order"]. Make it clear enough that a new employee on their first day could follow it. Use numbered steps, include any safety/compliance notes, and add a "common mistakes to avoid" section.

```

13. Summarise a Long Document

```

Summarise the following document into 5 bullet points with the key takeaways. Focus on action items and deadlines. Then list any questions I should ask or clarifications I need.

[Paste the document text here]

```

14. Write a Business Plan Executive Summary

```

Write an executive summary for my business plan. My business: [name] is a [type of business] in [city] that [what you do] for [target customers]. We started in [year]. Revenue last year: [amount]. Goal for next year: [target]. Our competitive advantage is [what makes you different]. Key challenge: [main challenge]. Keep it to one page / 300 words.

```

15. Competitor Analysis

```

I run a [type of business] in [city]. My main competitors are [list 2-3 competitor names]. Based on what you know about these businesses, create a comparison table with columns: Us vs [Competitor 1] vs [Competitor 2]. Rows: Price range, Target audience, Unique selling point, Online presence, Weakness. Then suggest 3 ways I could differentiate.

```

Tips for Better Results

• •Be specific: "Write an email" is worse than "Write a 100-word follow-up email for a plumber in Leeds"
• •Give context: Tell ChatGPT about your business, audience, and tone
• •Iterate: If the first response isn't right, say "Make it shorter" or "More casual" or "Add a discount code"
• •Check everything: AI can make mistakes. Always read before sending.

What's Next?

These 15 prompts cover the basics — but they're just the start. As you get comfortable, you'll start creating your own prompts tailored to your specific business. The key is to start: pick one prompt above that solves a problem you have today, and try it right now.