Updated August 2026
Set up ChatCart with confidence
ChatCart is a WhatsApp-first commerce workspace for teams that manage customer chats, products, orders, payments, and reporting. This guide takes you from account creation to your first live customer conversation.
Want to look around first?
Open the safe demo to explore the current workspace and guided tour before connecting your own business.
Explore the demoBefore you start
Your account details
Use an email address you can open immediately. Have your business name, owner name, preferred currency, and a strong password ready.
Your Meta access
Use the Meta or Facebook account that can manage the correct business portfolio, WhatsApp Business Account, and phone number. Prepare a clear profile picture and short public About description for the WhatsApp business profile.
Your content
Prepare product names, prices, stock details, and clear product images. Draft the customer updates you send most often.
A business registration number is not required to create your ChatCart workspace. Meta may initially allow limited testing while business verification is incomplete, but this is not a guaranteed grace period. Complete verification promptly when Meta requests it. If Meta shows Account restricted or another blocking status, pause live messaging until Meta clears the restriction.
Create your ChatCart account
- Open Start trial and enter your name and email address.
- Create a password with at least eight characters, including uppercase, lowercase, a number, and a special character.
- Choose your workspace name and currency.
- Review the Starter and Growth options. You can confirm billing later; creating a trial does not by itself start recurring billing.
| Plan | Best for | Current practical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Owner-operated businesses getting their WhatsApp sales operation organised | 1 named user (the owner), 1 WhatsApp number, 1 product image per product, core reporting, no automations or PDF report exports |
| Growth | Growing teams that need automation and owner-level reporting | Up to 3 named users including the owner, 1 WhatsApp number, up to 3 product images per product, automations, advanced reporting, PDF exports, and scheduled reports |
Verify your email
ChatCart sends a six-digit verification code to the email address used during signup. Enter the code before continuing into the normal workspace.
- Check spam or junk folders if the message is not in your inbox.
- Confirm that the email address on screen is correct.
- Use the resend option once the waiting period has passed.
- Never share a verification code or password with anyone claiming to be support.
Complete your business profile
Use Getting Started as your setup checklist. Add the public information your team needs for customer conversations and order capture, then review your trial and plan status.
Connect WhatsApp and Meta
During WhatsApp setup, Meta or Facebook screens may open. This is expected because WhatsApp Business Platform is managed through Meta. ChatCart uses this step only to connect your WhatsApp Business account and assets to your workspace. ChatCart will not post on your Facebook profile.
Open WhatsApp settings, choose Connect WhatsApp via Meta, sign in to the correct Meta account, and select the business assets and number you intend to use.
- Select or create the correct WhatsApp Business Account.
- Add or select the intended business phone number when Meta allows it.
- Approve only the permissions shown in the official Meta flow.
- Return to ChatCart and review the readiness result.
- If Cloud API registration is still required, follow ChatCart's secure registration guidance. A six-digit PIN may be required; ChatCart does not store or display it after submission.
Choose the number carefully
New or spare business number: this is the recommended and safest option, especially when testing ChatCart without affecting an existing WhatsApp operation.
Existing WhatsApp Business App number: continue carefully. Meta controls whether a migration or coexistence path is available. Do not use your main business number unless you understand the path Meta presents. ChatCart cannot guarantee that Meta will preserve Business App chats, history, devices, or current app behaviour.
Personal WhatsApp Messenger number: this is not a direct ChatCart setup path. Use a WhatsApp Business or Cloud API eligible number, or a new business number instead.
ChatCart supports one active WhatsApp number per workspace. Confirm the number shown by Meta before finishing setup. If you are unsure, use a spare number first.
Add your WhatsApp profile picture and description
These details are managed by Meta and are separate from the logo and public description saved in ChatCart.
- Open Meta Business Suite and select the business portfolio that owns your connected number.
- Choose the gear icon to open Business settings.
- Under Accounts, open WhatsApp accounts and select the correct account.
- Open Phone numbers and select the number connected to ChatCart.
- Choose Profile picture to upload your business logo.
- Under Business information, add your customer-facing Description and save your changes.
What Meta still controls
Meta controls business verification, display-name review, phone and WABA asset access, Cloud API availability, template approval or rejection, and final review outcomes. The profile picture, business name, and About description visible in the WhatsApp chat header are also controlled by WhatsApp and Meta. ChatCart can guide you, check status, and perform supported actions, but it cannot override that profile display and cannot bypass Meta approval.
Verify your business and follow WhatsApp policy
Meta can restrict or disable a WhatsApp Business Account when verification is incomplete, account information is misleading, messaging creates poor customer experiences, or activity breaches its policies. ChatCart cannot remove or bypass a Meta restriction.
Complete required verification
Use accurate legal and contact information. If Meta asks you to verify the business, provide the requested documents promptly. Limited early testing does not guarantee continued messaging access, and Meta does not publish a fixed grace period.
Message customers with permission
Contact only customers who supplied their number and agreed to receive messages. Honour every request to stop, block, discontinue, or opt out, and use the customer block control in ChatCart when required.
Use the correct message type
Use free-form replies only inside the active 24-hour customer-service window. Use a confirmed Meta-approved template for supported business-initiated messages outside that window.
Keep a human route available
Automated and catalogue conversations must give customers a clear path to an agent. Review unresolved conversations and respond promptly when a customer asks for help.
Keep catalogues compliant
Only list products and services permitted by the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy and Meta Commerce Policy. The seller remains responsible for the catalogue, sale terms, privacy notices, taxes, and fulfilment.
Protect sensitive information
Do not ask customers to send full payment-card numbers, financial-account numbers, identity-document numbers, passwords, PINs, or access codes in WhatsApp messages.
Messaging safety gate: a verification request should be completed promptly, but ChatCart blocks messaging only when Meta reports an account restriction or another blocking readiness state. After Meta updates the account, return to ChatCart and use Check again.
Check WhatsApp readiness
The WhatsApp Readiness Centre is the main source of truth for your connection. It shows what is complete, what needs action, what is still pending with Meta, and when the status was last checked.
Use Check again
After completing a step in Meta, return to ChatCart and use the relevant Check again, connection check, template sync, or refresh action.
Trust the displayed state
Do not start live messaging until the number, Cloud API registration, webhook activity, and approved-template checks show the required readiness.
If Meta delays or blocks a step, ChatCart should explain what happened and direct you to the best next action. It will not mark the setup complete without supporting evidence.
Add products and catalogues
- Open Products and create the catalogues or categories your customers will understand.
- Add active products with a name, price, description, stock information, and catalogue assignment.
- Upload JPG, PNG, or WebP images up to 4 MB each. Starter supports one image per product; Growth supports up to three.
- Preview the primary image and archive products that should no longer appear.
Customer self-service
ChatCart introduces the catalogue with your saved business name. Customers can then choose a numbered category, open a numbered product, and provide delivery or collection details before an agent takes over.
Numbers are automatic
ChatCart generates customer-facing category and product numbers for the active session. Sellers do not maintain those numbers, and expired sessions do not reuse old mappings.
Sync an existing WhatsApp catalogue
Catalogue sync imports products from your WhatsApp or Meta catalogue into ChatCart for replies and order capture. It does not overwrite or delete your Meta catalogue. A later sync can refresh products that were synced into ChatCart, while manually added ChatCart products stay separate.
Growth workspaces can let a customer request more valid product photos where extra images exist. ChatCart sends no more than three product images in total.
Prepare message templates
WhatsApp templates are required for supported business-initiated messages outside the normal customer-service window. Meta must approve a template before ChatCart can send or automate it.
Automations can use only confirmed approved templates. Meta may show additional quality labels in WhatsApp Manager; use ChatCart's synced template status as the source of truth inside the app. More complex or unsupported templates still need to be prepared or managed through Meta.
Test your setup and go live
Open Test Your Setup and complete the checks before inviting customers to use the live number.
Testing does not confirm payment or Meta approval. Use real provider status and safe test data; do not mark an order paid or fulfilled until the business has verified it.
Start handling real customer chats
Inbox
Read and assign conversations, use quick replies, share products, send approved templates, and capture customer context.
Customers
Keep customer details, conversations, and order history together. Start a message flow only when WhatsApp rules allow it.
Orders
Create orders from a conversation, confirm delivery or collection, and keep payment and fulfilment status accurate.
Payments and invoices
Review plan and payment status, check PayFast confirmation, and view confirmed billing history.
Overview and reports
Review unread work, open orders, customers, revenue, workspace health, and Growth reporting where available.
Growth automations
Growth workspaces can use supported rules-based automations. Review the trigger, message type, and approved-template readiness before relying on an automation.
The catalogue assistant helps customers browse and provide initial order details. An owner, admin, or agent remains responsible for reviewing the handoff, confirming the order, and updating payment and fulfilment truthfully.
Plans, payments, and upgrades
Starter - R99/month
For smaller teams running core WhatsApp sales operations. Includes one named user, one WhatsApp number, one product image per product, shared inbox, orders, templates, manual payments, inventory, and core reporting.
Growth - R199/month
For growing teams. Includes up to three named users, one WhatsApp number, up to three product images per product, supported automations, advanced reporting, PDF exports, and scheduled summaries where available.
Secure PayFast confirmation
ChatCart activates a paid plan only after PayFast confirms payment. Confirmed payments appear in billing history; pending or cancelled checkout attempts are not paid invoices.
Upgrading from Starter to Growth
Starting a Growth upgrade opens secure PayFast checkout. Growth becomes active only after PayFast confirms the payment. If you cancel or abandon checkout, your current verified Starter plan remains active. Use Plans or Payments & invoices to retry payment or cancel a pending upgrade.
Demo and trial explained
Safe demo workspace
The demo uses simulated sample data to show the current Overview, Inbox, Products, Orders, Reports, Templates, Automations, and readiness experience. The guided tour points out the main areas.
Demo actions do not call real Meta, WhatsApp, PayFast, billing, webhooks, or email, and demo records are not real customer data.
14-day plan trial
ChatCart gives eligible workspaces a 14-day trial on the Starter or Growth plan selected during signup. Trial access may still be subject to normal account, security, and platform availability checks.
Recurring billing starts only through the confirmed checkout and subscription process.
Troubleshooting
Verification email not received
Check spam or junk, confirm the address, wait for the resend timer, and request a new code. Contact support if repeated attempts fail.
WhatsApp connection is incomplete
Open the Readiness Centre, review the first incomplete step, complete any Meta-controlled action, then use Check again. Reconnect only when the guidance recommends it.
WABA or phone number is not visible
Confirm you signed in to the Meta account with access to the correct business portfolio and assets. Return to ChatCart and refresh the asset or connection status.
Business verification or display-name review is pending
Meta controls this review. Complete Start Verification promptly. If Meta shows Account restricted, messaging must remain paused until Meta clears it. Return to ChatCart and check again after the status changes.
No approved templates
Sync templates, prepare a supported starter, or open Meta template management. Pending templates cannot be used until Meta approves them.
A template was rejected
Review the reason shown where available, correct the wording or variables, and submit again through a supported route. ChatCart cannot override the rejection.
A catalogue or product is missing
Confirm the catalogue and product are active, the product has a valid price and catalogue assignment, and stock or availability allows it to be shown.
A product image will not upload
Use JPG, PNG, or WebP up to 4 MB. Check your plan's image limit and try a smaller valid file.
Customer messages do not appear
Check number readiness, webhook activity, and the last connection check. Run Test Your Setup and use Check again before reconnecting.
Payments or billing are not ready
Open Plans or Payments & invoices and review the provider state. Pending or failed payment does not unlock a new paid plan; wait for confirmed payment. If a Growth upgrade is pending, your current verified plan stays active until confirmation. You can retry payment or cancel the pending upgrade.
The demo will not perform a live action
This is intentional. Use the demo to learn the interface, then create a trial workspace for live setup.
When to contact support
Contact support after you have retried the relevant check and can name the step that is blocked. Never send passwords, verification codes, Meta PINs, access tokens, or payment secrets.
Still stuck?
Use launch assistance for account, setup, Meta guidance, catalogue, template, or billing questions. Include your workspace name and the safe status shown on screen, but never include credentials or secret values.