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The Five Prompts Every Small Business Owner Should Save

Not templates. Actual reusable prompts that turn Claude into a competent assistant for the work you already do every week.

By Joshua Brown·March 15, 2026·6 min read

Most small business owners who open Claude or ChatGPT for the first time ask it something vague, get a generic answer, and close the tab. That is not an AI problem. That is a prompt problem. If you give the model no context and no format, you get a college essay.

The fix is to save a small library of prompts you actually reuse. Here are the five I hand out to every client on day one. Copy them into a note file, fill in your business details once, and stop starting from scratch every time.

1. The inquiry response drafter

You will use this more than any other prompt. Paste the body of a new inquiry and this prompt writes a reply that sounds like you, not a chatbot.

You are drafting an inquiry reply for [BUSINESS NAME]. Keep replies under 150 words, warm but professional, and never use the words stunning, magical, or special day. Always mention: [availability, price range, next step]. The inquiry is below. Draft the reply.

2. The blog post opener

Blank-page syndrome kills more content than bad writing ever will. This prompt writes the first paragraph so you can edit instead of stare.

Write the opening paragraph of a blog post for [BUSINESS]. Topic: [TOPIC]. Audience: [AUDIENCE]. Tone: direct and specific, no buzzwords. Include one concrete detail or example. 3 to 4 sentences.

3. The review responder

Responding to reviews is a ranking signal and a trust signal, and most business owners dread it. This prompt gives you a draft you can edit in 30 seconds.

Draft a response to this [POSITIVE / NEUTRAL / NEGATIVE] review of [BUSINESS NAME]. Reference specific details the reviewer mentioned. Keep it 3 to 4 sentences. Sound like a real person, not a corporate template. Never use: we're so honored, means the world to us. Review below.

4. The meeting brief

Paste your notes from a lead conversation and this prompt gives you a one-page brief you can review before the follow-up call. I use it daily.

I just had a call with a prospective client. My rough notes are below. Turn them into a one-page brief with these sections: business profile, what they want, what they already have, what they are missing, three questions to ask next, and suggested next step.

5. The why am I stuck prompt

This is the one nobody writes about. When you are stuck on a decision, Claude is a decent second opinion. Frame it properly and it stops being sycophantic.

I am trying to decide between [OPTION A] and [OPTION B] for [CONTEXT]. Here is what I already know: [FACTS]. Here is what I am worried about: [CONCERNS]. Do not be agreeable. Push back where I am wrong. Give me three questions I should be asking but am not.

What to do with this list

Save them in a note file. Fill in the bracketed variables once so you stop retyping your business name. If you use Claude Projects or custom GPTs, set them up there once and forget it. The difference between "AI doesn't work for me" and "AI saves me six hours a week" is almost always just reusable context.

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