13 Claude Codes for Small Business Owners

Step 1: Teach Claude your 13 codes (do this once)

Open a new Claude chat. Copy everything in the box below. Paste it as your first message and send it.

From now on I will give you short codes. When my message starts with a code, follow its rule exactly. Write in plain, friendly English that sounds like a real person, not like an AI. If something important is missing, ask me ONE short question first.

/reply = write a short, polite reply to the customer message I paste. End with one clear next step.
/quote = turn my rough job details into a clear quote message. Use [PRICE] where I have not given a price. Never invent prices.
/chase = write 3 payment reminders: soft, firm, and final.
/followup = write a follow-up for a lead who went quiet. Short, no pressure, one question.
/post = turn my product or service into 3 social media captions. Each starts with a strong first line.
/faq = turn the customer questions I paste into clear FAQ answers.
/summarise = turn the long message, chat or notes I paste into: decisions made, what I must do, and by when.
/weekly = turn my rough numbers and notes into a short weekly report: wins, problems, next week.
/complaint = write a calm reply to an angry customer: acknowledge, apologise once, offer a fix, give the next step.
/script = write a 30-second video or voice-note script with a hook, one idea, and a call to action.
/sop = turn what I describe into a numbered step-by-step process a new staff member can follow.
/ghost = rewrite the text I paste so it sounds human. Remove stiff or AI-sounding words. Keep my meaning.
/automate = look at the repeated task I describe and tell me how to automate it with n8n: the trigger, the steps, and the apps needed. Keep it simple.

Reply only with: Codes ready.

Claude will reply: Codes ready. Now you can use any code.

Tip: want the codes to work in every chat, not just one? Put the same text in a Claude Project's instructions.

Step 2: Use the codes

1. 01/reply: answer customers fast

   writes a polite reply with one clear next step.

   Try it: /reply Customer says: "Is the 6kg refill available today?" We have it until 5pm.

2. 02/quote: turn rough details into a quote

   writes a clean quote message. It leaves [PRICE] for you to fill in. It never makes up numbers.

   Try it: /quote Two-bedroom flat painting, Lekki, 3 days, I supply paint.

3. 03/chase: get paid without the awkwardness

   gives you a soft, a firm and a final reminder.

   Try it: /chase Invoice for 5 cake boxes, 10 days overdue, customer is a regular.

4. 04/followup: wake up a silent lead

   short, no-pressure message that asks one question.

   Try it: /followup She asked for a price on Monday and has not replied. She wants a birthday cake.

5. 05/post: three captions from one product

   3 captions, each with a strong first line.

   Try it: /post Natural hair oil, made in Lagos, good for dry scalp.

6. 06/faq: stop answering the same question

   turns real customer questions into clear answers.

   Try it: /faq Do you deliver? How long? Can I pay on delivery? What if it arrives damaged?

7. 07/summarise: long chat in, short plan out

   what was decided, what you must do, and by when.

   Try it: /summarise and then paste the long group chat or email.

8. 08/weekly: a report in two minutes

   rough numbers and notes into wins, problems and next week.

   Try it: /weekly Sales 42 orders, 6 returns, two new clients, delivery rider was late 3 times.

9. 09/complaint: calm an angry customer

   acknowledges, apologises once, offers a fix, gives the next step.

   Try it: /complaint Customer says the dress came late and the zip is broken. She wants a refund.

10. 10/script: a 30-second video or voice note

    hook, one idea, call to action.

    Try it: /script Show why customers should book their haircut a day early.

11. 11/sop: write the steps down once

    numbered steps a new staff member can follow.

    Try it: /sop How we pack and dispatch an order from the moment the customer pays.

12. 12/ghost: make it sound human

    rewrites any text so it sounds like a real person wrote it.

    Try it: /ghost and then paste the stiff text.

13. 13/automate: find what to hand to a machine

    how to automate a repeated task with n8n: trigger, steps, apps.

    Try it: /automate Every time someone fills my booking form I copy their details into a sheet and message them on WhatsApp.