Review Request Templates by Industry

How to ask for reviews the right way

Getting reviews isn’t about clever wording — it’s about asking every customer, at the right moment, in a way that takes them one tap to act on. The best time to ask is right after you’ve delivered: the job finished, the meal enjoyed, the appointment done. That’s when satisfaction peaks and the experience is fresh enough to describe. Waiting a few days loses most of the reviews you’d otherwise get. The single message that works best is short, personal and carries a direct link to your review page, so there’s no hunting for where to leave feedback.

Consistency matters more than volume. A business that asks every customer a little, every day, builds a steadier, more trustworthy profile than one that runs the occasional big push. Recency counts too — a stream of recent reviews signals an active, current business, which both customers and Google reward.

Stay on the right side of Google’s rules

Every template on this site follows Google’s review policies, because a shortcut that gets your reviews removed isn’t a shortcut. Three rules matter most: don’t offer any incentive for a review — no discounts, gifts, loyalty points or prize-draw entries; don’t ask only the customers you think are happy while steering unhappy ones elsewhere (that’s “review gating,” and it’s prohibited); and don’t tell people what rating to leave. Instead, invite everyone to share an honest experience, and send them all to the same public review link. If you want to double-check your own wording or a promotion idea, run it through the GBP policy checker.

Pick your channel

SMS gets the fastest response for most local businesses — it’s read within minutes and one tap opens the link. Email suits longer, more considered relationships and lets you say a little more. WhatsApp works where that’s how your customers already talk to you. And an in-person ask, backed by a QR card the customer can scan on the spot, captures the people who are happiest right there at the counter. The templates here give you all of these for each industry, so you can match the channel to how you actually reach your customers.

Choose your industry

Each industry has its own natural moment to ask and its own tone. A dentist asks as the patient checks out; a plumber asks the second the leak stops; a realtor asks at closing. Pick your trade above for templates written around that moment — or start with the ones closest to your business:

DentistPlumberHVACRestaurantHair SalonAuto RepairReal Estate AgentLaw FirmGymVeterinarianCleaning ServiceLandscapingRoofingElectricianPhotographerChiropractorDaycareMoving CompanyPest ControlTattoo StudioMassage TherapistOptometristMed SpaFloristCateringWedding VenuePool ServiceAppliance RepairGarage DoorLocksmithOrthodontistPhysical TherapyDriving SchoolTax AccountantPainterFlooring ContractorWindow CleaningPet GroomerJewelerHandyman

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to ask a customer for a review?

Ask every customer, the same way, at the moment they’re happiest — usually right after the job or visit is done. Keep it to one short message with a direct link to your review page, and make it neutral: invite honest feedback rather than a specific rating. Consistency beats intensity; asking everyone a little is better than a big push now and then.

Is it against Google’s rules to ask for reviews?

No — asking your customers for honest reviews is allowed and encouraged. What’s not allowed is offering an incentive (a discount, gift or entry to a draw), asking only your happy customers while filtering out others, or telling people what rating to leave. Every template here follows those rules.

Can I offer a discount for leaving a review?

No. Incentivised reviews violate Google’s policies and can get your reviews removed or your profile penalised. You can thank customers, but never tie any reward to leaving a review. Check any wording you’re unsure about in our GBP policy checker.

How many review requests should I send?

Send one clear request per customer, at the right moment, with at most one gentle follow-up if there’s no response. Repeated nagging hurts more than it helps, and never re-ask someone who has already reviewed you.

Are these templates really free?

Yes — free to copy and use, no account and no credit card. Just add your business name, the customer’s name and your review link.