diff --git a/app/main/views/dashboard.py b/app/main/views/dashboard.py
index 9776bb071..fab51f284 100644
--- a/app/main/views/dashboard.py
+++ b/app/main/views/dashboard.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from flask import (abort, render_template, session)
 from flask_login import login_required
 from app.main import main
 from app.main.dao.services_dao import get_service_by_id
+from app.main.dao import templates_dao
 from client.errors import HTTPError
 from ._jobs import jobs
 
@@ -9,6 +10,13 @@ from ._jobs import jobs
 @main.route("/services/<int:service_id>/dashboard")
 @login_required
 def service_dashboard(service_id):
+    try:
+        templates = templates_dao.get_service_templates(service_id)['data']
+    except HTTPError as e:
+        if e.status_code == 404:
+            abort(404)
+        else:
+            raise e
     try:
         service = get_service_by_id(service_id)
         session['service_name'] = service['data']['name']
@@ -22,4 +30,5 @@ def service_dashboard(service_id):
         jobs=jobs,
         free_text_messages_remaining='25,000',
         spent_this_month='0.00',
+        has_templates=bool(len(templates)),
         service_id=service_id)
diff --git a/app/templates/views/manage-templates.html b/app/templates/views/manage-templates.html
index 1ccc2d762..494ec6b9e 100644
--- a/app/templates/views/manage-templates.html
+++ b/app/templates/views/manage-templates.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ GOV.UK Notify | Manage templates
         <h1 class="heading-xlarge">Templates</h1>
 
         <p>
-          <a href="{{ url_for('.add_service_template', service_id=service_id) }}">Create new template</a>
+          <a href="{{ url_for('.add_service_template', service_id=service_id) }}">Add new template</a>
 
         {% for template in templates %}
           {% if template.get_field('template_type') == 'sms' %}
diff --git a/app/templates/views/service_dashboard.html b/app/templates/views/service_dashboard.html
index 638e6d322..3b53246ac 100644
--- a/app/templates/views/service_dashboard.html
+++ b/app/templates/views/service_dashboard.html
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@
 
 {% block maincolumn_content %}
 
+    {% if not has_templates %}
+      {{ banner(
+        '<a href="{}">Add a template</a> to start sending notifications'.format(
+          url_for(".add_service_template", service_id=service_id)
+        )|safe,
+        type="tip"
+      )}}
+    {% endif %}
+
     <ul class="grid-row job-totals">
       <li class="column-half">
         {{ big_number(
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_dashboard.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_dashboard.py
index e565f4ff0..1c969c3bc 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_dashboard.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_dashboard.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from flask import url_for, session
 def test_should_show_recent_jobs_on_dashboard(app_,
                                               api_user_active,
                                               mock_get_service,
+                                              mock_get_service_templates,
                                               mock_get_user,
                                               mock_get_user_by_email,
                                               mock_login):
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_sign_out.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_sign_out.py
index aecc472c5..03f7edfb1 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_sign_out.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_sign_out.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def test_sign_out_user(app_,
                        api_user_active,
                        mock_get_user,
                        mock_get_user_by_email,
+                       mock_get_service_templates,
                        mock_login):
     with app_.test_request_context():
         email = 'valid@example.gov.uk'