Guide

Voicemail greetings for contractors: examples you can use today

A good voicemail greeting for a trade business says who you are, when you'll call back, and what to leave, in under 20 seconds. Here are examples you can record as they are.

What every greeting needs

• Your business name, first
• When you'll call back, honestly
• What to leave: name, number, address and what's wrong
• What to do in an emergency, if you take emergency work

Standard

"You've reached [Business]. We're on a job right now. Leave your name, number, address and what you need, and we'll call you back within the hour during business hours."

After hours

"Thanks for calling [Business]. We're closed for the day. Leave your name, number and what's going on, and we'll call you first thing in the morning. If water's coming through the ceiling, say so and we'll call back tonight."

Busy season

"You've reached [Business]. We're booked up this week with [the cold snap], but we read every message. Leave your address and what you need, and we'll call you back today."

Better than voicemail

Plenty of callers won't leave a message at all. An answering service that picks up and texts you the details catches the ones who would have hung up.

Questions

How long should a business voicemail greeting be?

Under 20 seconds. Callers hang up on long ones.

Should I give my mobile number in my greeting?

Only if you're happy for every caller to use it. Most trades are better off promising a fast call back.

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