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Voicemail greeting for business, with trade examples

Twenty seconds that decide whether a caller leaves a message or calls the next shop. Read one of these into your phone tonight.

2 min read

The short answer

A good voicemail greeting for business says who they reached, why you can't pick up, what to leave, and when you'll call back. Keep it under 20 seconds, say a callback time you can keep, and tell them they can text this number too.

On this page
  1. Voicemail greeting for business: examples to copy
  2. Business voicemail greeting examples by situation
  3. A professional voicemail greeting for business that books jobs
  4. What is a good business voicemail greeting?
  5. After the beep: calling back fast

Voicemail greeting for business: examples to copy

Say it the way you'd say it to a customer at the door. Change the words in brackets, then record it twice and keep the one that sounds like you on a good day.

On a job

You've reached [shop], this is [your name]. I'm on a job right now. Leave your name, your address and what's going on, and I'll call you back by [time]. You can text this number too.

After hours

Thanks for calling [shop]. We're closed for the night. Leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll call you back first thing in the morning. If water's coming in, say so at the start and I'll call you back tonight.

Business voicemail greeting examples by situation

Swap the greeting when your week changes. A greeting that says you're closed on a day you're open loses calls quietly.

Holidays

Hi, you've reached [shop]. We're closed for [holiday] and back on [day]. Leave a message with your name and what you need, and we'll call you back that morning.

Busy season

Thanks for calling [shop], this is [your name]. It's our busy season, so we're booked a few days out. Leave your name, address and the problem, and I'll call you back today with the first open time.

A professional voicemail greeting for business that books jobs

Professional doesn't mean stiff. It means the caller knows they reached the right place, knows what to leave, and believes you'll call back. Four parts, in this order.

  • "Your call is important to us"
  • Your hours, address and website read out loud
  • A callback time you can't keep
  • Who they reached. The shop's name and yours.
  • Why you can't pick up. On a job, closed, or busy. One short reason.
  • What to leave. Name, address and the problem, so you can call back ready.
  • When you'll call back. A real time. "Today" or "by 3" beats "as soon as possible."

What is a good business voicemail greeting?

One that sounds like a person who's going to call back. Record it in your own voice, somewhere quiet, not in the truck with the engine running. Listen to it once from another phone. If you'd hang up before the beep, it's too long.

After the beep: calling back fast

A greeting only buys you time. The message gets someone to wait; the callback is what books the job. Call back by the time you said. Most messages land while you're under a sink, so the callback is what slips.

By hand5 steps
  1. Notice the voicemail an hour later
  2. Listen for the name and number
  3. Write down what they need
  4. Think of what to say back
  5. Text them back, or call

For every message, between jobs.

Set up onceWaiting on you

Missed call from (713) 555-0142. Want me to send this?

Hi, this is Rosa at the plumbing shop. Sorry I missed your call. What's going on, and when's a good time to call back?

Every missed call on one callback list, with a text ready. You send it.

See returning missed calls →
NextEvery missed call, with a text back readySee how returning missed calls works, with a person sending every text.

Questions about business voicemail greetings

Something else on your mind? Ask us on the fit call. No pitch, and we'll say if it isn't a fit.

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Short, warm and useful: "You've reached Linden Plumbing, this is Rosa. I'm on a job right now. Leave your name, number and what's going on, and I'll call you back today. If you'd rather text, this number takes texts too." Under 20 seconds.

"Thanks for calling Ridge Electric. We're with customers right now, so leave a message with your address and the problem, and we'll call back within the hour during business hours." Name the business, set a realistic callback time and ask for the details you need.

Yes. A default robot greeting makes callers wonder if they reached the right business, and many hang up. A short greeting in your own voice confirms they've got the right place and tells them what happens next, which is what gets a message left.

The best one sounds like you on a good day: the business name, your name and a quick offer to help. Avoid long menus and "your call is important to us." Customers calling a local shop want a person, or a clear promise that one will call back.

About 15 to 20 seconds. Say who they reached, why you can't answer, what to leave and when you'll call back. Long greetings with hours, addresses and websites make people hang up before the beep. Put that information on your website instead.

Call them back by the time you said.

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