Industries
Set up for the calls your trade actually gets
The same receptionist behaves differently for each business, because it works only from what that business tells it. These are examples of how owners configure it.
Plumbing
Emergencies do not keep office hours, and quote requests arrive while you are under a sink.
Typical calls and what happens
- Burst pipe or active leak — flagged as an emergency, on-call plumber alerted at once
- Blocked drain — details and address captured for a same-day callback
- Water heater replacement — preferred visit time recorded as a request
Worth setting up
List emergency services separately, add your shut-off advice to the emergency instructions, and decide whether after-hours calls are emergencies only.
Heating and cooling
The first cold night of the year can bring a week of calls in an evening.
Typical calls and what happens
- No heat with children or seniors at home — marked urgent
- Carbon monoxide alarm — caller told to leave and call 911, team alerted
- Seasonal tune-up — queued for the morning with the caller's preferred time
Worth setting up
Add “no heat” and “no cooling” to your urgency rules, and note which equipment brands and fuel types you do not service.
Electrical
Callers are often unsure whether a problem is dangerous. The receptionist does not guess.
Typical calls and what happens
- Sparking outlet or burning smell — told to call 911 and the utility; message passed on as an emergency
- Panel upgrade quote — details captured, no price given unless you listed one
- Partial power loss — captured as urgent for a callback
Worth setting up
Write clear emergency instructions and list the work that needs a permit or site visit before quoting.
Roofing
Storms create call spikes that an office of one cannot absorb.
Typical calls and what happens
- Active leak after a storm — urgent, with address and what is affected
- Insurance estimate — captured with the caller's adjuster details if they offer them
- Full replacement quote — preferred inspection time recorded as a request
Worth setting up
State your service area precisely and explain how you handle tarping and emergency repairs.
Other trades
Also a fit for landscaping, cleaning, pest control and appliance repair
If your customers phone you to describe a problem and ask when you can come, the same setup works. Choose “Other local service” when you sign up.
Set it up this afternoon.
Tell it your services and hours, pick a number, and forward your line. You can read every call and change anything it says.