Missed call text templates and voicemail scripts
A good missed call text says who you are, says sorry, and asks one question the customer can answer with a thumb. A good voicemail greeting tells the caller what to leave and when you'll call back. Copy the ones below and change the words in brackets.
Updated November 3, 2026
Book a call →Hear a sample call
- Send the text
- Within minutes of the missed call
- Say
- Who you are, and one question
- Voicemail
- What to leave, and when you'll call back
- Cost
- Free to copy
Missed call texts to copy
| Business | The text |
|---|---|
| Roofers | Hi, it's [Your Company]. Sorry we missed your call. Is this a leak or an estimate? Send your address and a photo if you can, and we'll get back to you today. |
| Plumbers | Hi, it's [Your Company]. Sorry we missed you. Is water running right now, or can it wait for a scheduled visit? Send your address and we'll get back to you. |
| Electricians | Hi, it's [Your Company]. Sorry we missed your call. What's going on, and what's the address? If you smell burning or see sparks, call 911 first. |
| HVAC | Hi, it's [Your Company]. Sorry we missed your call. Is it no heat, no cooling, or a tune-up? Send your address and we'll get back to you. |
| Auto shops | Hi, it's [Your Shop]. Sorry we missed you. What car is it, and what's it doing? We'll find you a time to bring it in. |
| Salons | Hi, it's [Your Salon]. Sorry we missed your call. What can we book for you, and which day suits you? |
| Trucking | Hi, it's [Your Company]. Thanks for reaching out about driving with us. What CDL class do you have, and how long have you been driving? |
Voicemail greetings to copy
| Business | The greeting |
|---|---|
| Roofers | You've reached [Your Company]. We're up on a roof right now. If water's coming in, say so and leave your address, and we'll call you first. Everything else gets a call back by [time]. |
| Plumbers | You've reached [Your Company]. If water's running, shut off the main valve if you can, then leave your address and we'll call you first. Everything else gets a call back by [time]. |
| Electricians | You've reached [Your Company]. If you smell burning or see sparks, hang up and call 911. For anything else, leave your address and what's going on, and we'll call back by [time]. |
| HVAC | You've reached [Your Company]. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company or 911. If you've got no heat or no cooling, leave your address and we'll call you first. Everything else gets a call back by [time]. |
| Auto shops | You've reached [Your Shop]. We're under a car right now. Leave your name, your car and what it's doing, and we'll call back by [time]. |
| Salons | You've reached [Your Salon]. We're with a client right now. Leave your name, the service you'd like and a day that suits you, and we'll call back by [time]. |
| Trucking | You've reached [Your Company]. If you're a driver calling about a job, leave your name, your CDL class and your years driving, and we'll call back today. |
How to make them work
- Send the text within minutes. An hour later, they've probably called someone else
- Ask one question, so answering takes a thumb
- Only say a call-back time you'll keep
- Reply to the person who called, about what they called about
- If someone says stop, stop texting them
Questions to ask on every call
| Business | Ask |
|---|---|
| Roofers | Is water coming in right now? What kind of roof is it, and about how old? Is there an insurance claim, or has anyone looked at it yet? What's the address, so you can check you cover it? What's the best number if the call drops? |
| Plumbers | What's leaking or not working? Is the water off, and do they know where the shutoff is? How old is the heater or fixture? Do they own the home? What's the address? |
| Electricians | What's stopped working? Is the breaker tripping, or did it just go dead? Is it a house or a business? Do they own the building? What's the address? |
| HVAC | Is it no heat, no cooling, or something else? Furnace, heat pump or AC, and about how old? Is it running at all, or not coming on? Is anyone at home at risk from the temperature, like a baby or someone elderly? What's the address? |
| Auto shops | What's the year, make and model? What's it doing, and since when? Are any warning lights on? Is it safe to drive? Will they drop it off or wait? |
| Salons | Which service would they like? Is there a stylist they'd like? Are they new, or have they been in before? For color, what's on their hair now? Which days suit them? |
| Trucking | What CDL class do they hold, and how long have they been driving? Any moving violations in the last 3 years? What home time do they want? What freight have they run? When could they start? |
If nobody has time to send them
These work by hand if someone can get to the phone. If nobody can, a missed call text can go out automatically, and some services, Talalevel included, answer the reply too.
Questions owners ask
- What should a missed call text say?
- Who you are, that you're sorry you missed them, and one question they can answer quickly, like whether it's urgent or what they need.
- How soon should I text back after a missed call?
- Within minutes if you can. Someone with a problem today books the first company that answers.
- What should a business voicemail greeting say?
- Who they've reached, what to leave, and when you'll call back. If some calls are urgent, say how to flag them.
Related
What is missed call text back?How to stop missing calls while you're on a jobHow much do missed calls cost a small business?How to answer customer calls and texts after hours
What are missed calls costing you?
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