11 November 2026
What to say on your business voicemail: seven greetings you can copy
A voicemail greeting has one job: get the caller to leave a message you can act on. Seven short scripts for a one-person business — out on a job, out of hours, on holiday — and the three things every one of them needs.
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A voicemail greeting has one job, which is to get the person who rang to leave a message you can act on. Most greetings fail at it the same way: they are too long, they apologise instead of informing, and they never say what to leave. Somebody ringing a business for a quote will hang up and try the next name on the list long before a thirty-second message finishes. Short wins.
Every greeting below does three things, in this order. It says who they have reached, so they know they dialled the right number. It says what to leave — a name, a number and what the job is — because people asked for something specific usually give it. And it says when they will hear back, in words you can actually keep. "As soon as I can" promises nothing; "by the end of the day" is a promise, so only make it if it is true.
The everyday one, for when you are on a job: "You've reached Carter Plumbing. I'm with a customer at the moment. Leave your name, your number and what you need, and I'll ring you back today." That is under fifteen seconds read aloud, and there is nothing in it to cut.
Out of hours: "Thanks for calling Carter Plumbing. We're closed for the day and open again at eight tomorrow morning. Leave your name, number and a line about the job, and you'll be the first call we make." If you take emergencies, add one sentence saying so and how — and only if somebody really will pick up.
When you would rather have the details in writing: "You've reached Carter Plumbing. For a quote, leave your name, your number and your postcode, and tell me briefly what the job is. I'll call you back with a price." Asking for the postcode saves a second phone call, and tells the caller you are already thinking about their job.
On holiday: "Carter Plumbing is closed until Monday the 14th. Leave a message and I'll call you back that morning. If it can't wait, I hope you find someone good." Give the day you are back and not the day you left; it is the only date the caller cares about. A bank holiday version is the same message with one day in it.
Three more, for particular moments. Busy season: "You've reached Carter Plumbing. We're booked up this week, but leave your name and number and I'll ring you with the first date I can do." Just started and it is only you: "Hi, you've reached Sam at Carter Plumbing. Leave a message and I'll call you straight back." And the greeting people hear before the call connects, which is a different thing from voicemail and should be one line: "Thanks for calling Carter Plumbing, connecting you now."
Two practical points. Read your message aloud against a clock before you save it; if it runs past twenty seconds, cut it. And change it when your day changes, because a greeting that says you are closed at ten in the morning loses the call. With a Landline for Mobile number you type the messages in your control panel and they are read out to callers — one for the greeting, one for voicemail, and one for when you are away — so changing one takes as long as sending a text. Set your working hours and calls outside them go straight to voicemail with your message. Every voicemail is emailed to you with the caller's number, and the transcript follows in a second email, so you can read what they wanted before you ring back. Every feature is in the one price, £9.99 a month.