How much do missed calls cost home service businesses?
Every home service owner misses calls. You're on a job, driving, or it's 9 PM. The question is what those missed calls are really worth, and whether it's enough to fix. You can work out a rough number for your own business in a few minutes.
3 test calls, 4 minutes each. No card needed, just sign up.
Why missed calls matter more in home services
When a homeowner needs a painter, a cleaner or a pool tech, they often call a few businesses. If you don't pick up, many won't leave a voicemail. They just call the next number. And these calls are often new customers, the most valuable ones to win.
A simple formula
You can estimate the monthly cost of missed calls like this:
Missed calls per month × share that were real new jobs × share you'd have won × average job value
An illustrative example
These numbers are made up to show how the math works. They aren't industry statistics or results from any business.
- You miss 20 calls a month.
- About half of those are new customers asking for work: 10.
- You'd normally win about 1 in 3 of those: roughly 3 jobs.
- Your average job is worth $400.
That's about $1,200 a month in work that went somewhere else, before counting repeat business or referrals. Plug in your own numbers. Even small inputs often add up to more than a phone answering plan costs.
How to find your own numbers
- Check your phone's call log or your carrier's missed-call list for a typical month.
- Look at how many of those numbers never called back.
- Use your average invoice and your usual close rate.
Ways to stop losing those calls
- Call back fast. The sooner you return a missed call, the better your chances.
- Set up voicemail properly, although many callers still won't leave one.
- Have someone answer for you. A person or an AI receptionist that picks up 24/7.
Where GetMyCalls fits
GetMyCalls answers your business calls 24/7 in English, Spanish or Portuguese, collects the details and any appointment request, and emails you a summary after every call so you can call back. You confirm the time with the customer. Plans start at $49/month with no setup fee and no contract, and it's live in about 5 minutes.
Before paying, you can make 3 free test calls from your browser and hear exactly what your customers would hear.