Voicemail greeting examples for small businesses
Most callers hang up at the beep. A good greeting is short, tells them what happens next, and gives them a faster way to reach you.
By Steve Clune, Back Office Bot · Updated November 14, 2026
What a business voicemail greeting should do
- Say your business name first. They need to know they reached the right place.
- Keep it under 20 seconds. Long greetings lose people.
- Tell them what happens next. "We'll call you back within the hour" beats "leave a message."
- Offer a faster option. A text or a website form catches people who won't leave a message.
Standard greetings
Simple: "Thanks for calling [Business]. We're with a customer right now. Leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll call you back within the hour. You'll also get a text from us in a moment, so you can reply there if that's easier."
Contractor: "You've reached [Business]. We're probably on a job site. Leave a quick message with your address and what's going on, and we'll get back to you today."
Owner-operator: "Hi, this is [Name] with [Business]. I'm with a customer and can't grab the phone. Leave a message or just text this number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I'm done."
After-hours greetings
"Thanks for calling [Business]. Our office is closed. Our hours are [hours]. Leave a message and we'll call you first thing in the morning. If this is an emergency, press 1."
"You've reached [Business] after hours. We got your call. Reply to the text we just sent with what you need, and we'll get you on tomorrow's schedule."
Holiday greeting
"Thanks for calling [Business]. We're closed for [holiday] and back on [day]. Leave a message or reply to our text, and we'll reach out when we're back. Happy holidays."
Emergency line greeting
"You've reached [Business]. If you have an emergency, like no heat, active water leaking or a safety issue, press 1 to reach our on-call tech. For everything else, leave a message and we'll call you in the morning. If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas company or 911 first."
The problem with voicemail
Even a great greeting only works on people who wait for the beep, and most new customers don't. They hang up and call the next business. That's why the best greetings mention a text. Pair your voicemail with an automatic text so callers who hang up still hear from you. See how to text back missed calls automatically, or have an AI answering service pick up and book the job instead.
Questions owners ask
How long should a business voicemail greeting be?
Under 20 seconds. Say your business name, what happens next and a faster way to reach you.
Should I use my own voice or a recorded professional voice?
For a small local business, your own voice usually builds more trust. Speak slowly and smile while you record.
Should I give my cell number in the greeting?
Only if you want every call on your personal phone. A text option or an on-call line for emergencies usually works better.
Why do callers hang up instead of leaving a message?
Most people would rather call the next business than wait. An automatic text gives them a way to reach you without a voicemail.
Want us to check your setup for free?
We call your business after hours, see what your customers hear, and show you what BOB would do instead. Free, about 15 minutes, no pressure.
Rather talk now? Call (913) 530-8133. You'll get Steve, the owner.