AI Answering Service for Tradespeople
When you're up a ladder or under a sink, AI Answerphone answers the phone for you. It finds out whether it's an emergency or a quote, takes the caller's name, number and postcode, and sends you the job details straight away, so you can ring back when your hands are free.
From £47/month · Keep your existing number · No set-up fee · No contract
Our own number is answered by AI Answerphone: call it to hear what your callers would.
Example notification
- Caller
- Mark Evans
- Number
- 07700 900456
- Department
- Emergency Callouts
"Water leaking through kitchen ceiling from bathroom above. Stopcock now off. Postcode NR3. Wants someone today if possible."
View full transcript →What your callers ring about
The calls you can't take while you're busy, and how AI Answerphone deals with each one.
Emergencies
Leaks, no power, storm damage, locked out. It asks what's happening and where, and notes how urgent it is in your alert.
Quote requests
New work from people who found you online. It takes what they want doing, the address or postcode and when they hope to start.
Existing jobs
Customers checking when you're coming or chasing an invoice. It takes their details and what it's about.
Calls you can't take
Driving, on a roof, on another call. Divert the ones you miss and nothing goes to voicemail.
The questions it asks your callers
When you sign up, you can start from a ready-made template for your trade. These are the departments and questions each one sets up. You can change, add or remove any of them in your portal.
Plumber template
Emergency Callouts
- Is water currently leaking?
- Do you know where your stopcock is?
- What's your postcode?
Quotes & Estimates
- What work are you looking to have done?
- Is this a new install or a replacement?
- When are you hoping to start?
Electrician template
Emergency Callouts
- Is the power out completely or just part of the house?
- Are neighbours affected too?
- Are there any burning smells or sparks?
Quotes & Estimates
- What work are you looking to have done?
- Is this for a home or business?
- What's the address?
Roofer template
Roof Leaks & Storm Damage
- Is water currently coming in?
- Has there been recent bad weather?
- What's the address?
New Roof Quotes
- What type of roof — pitched, flat, tiled, slate?
- What's the work you need?
- What's the address?
On every call it also asks why they're calling, takes their name and confirms their number. Each department's enquiries go to that department's contacts.
How it handles the awkward calls
Genuine emergencies
Callers are asked whether it's an emergency right now. If it is, that's noted in your alert so it stands out from quote requests. It doesn't ring you or send anyone out, so check your alerts or set an on-call phone as a WhatsApp or SMS contact.
Safety first on leaks and power cuts
The plumber template tells the AI to ask whether water is still running and to advise turning off the stopcock. The electrician template asks whether neighbours have lost power too, which points to a supply fault rather than the house.
Price questions
It won't make up a price. If you give it guide prices, such as your call-out charge, it can quote those. Otherwise it tells the caller you'll get back to them with a price, and takes the details you need to work one out.
Callers who just want you
Some people only want to speak to the boss. The AI tells them their details are being passed straight on and you'll call them back, and it makes sure you have the number.
Which divert suits you
We suggest diverting when you don't answer, so you still take the calls you can and the AI picks up the rest. Add an out-of-hours greeting for evenings and weekends. Setting up a divert takes a minute: see our iPhone, Android and BT landline guides.
What it doesn't do
It doesn't book jobs into your diary, send anyone out, or put callers through to you. It takes the details and gets them to you quickly, and you decide what happens next.
Plans for trades
Every plan answers calls 24/7 and includes a monthly allowance of call minutes. Pick one on the number of calls you expect, not the time of day they come in.
Starter
Perfect for sole traders and small businesses
£47/month
350 call minutes included
- AI answers every call 24/7
- 1 department
- 2 voice choices (1 male, 1 female)
- Professional greeting
Growth
For growing businesses with multiple departments
£77/month
750 call minutes included
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Up to 3 departments with auto-detection
- 6 voice choices (3 male, 3 female)
- Per-department data collection
Pro
Maximum flexibility for larger businesses
£97/month
1,250 call minutes included
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Up to 10 departments
- All 8 voice choices
- 10 email notification contacts
No set-up fee, no contract, cancel any time. Compare every plan feature or see how the cost compares with a staffed answering service.
Questions from trades
Other industries
The same service, set up for a different kind of business.
Stop losing jobs to voicemail
Divert the calls you can't take and every enquiry reaches you with the details you need to call back and quote.
Our own line is answered by AI Answerphone, so calling it is the quickest demo. Prefer to talk it through? Get in touch.