Is an answering service worth it for a one-man band?
Short answer: if missed calls are costing you even one job a month, probably yes. Here's an honest way to decide, including when it isn't worth it.
1. Count your missed calls
Look at last week's call log. How many calls from unknown numbers did you miss while working, driving or after hours?
2. Be honest about how many were jobs
Not every call is work. Some are sales calls, suppliers or time-wasters. Even one in four or five turning into a job adds up.
3. Compare with the cost
If the work you'd win is worth more than the monthly price, it pays for itself. Our calculator does the maths.
Who it's worth it for
Answering services are worth it when you're good at the work but can't always get to the phone: on a roof, under a boiler, on a ladder or driving between jobs. That's most trades, most of the day.
They're less useful if you rarely miss calls, if you're booked solid for months, or if your customers are all regulars who'll wait for a call back.
What to check before you sign up
Ask what happens when an emergency comes in, whether it can book into your real diary, what happens out of hours and at weekends, whether the price can jump if you get a busy month, and whether there's a contract.
CallVest answers 24/7 for a flat monthly price, books into your own calendar, gives gas, electrical and water emergencies the right safety advice and flags them to you straight away, and there's no contract.
Is an answering service worth it for a sole trader?+
If you regularly miss calls while working and some of those callers would have booked, usually yes. The test is simple: does it win you more work each month than it costs? For CallVest Receptionist at £69 a month, that's often one job.
When isn't it worth it?+
If you're fully booked for months, rarely miss calls, or most of your work comes from repeat customers who'll happily wait for a call back, voicemail may be enough.
Human or AI?+
A human service suits firms that want a person on every call and have the budget. An AI receptionist answers 24/7 for a flat monthly price, can book jobs straight into your diary, and never puts callers on hold.
Can I try before committing?+
Yes. CallVest has a 14-day free trial with no card, and you can hear Vesty answer as your business in 30 seconds on our try page.
Let Vesty take your next call.
14 days free. No card. No contract. Set up for you.