Missed call to booked job: four AI steps for local service pros
For contractors, home-service pros and local shops that lose leads while working: text back missed calls, quote from a voice memo, follow up, and ask every customer for a review.
- Setup
- An afternoon to write the templates
- Your time
- You send every text, quote and reply yourself
This is what the setup aims for, not a measured result.
Write missed-call text-back templates
When you can't pick up, a quick text tells the caller you got their call and asks what they need, so they have a reason to wait for you instead of calling the next listing.
Run the prompt once. Save the replies as phone Text Replacements to send by hand, or paste them into your business phone app's missed-call auto-reply (for example Quo Auto-replies). Automatic sending from a business number requires A2P 10DLC registration.
PromptWritten by our editors Act as a customer-service writer for [BUSINESS_NAME], a [SERVICE_TYPE] business serving [SERVICE_AREA]. Write 3 text-message templates (each under 155 characters) for replying to someone whose call I missed: 1. During business hours: say I'm with a customer right now, then ask 2 quick questions: [QUALIFYING_QUESTIONS]. Invite them to text a photo if it helps. 2. After hours or weekends: confirm we got the call and say when we'll reply: [NEXT_REPLY_TIME]. Ask for a short description or photo. Include this safety line if I give one: [SAFETY_LINE]. 3. Follow-up after they reply: ask whether it's urgent today or can wait for a standard appointment, using only our real options: [URGENT_POLICY]. Rules: sound like a person, include the business name, don't promise arrival times or prices I haven't given, and end templates 1 and 2 with "Reply STOP to opt out" if they will be sent automatically.Turn a walkthrough voice memo into a 3-option quote
Three clear options let the customer pick a scope instead of giving a yes or no on one price. The prompt only uses the prices you say out loud.
After the walkthrough, open ChatGPT or Claude on your phone, paste the prompt, tap the mic and talk through scope, measurements, materials and prices. Check the math and copy the quote into your text, email or invoicing app. It is the same prompt as the Good-Better-Best version on the landscaping crew use case.
PromptWritten by our editors Act as a senior estimator for [BUSINESS_NAME] ([SERVICE_TYPE]). Below is my raw voice-to-text transcript from walking the job with [CLIENT_NAME] at [JOB_ADDRESS_OR_AREA]. Turn it into a customer-ready proposal: 1. Project summary: 2 sentences restating the client's problem and goal in their words. 2. Three options: - Option 1 (Core): the minimum scope that solves the problem, itemized, with timeline and price. - Option 2 (Recommended): Option 1 plus the upgrade I mentioned, with price. - Option 3 (Complete): the full scope I described, including any warranty or protection extras I mentioned, with price. 3. Use ONLY the prices, rates, quantities and materials I said. If a price or quantity is missing for an item, write "[PRICE NEEDED]". Never estimate. 4. Show the math for each line (quantity × rate). 5. Next steps: how to reply to book, our deposit terms [DEPOSIT_TERMS], and that the quote is valid for [QUOTE_VALIDITY]. 6. List anything I said that sounded uncertain under "Check before sending". Transcript: [PASTE_OR_DICTATE_NOTES]Same-day quotes from voice memos: a landscaping crew's Claude setup (vendor blog, Apr 2026).
Send Day 3 and Day 7 follow-ups on quiet quotes
Some quiet quotes are just busy customers. A short, specific nudge gives them an easy way to answer, and a polite check on Day 7 lets you close the loop.
Twice a week, list quotes sent 3–10 days ago with no reply and run the prompt for each. For leads quiet for 2 weeks or more, use the ghosted-quote follow-up plan linked below.
PromptWritten by our editors I sent a quote to [CLIENT_FIRST_NAME] [DAYS_AGO] days ago for [JOB] at $[AMOUNT] and haven't heard back. Write two short follow-up messages (under 45 words each). Never use "just checking in", "circling back" or "touching base". 1. Day 3 nudge: ask if they have any questions about the options. Mention that we're planning next week's schedule in [AREA] only if this is true: [SCHEDULING_FACT]. 2. Day 7 check: politely ask whether they still plan to do the project this month, or whether I should close their quote for now. Mention releasing a hold on [MATERIALS_OR_SLOT] only if I really placed one: [HOLD_YES_NO]. Write a text version and an email version of each, signed by [SENDER_NAME].A cleaning-company owner reports nearly $20K of stale leads closed with an automated Claude and Quo setup (self-reported).
Ask every customer for a review, then reply to it
Asking soon after the job, while it's fresh, makes reviewing easy. Google says helpful replies "can help your business stand out"; it does not say keywords in replies raise your ranking, so the reply names the service only when it reads naturally.
Get your review link from your Google Business Profile. Part A writes a request to send after every finished job. Part B writes a reply once the review is posted. For batches of replies and the rule for clinics, see the Google review replies use case.
PromptWritten by our editors Act as the owner of [BUSINESS_NAME], a [SERVICE_TYPE] business in [CITY]. PART A: Write a short, personal text (under 160 characters) from [FIRST_NAME] to [CLIENT_FIRST_NAME], sent after we finish their job, asking for an honest Google review at [GOOGLE_REVIEW_LINK]. Don't offer anything in return and don't ask for a particular star rating. You may say that mentioning the work we did helps other customers. PART B: Here is a review we received: "[PASTE_REVIEW]". Write an owner reply under 65 words that thanks the reviewer by first name, mentions one specific detail from their review, and names the service only if it reads naturally. Don't add private details (dates, prices, addresses, health or account information). If the review is 1–3 stars, stay calm, don't argue facts in public, and invite them to contact [CONTACT] to make it right.Google bans review incentives and selectively asking happy customers.
Guardrails
- US texting: "Commercial texts require written consent" (FCC). Reply only to people who contacted you, and honor STOP.
- Texting from a local-area-code business number usually needs carrier (10DLC) registration through your provider.
- Ask every customer for a review, offer nothing in return, and never ask for 5 stars.
- Check every price and quantity before a quote goes out. If you handle gas, electrical or medical emergencies, tell after-hours callers in danger to call 911 or the utility.
Business fit
Plumbers, electricians and HVAC: text back calls you miss on a job and quote the same day from a voice memo.
Local & serviceDetailers, cleaners and landscapers: send three-option quotes and follow up on the quiet ones twice a week.
Local & service
Use cases behind it
- Evidence grade CA Four-Person Landscaping Crew Cut Admin From 16 to 6.5 Hours a Week With ClaudeVendor or secondhand, using Claude and Phone voice memos
- Evidence grade DFollow Up on Quotes That Went Silent With an AI-Written Three-Touch PlanLight evidence, using ChatGPT, Claude and Quo
- Evidence grade DReply to Google Reviews With AI Without Sounding Robotic or Arguing in PublicLight evidence, using Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini
- Evidence grade CAn HVAC and Plumbing Shop's AI Phone Agent Now Books Its After-Hours CallsVendor or secondhand, using ServiceTitan AI Virtual Agent and ServiceTitan
