Guides for the trades
Practical help for plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians and every other trade: catching more calls, booking more jobs, and getting paid for your time.
New to missed call text back? Start with how it works, then see pricing. Every trade has its own page too, listed at the bottom.
Where to start
Not sure which guide you need? Pick the situation that sounds most like yours.
- You miss calls on the job and lose work: read 7 ways to stop losing jobs, then work out what a missed call costs you.
- You want to understand text back: start with what missed call text back is, then see what to text a customer and why business texts need 10DLC.
- You're comparing options: see answering service vs text back and pricing.
- You want to set it up on your phone: follow how to forward only the calls you miss.
- You work nights, weekends or serve Spanish speakers: read after-hours and emergency calls and booking Spanish-speaking customers.
- You want more work after the job is done: try getting more Google reviews and online booking for contractors.
All guides
How to stop losing jobs when you can't answer the phone
Missed calls go to the next contractor on Google. Here are 7 ways to stop losing jobs to voicemail, from free fixes to fully automatic text back.
How much does a missed call cost a contractor?
Work out what missed calls really cost your trade business with a simple formula, plus ways to stop losing those jobs.
What is missed call text back?
Missed call text back sends an automatic text to anyone whose call you miss. Here's how it works, what customers see, and who it's for.
How to forward only the calls you miss
Conditional call forwarding sends only the calls you don't answer to another number. Here are the codes for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
What to text a customer after a missed call
Ready-to-use text templates for trade businesses to send after a missed call, after hours, and for urgent jobs.
How to handle after-hours and emergency calls
How trade businesses can catch after-hours calls and spot real emergencies without answering the phone at 2 a.m.
Should contractors let customers book online?
The pros and cons of online booking for trade businesses, and how to set it up so you don't get double-booked.
What is 10DLC, and why do business texts need it?
10DLC registration lets US carriers know who's sending business texts. Here's what it is, why it matters for trade businesses, and how long it takes.
How to get more Google reviews as a contractor
Simple, policy-safe ways for trade businesses to get more Google reviews, plus what not to do.
Answering service vs missed call text back
Compare live answering services, voicemail and missed call text back for trade businesses: cost, pros and cons.
How to book Spanish-speaking customers
Simple ways for trade businesses to serve and book Spanish-speaking customers, even if you don't speak Spanish.
Who writes these
These guides are written by Eamon, who spent 8 years building business automation before starting JobCatcher. They are practical and plain: what to do, what it costs, and what to watch out for. Prices and features match what is on the pricing page.