The quiet cost of missed calls (and why voicemail's a dead end)

If you're missing calls, you're not just losing a call — you're losing about 85% of the work behind it.

The 85% number, plainly

Someone rings a plumber. They get voicemail. They call the next plumber. That's it — you're not on the callback list. Repeatedly verified across small-business call data since 2022.

The cheapest fix that actually works

A missed-call SMS that goes out inside 30 seconds. Copy that says 'Sorry we missed you — quickest way to book is [link]'. Bookings you'd otherwise never see.

Why SaaS-only isn't the answer

Off-the-shelf tools (Missed-It, OpenPhone) work — but they charge a monthly subscription for something you can own outright on Twilio for cents per SMS. Same result, no ongoing fee.

Frequently asked

How many missed calls does the average two-person crew get a week?

Enough that fixing this alone often pays for the whole Leak Check. In our audits, 20-40% of after-hours enquiries go to voicemail.

Won't clients find an SMS weird?

The opposite. Most people prefer text to being on hold. As long as the copy reads like a human wrote it, they book.