Callwake.

Missed-Call Recovery

Missed-call text back for trade businesses

When you can't pick up, Callwake texts the caller within seconds, in your business name. It answers with your approved answers, offers a real open time, and tells you what happened.
Request early accessTry the live demo

What is missed-call text back?

Missed-call text back is simple. Someone calls your business. You don't answer because you're on a job, driving or with another customer. A few seconds later, that person gets a text from your business asking how you can help.

It works because most callers won't wait. Industry data says 27–28% of calls to small service businesses go unanswered, and fewer than 3 in 100 callers leave a voicemail. The rest just call the next business on their list. A quick text keeps the conversation with you.

Plenty of tools send one automatic "Sorry we missed you" text. Callwake goes further. It runs the whole first conversation for you, with your answers, and can book an appointment from your real open times.

How Callwake works

  1. Forward the calls you don't answer. You dial one carrier code on your business phone. From then on, calls you don't pick up forward to your business's dedicated text line. Calls you answer work the same as always.
  2. The caller hears a short notice. Before any text, the caller hears a brief recorded message that your business will text them, and that they can reply STOP.
  3. A text arrives within seconds. It comes from your dedicated text line and starts with your business name. For example: "Northside Plumbing: Sorry we missed your call! This is our text line - what do you need help with?"
  4. A guided conversation. Callwake asks what they need and replies using only the answers you approved. If they ask something outside those answers, it stops and hands off to you.
  5. A real appointment time. When the caller is ready, Callwake offers times from your open schedule, based on your hours and booking rules. When they pick one, it's booked.
  6. You get an alert. You get a text and an email with the caller's number, what they need and the booked time. Every Friday you get a short report of the week.
Example conversation

Northside Plumbing: Sorry we missed your call! This is our text line - what do you need help with? Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

Water heater is leaking in the garage

Northside Plumbing: Sorry to hear that. Is it a slow drip, or is water spreading on the floor?

Slow drip but it's getting worse

Northside Plumbing: Thanks. We have Mon at 10:00 AM or Mon at 12:00 PM - which works for you?

10 am

Northside Plumbing: You're booked for Mon at 10:00 AM. We'll see you then. Reply STOP to opt out.

Northside Plumbing is our demo business. You can try this conversation yourself on our homepage. Nothing is sent to a real phone.

What you control

Callwake only says what you've approved. You set it up once and change it anytime in Settings.

  • Approved answers. Short answers to the questions callers ask most: emergencies, service area, estimates, licensing, how soon you can come. We start you with answers for your trade. You edit them.
  • Hours. Your working days and hours. Callwake uses them to decide which times to offer and what to say after hours.
  • Booking rules. How long a visit is, how much notice you need, and how many times to offer. You can also turn booking off and get a call-back alert instead.
  • Wording. The first text, the hand-off message and the closing message. Every one starts with your business name.
  • Pause. Going on vacation or slow season? Pause it in one click. Calls still ring your phone.

Compliance, in plain words

Texting customers comes with rules. Callwake is built around them, so you don't have to think about it every day.

  • Only people who called you. Callwake texts people who called your business first. It never texts lists, cold leads or anyone who didn't contact you.
  • Your business name in every text. Each business gets its own dedicated text line, verified in that business's name with US carriers. Numbers are never shared between businesses.
  • STOP and HELP always work. Reply STOP and the texts stop for good. Reply HELP and the caller gets your business name and how to reach support. Msg & data rates may apply.
  • No marketing blasts. No promotions, no newsletters, no "spring special" texts. Conversations stay about the caller's own request.

Read the full messaging terms for details.

Set up in about 10 minutes

  1. Create your account and enter your business details and hours.
  2. Review the approved answers we start you with for your trade.
  3. Check the wording of your first text and call notice.
  4. Verify your business. We submit the carrier verification for you.
  5. Get your dedicated text line and dial your carrier's forwarding code. Our forwarding guide has the codes.

Calls reach your text line right away. Texting turns on once carriers approve the line, which usually takes a few business days. You can test the whole conversation in the app before then.

Built for your trade

Every trade misses calls for different reasons and gets different questions. See how it works for yours:

Pricing

Missed-Call Recovery is $99 a month, or $79 a month billed annually ($948 a year). It includes up to 300 conversations a month.

Want quote follow-ups too? The Revenue Recovery Pack includes Missed-Call Recovery and Quote Follow-up for $129 a month, or $109 a month billed annually.

Every plan has a 14-day free trial (card required), cancel anytime, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. See all plans.

Frequently asked questions

What is missed-call text back?

It's an automatic text sent to someone who called your business and didn't reach you. With Callwake, the text comes from a dedicated text line for your business, with your business name in every message.

Do I need a new phone number?

Your customers keep calling your usual number. We give your business its own toll-free text line, verified in your business name. Only the calls you don't answer forward to it.

Will it text people I'm already talking to?

No. Only calls you don't answer are forwarded. If you pick up, nothing changes.

What if a caller asks something I didn't approve?

Callwake doesn't guess. It sends your hand-off message and alerts you to call them back.

Can I turn it off?

Yes. Pause it in Settings anytime, or turn off forwarding with your carrier's off code.

How much does it cost?

Missed-Call Recovery is $99 a month, or $79 a month billed annually. Every plan has a 14-day trial (card required) and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Related

Stop losing jobs to missed calls.

Early access is open to 10 trade businesses. They keep the launch price for 12 months.

Request early accessTry the live demo