Auto-attendant script examples (copy-paste phone menu templates)
Here are 15+ auto-attendant script examples and phone menu templates you can copy and adapt. They cover main business menus, simple 2 to 3 option menus, dial-by-name directories, and after-hours menus. Each one is written to sound clear and British, and to route callers to the right place fast. Swap the square-bracket placeholders for your own details and record.
What makes a good auto-attendant menu?
A good auto-attendant greets the caller, names your business, then offers a short list of clear options. The aim is to get the caller to the right person or team in as few key presses as possible. Three things make the difference: a brief welcome, a small number of options, and a sensible fallback if the caller does nothing.
State the option before the key, for example for sales, press one, because callers decide what they want first and reach for the keypad second. Keep a main menu to three to five options and the whole recording under about 30 seconds. Always give a way to reach a real person and a way to repeat the menu. The scripts below are grouped by situation so you can pick the right starting point.
Main business menu scripts
These are full main-menu greetings for a company line, with departmental routing and an operator fallback. Use them as your front door during opening hours.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. To help us direct your call, please choose from the following options. For sales, press one. For support, press two. For accounts, press three. To speak to a member of the team, press zero, or stay on the line."
"Welcome to [Company name]. Your call is important to us. For new enquiries, press one. For existing customers, press two. For billing and accounts, press three. To hear these options again, press star. To speak to reception, please hold."
"Thank you for calling [Company name], where we are happy to help. For bookings, press one. For general enquiries, press two. For anything else, press zero and one of our team will be with you shortly."
"You have reached [Company name]. Please listen carefully as our options have changed. For sales and quotes, press one. For technical support, press two. For accounts and invoices, press three. For all other enquiries, press zero."
"Hello and thank you for calling [Company name]. To reach the right department quickly, please select an option. For [department one], press one. For [department two], press two. For [department three], press three. To repeat this menu, press star."
Simple 2 to 3 option menus
If you only have one or two teams, a short menu keeps things fast and friendly. These suit smaller businesses that still want to sound organised.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. For sales, press one. For support, press two. Or stay on the line and we will connect you to the next available team member."
"Welcome to [Company name]. To book an appointment, press one. For all other enquiries, press two. Or hold and a member of the team will be with you shortly."
"You have reached [Company name]. For new orders, press one. To track an existing order, press two. To speak to someone, press zero."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. For [service one], press one. For [service two], press two. If you are not sure, just stay on the line and we will help you."
Menus with a dial-by-name directory
A dial-by-name directory lets callers who know who they want skip straight to that person. Pair it with a couple of standard options for everyone else.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. If you know the name of the person you wish to reach, press one to use our directory. For sales, press two. For support, press three. To speak to reception, press zero."
"Welcome to [Company name]. To reach a specific person, press one and enter the first few letters of their surname. For general enquiries, press two. To hear these options again, press star."
"You have reached [Company name]. If you know your party's extension, you may dial it at any time. Otherwise, for sales press one, for accounts press two, or press zero for the operator."
After-hours and closed menu scripts
When you are closed, the menu should say so, give your hours, and offer a way to leave a message or reach an emergency line. Update it for holidays so callers are never misled.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed. Our opening hours are [opening hours]. To leave a message, press one and we will return your call on the next working day. Thank you for calling."
"You have reached [Company name] outside of our normal hours. We are open [opening hours]. Please leave a message after the tone with your name and number, or call back during opening hours, and we will be glad to help."
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is now closed. For non-urgent matters, please press one to leave a voicemail. If your call is an emergency, press two to be connected to our out-of-hours line on [number]."
"Welcome to [Company name]. We are closed for [holiday or reason] and will reopen on [date]. To leave a message, please stay on the line after the tone, and we will get back to you when we return."
Tips for writing an auto-attendant menu
- Lead with the company name. The first line should confirm who the caller has reached so nobody hangs up unsure.
- Limit a main menu to three to five options. Too many choices and callers forget them and press zero.
- Say the option before the key. For sales, press one reads more naturally than press one for sales, and is easier to follow.
- Put your busiest option first. List the department most callers want at the top to save them waiting.
- Always offer a human. A press zero for the team or stay on the line option stops people feeling trapped.
- Add a repeat option. Press star to hear these options again helps callers who missed a choice.
- Keep it under 30 seconds. A long menu loses callers. If you need more routing, use a short second level.
- Record clearly and update it. Use a calm, even voice and swap in a closed menu for holidays and out-of-hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is an auto-attendant script?
An auto-attendant script is the wording your phone system plays when a call comes in, greeting the caller and offering menu options such as press 1 for sales or press 2 for support. It routes the call to the right team or person without a human picking up first, so a small business can sound organised and make sure callers reach the right place quickly.
How many options should an auto-attendant menu have?
Keep a main menu to between three and five options. More than five and callers struggle to remember them and start pressing zero for an operator. If you genuinely need more routing, use a short second-level menu rather than a long single list, and always offer a way to reach a real person.
Should the greeting or the options come first?
Put the greeting first and the options second. Start with a short welcome that names the company, then list the menu choices. State the option before the key, for example for sales, press one, because callers decide what they want before they reach for the keypad. Keep the whole message under about 30 seconds.
What should happen if the caller does not press anything?
If the caller does not press a key, the menu should repeat once and then route them to a default, usually a main reception, a ring group or voicemail. Never leave a caller stuck. A simple fallback line such as to speak to a member of the team, stay on the line keeps people from being cut off.
Can an AI receptionist replace an auto-attendant menu?
Often, yes. Instead of pressing numbers, the caller simply says what they need and an AI receptionist understands the request, answers common questions and transfers them to the right person or to voicemail. It can run alongside or in place of a press-one menu, and it can answer 24/7, which suits businesses that want a more natural caller experience.
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