Business voicemail greeting examples (scripts for every situation)
Here are 16 business voicemail greeting examples for every situation. You will find main company greetings, department and team greetings, closed and after-hours messages, and both friendly and formal versions. Each script is short, professional and written in plain British English. Replace the square-bracket placeholders with your own details and record.
What makes a good business voicemail greeting?
A strong business voicemail greeting tells the caller four things in about 15 to 25 seconds: who they have reached, that you cannot take the call, what to leave, and when you will reply. On a main line, keep it neutral and professional. On a department line, name the team so the caller knows they have reached the right place. Match the tone to your brand, whether that is formal and measured or warm and relaxed.
Avoid long apologies, background music or anything that delays the beep. A clear, confident greeting makes even a small business sound established and gives callers the confidence to leave a useful message. The scripts below are grouped by situation so you can pick and adapt the right one for each line.
Main company voicemail greetings
These suit your main number or a general enquiries line. Use the company name and keep the message professional and welcoming.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Sorry we cannot take your call right now. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and a member of the team will call you back as soon as possible."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are unable to answer at the moment, but your call matters to us. Please leave your details after the tone and we will get back to you the same working day."
"Hello, and thank you for calling [Company name]. All our lines are busy just now. Leave your name, number and the reason for your call, and the right person will return your call shortly."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are sorry to have missed you. Please leave a message with your name and best contact number, and we will be in touch as soon as we are free."
Department and team voicemail greetings
A by-team greeting helps callers feel they have reached the right place and lets you sort messages quickly. Name the department clearly at the start.
"Thank you for calling the [Company name] sales team. We cannot take your call right now. Leave your name, number and what you are looking for, and a member of the sales team will call you straight back."
"You have reached [Company name] customer support. Sorry we are unable to answer. Please leave your name, your account or order number and a short description of the issue, and we will get back to you the same working day."
"Hello, this is the accounts team at [Company name]. We are away from the phone at the moment. Leave your name, number and invoice or reference number, and we will return your call as soon as we can."
"Thank you for calling the [department] team at [Company name]. We are helping other customers right now. Please leave a message and the next available person will call you back."
When you are closed or after-hours
A closed greeting should say you are shut, give your hours so the caller knows when to try again, and offer a way to leave a message or reach an emergency line.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is now closed. Our opening hours are [opening hours]. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and we will return your call on the next working day."
"You have reached [Company name] outside of our normal hours. We are open [opening hours]. Leave a message after the tone with your name and number, and we will be in touch when we reopen."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed. For non-urgent matters, please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you. If your call is urgent, you can reach our out-of-hours line on [number]."
"Welcome to [Company name]. We are closed for [reason] and will reopen on [date]. Please leave a message after the tone and we will call you back as soon as we return."
Friendly versus formal greetings
Match the tone to your brand. A warmer greeting suits salons, cafes and creative businesses, while a measured, formal greeting suits professional services. Here are both, ready to adapt.
Friendly
"Hi there, thanks for calling [Company name]. Sorry we have just missed you. Pop us your name and number and a quick note about what you need, and we will get right back to you. Speak soon."
"Hello from everyone at [Company name]. We cannot get to the phone at the moment, but we would love to help. Leave us a message and we will call you back the same working day."
Formal
"Thank you for contacting [Company name]. Regrettably, we are unable to take your call at this time. Please leave your full name, contact number and the nature of your enquiry, and a member of our team will respond within one working day."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are unable to answer your call at present. Kindly leave your name, telephone number and a brief message after the tone, and we will return your call at the earliest opportunity."
Tips for a professional business voicemail
- Name the business or team first. The caller should know within the first sentence that they have reached the right place.
- Keep it to 15 to 25 seconds. Say what matters, then get to the beep.
- Ask for the right details. Name, number and a short message gives you everything you need to reply.
- Set an expectation. A line like we will call you back the same working day builds trust and prompts callers to leave a message.
- Match your brand voice. Formal or friendly is fine, as long as it is clear and consistent with how you speak to customers.
- Use voicemail-to-email if you have it. Getting messages straight to your inbox means nothing slips through the cracks.
- Update it for holidays and changes. Swap in a closed or out-of-office greeting so the hours are always right.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best business voicemail greeting?
The best business voicemail greeting names the company, tells the caller you cannot take the call, asks for their name, number and a brief message, and says when you will respond. For a main line keep it neutral and professional, and for a department line mention the team so the caller knows they have reached the right place. Aim for 15 to 25 seconds.
Should a business have different voicemail greetings for each department?
Yes, where you can. A department greeting that names the team, such as sales or support, reassures the caller they have reached the right place and helps you triage messages faster. The main company line can keep a general greeting, while each team line uses its own so callers and staff both know which inbox a message belongs to.
What should a closed business voicemail greeting say?
A closed greeting should say that you are closed, give your opening hours so the caller knows when to try again, and invite them to leave a message. If you offer an urgent or emergency route, mention it. Keeping the hours in the message saves callers a wasted return call and makes the business look well run.
Is it better to sound formal or friendly in a business voicemail?
It depends on your brand and your callers. A solicitor or accountant usually suits a formal, measured tone, while a salon, cafe or creative agency can be warmer and more relaxed. Either way, stay clear and professional, give the caller what they need, and match the voice on the phone to the way you speak to customers in person.
How often should I update my business voicemail greeting?
Update it whenever your situation changes, such as for holidays, a change of hours or a temporary closure. At a minimum, review your greetings once or twice a year to check the wording, hours and contact details are still correct. An out-of-date greeting that gives the wrong hours frustrates callers and looks careless.
Put these scripts to work
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