Small business voicemail greeting examples and scripts
Here are 16 small business voicemail greeting scripts you can copy and adapt, written to make a small team or owner-run business sound established and professional. Each one is 15 to 25 seconds long, gives your name, asks the caller for their details and sets a clear callback time. Swap the placeholders in brackets for your own wording.
What makes a good small business voicemail greeting?
When you run a small business, your voicemail often does the job of a receptionist. A good greeting reassures the caller they have reached a real, organised company and that someone will get back to them. The trick is to sound personal and warm without sounding casual or rushed.
The best small business greetings do five things:
- Open with the company name, not just your first name, so callers know they are in the right place.
- Briefly explain that you cannot take the call right now.
- Ask for their name, number and a short message.
- Promise a clear callback time you can actually keep, such as the same working day.
- Keep it to 15 to 25 seconds and speak slowly with a smile in your voice.
General small business voicemail greetings
These all-purpose scripts suit most small businesses. Use them as your standard greeting when the line is unanswered during the working day.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Sorry we cannot take your call right now. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and we will get back to you the same working day."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are sorry to have missed you. Leave your name, number and a brief message after the tone, and a member of the team will call you straight back."
"Hello, you have come through to [Company name]. We are unable to answer at the moment, so please leave your details and your reason for calling, and we will return your call as soon as we can."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. All of us are busy helping other customers right now. Leave your name and number and we will be in touch shortly. We look forward to speaking with you."
Owner-run and one-person business greetings
If you are a sole trader or the only person answering the phone, you still want to sound like a proper business. Leading with the company name does most of the work. Add your own name afterwards for a personal touch.
"Thank you for calling [Company name], this is [your name]. I am away from the phone at the moment, so please leave your name, number and a short message and I will call you back today."
"Hello, you have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I cannot take your call right now as I am out with a customer, but if you leave your details I will get back to you as soon as I am free."
"You have come through to [Company name]. I am sorry I have missed you. Please leave a message with your name and number, and I will return your call personally as soon as I can."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. I am [your name] and I run the business, so your call matters to me. Leave your name, number and a quick note, and I will ring you back the same day wherever possible."
Short and simple greetings
If you want something quick and to the point, these shorter scripts still cover the essentials. They work well when you expect a high number of calls and want to keep things moving.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and we will call you straight back."
"You have reached [Company name]. Sorry we missed you. Leave your details after the tone and we will be in touch soon."
"Hello, this is [Company name]. We cannot take your call right now, so please leave a message and we will get back to you today."
Greetings with opening hours
Adding your opening hours sets expectations and saves callers wondering when they will hear from you. Keep the hours to one short line so the message does not drag on.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are open [opening hours]. Sorry we cannot take your call at the moment. Please leave your name and number, and we will get back to you during our next working hours."
"You have reached [Company name]. Our office hours are [opening hours]. Leave your name, number and a short message and a member of the team will return your call as soon as we are open."
"Hello and thanks for calling [Company name]. We are available [opening hours]. We are sorry to have missed you, so please leave your details and we will be in touch on the next working day."
Friendly and welcoming greetings
A warmer tone suits salons, cafes, trades and any small business where the personal touch is part of the appeal. These greetings still stay professional, just with a friendlier feel.
"Hi, thanks so much for calling [Company name]. We are sorry we could not catch your call. Leave us your name and number and we will give you a ring back as soon as we can. Thanks, and have a lovely day."
"Hello and welcome to [Company name]. We are with another customer right now, but your call really matters to us. Pop your name and number in a message and we will call you straight back."
Frequently asked questions
What should a small business voicemail greeting say?
It should give your business name, briefly say you cannot take the call right now, ask the caller to leave their name, number and a short message, and tell them when you will call back. Keeping it to 15 to 25 seconds and sounding warm but professional is what makes a small team sound established and reliable.
How can a small business voicemail sound more professional?
Use the company name rather than just your own, record in a quiet room, speak slowly and smile while you talk, and promise a clear callback time you can keep. Saying we will call you back the same working day reassures the caller and makes a one-person business sound as dependable as a larger firm.
Should an owner-run business use the company name or their own name?
Use the company name first, then your own if you wish. Saying Thank you for calling [Company name] sounds more established than answering with just your first name, and it reassures callers they have reached a real business. You can still add a personal touch with your name afterwards.
How long should a small business voicemail greeting be?
Aim for 15 to 25 seconds. That is long enough to give your name, ask for their details and set a callback expectation, but short enough that callers do not get impatient. If you need to include opening hours or an alternative contact, keep each part to one short sentence.
What information should I ask callers to leave?
Ask for their name, a contact number and a brief reason for the call. Some businesses also ask for the best time to call back. The more you capture in the message, the quicker you can return the call with the right answer ready, which makes a small business feel responsive and organised.
Put these scripts to work
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