What does answering the phone 24/7 actually cost?
Round the clock coverage costs either money, sleep, or lost jobs. Every business is already paying one of the three.
What are the options for out of hours cover?
Divert to your own mobile, pay an answering service, use an assistant that answers and routes, or accept the calls are lost. Only the last is free and it is not cheap.
Diverting to a mobile is the hidden-cost option. It works, and it is paid for in interrupted evenings, which people tolerate until they suddenly do not.
How do I work out what missed calls are costing me?
Average job value multiplied by your conversion rate on first-time callers, multiplied by unanswered calls per month. Check your phone's call log rather than estimating, because almost everyone guesses low.
Is 24/7 worth it for every business?
No. It is worth most where the problem is urgent, so trades, locksmiths and anything emergency-adjacent. A business where nothing is urgent should staff the phone well during hours instead.