Not every missed call is a lost job. Some are existing customers who’ll ring back, some are sales calls, and some leave a message you return in time. But some are new customers who hear voicemail and call the next business on the list. This calculator puts a rough dollar figure on those, using your own numbers.
Work you could be losing to voicemail
$0 a month
$0 a year, from about 0 lost jobs a month.
Use your own numbers. Your phone's call log shows missed calls; your job history shows what you win and what a job is worth.
How it works
The calculator multiplies five numbers together:
- Calls you miss each week. Check your phone’s call log for a normal week, including calls that went to voicemail.
- The share that are new customers. Existing customers usually call back, so this only counts people who haven’t dealt with you before.
- The share who try someone else instead. Many callers won’t leave a message, especially for a business they don’t know yet. If you’re not sure, try a few different figures and see how much it changes the answer.
- How many enquiries you usually win. If you win about half the quotes you give, use 50%.
- The value of a typical job or sale. Use the average, not your biggest job.
The result is a weekly figure turned into monthly and yearly figures. It’s an estimate, not a forecast, but it’s a useful way to decide how much effort missed calls deserve.
Find your real numbers
- Missed calls: your phone’s Recents list, filtered to missed calls. Your phone company’s app or bill may show more detail.
- New customers: next week, call back every missed number and note whether it was a new or existing customer.
- Win rate and job value: your quoting or accounting software, or a quick look through last month’s invoices.
What to do with the answer
If the number is small, a good voicemail greeting and a daily callback routine may be all you need. If it’s bigger than what you’d pay for an answering service or receptionist each month, it’s worth making sure every caller gets an answer.