Compare ways to answer your business calls
Straight comparisons for small business owners. Other companies’ prices come from their own websites, with links and the date we checked (October 27, 2026). CoveDesk is one of the options, and we say so.
Answering services by trade
What each trade’s callers need, the options and their published prices.
Answering service for property management
Tenants call at all hours, and a burst pipe at 2 AM can’t wait for the office to open. Here’s how property managers cover the phone, what answering services charge, and what to ask before you pick one.
Answering service for plumbers
You can’t answer the phone with your arm in a crawl space. Here’s how plumbing businesses cover their calls, what the main answering services charge, and how to pick one that gets burst pipes to you fast.
HVAC answering service
The first cold snap and the first heat wave bring the most calls of the year, at the worst times. Here’s how HVAC companies cover the phone, what the main answering services charge, and what to ask before you sign.
Answering service for contractors
When you’re on a roof, in a trench or under a truck, the phone keeps ringing. Here’s how contractors and home service trades cover their calls, what answering services charge, and how the needs differ by trade.
Answering service for electricians
Electrical callers range from “my power is out” to “what would a panel upgrade cost?”. Here’s how electricians cover the phone, what answering services charge, and how to make sure the dangerous calls reach you.
Answering service for roofers
After a storm, a roofing company’s phone can ring all day while every crew is up a ladder. Here’s how roofers cover the phone, what answering services charge, and how to keep a storm week from blowing up the bill.
Guides
After hours, pricing, missed-call texts and choosing a service.
After-hours answering service
Nights, weekends and holidays: the ways to cover them and what each costs.
Best answering service for small business
Ten services side by side: who answers, what they charge and who each suits.
Answering service pricing
How answering services bill, published prices, and the extra fees to ask about.
Missed call text back
What it is, how it works, the texting rules, and when it’s enough on its own.
Answering service vs voicemail vs receptionist
Voicemail, texts, an answering service or a receptionist: what each costs and gets you.
Is an answering service worth it?
When it pays for itself, when it doesn’t, and the math to check.
Alternatives
Published plans of well-known services, and what else to look at.
Ruby receptionist alternatives
Ruby’s published plans, and nine alternatives with their prices.
Rather just ask?
Tell us how your calls come in today and we’ll suggest the simplest setup, even if it isn’t CoveDesk.