Free business voicemail greeting generator

Fill in a few details and get three voicemail scripts you can record today: standard, after hours, holiday, lunch break or busy line. Free, no sign-up, and nothing you type leaves your browser.

Version 1

64 words · about 26 seconds to read aloud

Hi, thanks for calling [Business name]. Sorry we missed you! We're probably out on a job right now. If this is an emergency such as a gas smell, fire or flooding, please hang up and call 911. Leave your name, your number and a quick description of the problem, and we'll call you back the same business day. Thanks, and have a great day!

Version 2

64 words · about 26 seconds to read aloud

Hey there, you've reached [Business name]. We can't get to the phone right now, but we'd love to help. If this is an emergency such as a gas smell, fire or flooding, please hang up and call 911. Just leave your name and number, plus a quick description of the problem. We'll get back to you the same business day. Talk to you soon!

Version 3

59 words · about 24 seconds to read aloud

Thanks so much for calling [Business name]. We're away from the phone at the moment. If this is an emergency such as a gas smell, fire or flooding, please hang up and call 911. If you leave your name, number and a quick description of the problem, we'll call you back the same business day. Thanks again for calling!

Speaking time assumes about 150 words a minute. Read it out loud once before you record, and change any words that don't sound like you.

What makes a good business voicemail greeting?

A good business voicemail greeting tells callers they reached the right place, what to leave and when they'll hear back, in under 30 seconds. Every script on this page follows the same five parts:

Your business name, first, so callers know they dialed the right number.
Why you can't answer, in a few words: on a job, closed for the day, on another call.
An emergency instruction if callers could be in danger, before anything else they need to wait for.
What to leave: name, phone number and the reason for the call. Asking for the reason means you can call back ready to help.
When you'll call back. A clear promise, like “the same business day”, makes people more willing to leave a message. Only promise what you can keep.

Read it out loud before you record. If a sentence makes you stumble, shorten it.

Voicemail script examples for business

Copy any of these and swap in the details in brackets.

Standard business voicemail greetings

Friendly

Thanks for calling [Business name]. We can't get to the phone right now, but we'd love to help. Leave your name, your number and a quick note about what you need, and we'll call you back the same business day. Thanks!

Professional

Thank you for calling [Business name]. We're currently assisting other customers. Please leave your name, phone number and the reason for your call, and a member of our team will return your call within one business day. Thank you.

Home-service trade

Hi, you've reached [Business name]. We're out on a job right now. If this is an emergency such as a gas smell, fire or flooding, please hang up and call 911. Otherwise, leave your name, number, address and what's going on, and we'll call you back today.

After-hours voicemail message examples

Office closed

Thanks for calling [Business name]. Our office is closed right now. We're open [Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM]. Leave your name, number and the reason for your call, and we'll call you back first thing next business day.

Dental or medical office

You've reached [Practice name]. Our office is closed. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call 911. Otherwise, leave your name, phone number and the reason for your call, and let us know if you're a new patient. We'll call you back when we open.

With an on-call line

Thanks for calling [Business name]. We're closed for the day. If you have an urgent problem that can't wait until morning, call our on-call line at [number]. For everything else, leave your name, number and a short message, and we'll call you back tomorrow.

Holiday voicemail greetings

Single holiday

Thanks for calling [Business name]. We're closed for [holiday] so our team can spend time with family. We'll be back on [day]. Leave your name, number and the reason for your call, and we'll call you back as soon as we return. Happy holidays!

Holiday week

You've reached [Business name]. Our office is closed from [date] through [date] for the holidays. Please leave your name, phone number and a brief message, and we'll return your call on [date]. Thank you, and happy holidays.

Cell phone voicemail greetings for solo owners

On a job

Hi, you've reached [Your name] with [Business name]. I'm probably on a job and can't pick up. Leave your name, number and what you need, and I'll call you back today. Thanks!

Checks messages between jobs

This is [Your name] at [Business name]. Sorry I missed you. I check messages between jobs, so leave your name, number and a quick note, and I'll call you back within a few hours.

Lunch break and busy-line greetings

Lunch break

Thanks for calling [Business name]. We're out for lunch and will be back at [1 PM]. Leave your name, number and a quick message, and we'll call you back right after lunch.

On another call

Thanks for calling [Business name]. We're on another call right now. Please leave your name, number and the reason for your call, and we'll call you back as soon as we're free.

Common voicemail greeting mistakes

Too long. A long welcome, a mission statement or a list of services makes callers hang up before the beep.
No callback promise. “We'll get back to you” says nothing. Say when.
Out of date. A holiday message in February, or old hours, tells callers nobody is paying attention.
Burying the emergency line. If you offer emergency service, say how to reach it near the start.
The carrier default. A robotic “the number you have dialed” message doesn't even confirm the caller reached your business.
Background noise. A truck engine, a radio or a busy shop floor makes you sound hard to reach.

How to record your voicemail greeting

Pick one script and print it or keep it on screen.
Find a quiet room. Soft furnishings help; an empty, echoey room doesn't.
Hold the phone a few inches from your mouth and speak a little slower than normal. Smiling while you talk makes you sound warmer.
Open your voicemail settings. On most cell phones it's in the phone app's voicemail tab or reached by calling your own voicemail. On a business phone system, look in the admin settings or your provider's help pages.
Record, listen back, and re-record until it sounds natural.
Call your own number from another phone to hear what callers hear.
Set a reminder to swap in a holiday greeting before each closure, and to switch back afterwards.

Even a great greeting is still voicemail

Many callers hang up when they hear a voicemail greeting, especially when they need help right now. Some will leave a message, but others simply call the next business on the list. A good greeting helps, but it can't book the job.

There's another option: have the call answered. Voxlivo is an after-hours and overflow line that picks up the calls you can't, introduces itself as a virtual assistant, takes the caller's name, number and what they need, and books the job or appointment into your calendar. You get a summary of every call. It speaks English only, and plans start at $49 a month.

Curious what voicemail is costing you? Try the missed call calculator, see how it works, or compare pricing.

Voicemail greeting FAQs

What should a business voicemail greeting say?

Your business name, a short reason you can't answer, what to leave (name, phone number and the reason for the call) and when you'll call back. Add your hours if you're closed, and an emergency instruction if your work involves gas, fire, water or health.

How long should a business voicemail greeting be?

Short enough that callers don't give up before the beep. Around 20 to 30 seconds is a sensible target, which is roughly 50 to 75 words at a normal speaking pace. The generator shows the word count and speaking time for every version.

What should an after-hours voicemail message say?

Say that you're closed, give your opening hours, ask for the caller's name, number and reason, and say when you'll call back, for example first thing next business day. If you offer emergency service, give the on-call number before asking for a message.

Is this voicemail greeting generator really free?

Yes. There's no sign-up and no email needed. The scripts are built from templates in your browser, and nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Should my voicemail greeting mention emergencies?

If callers could be in danger, yes. Home-service businesses should tell callers with a gas smell, fire or flooding to hang up and call 911. Dental and medical offices should say that for a medical emergency, callers should hang up and call 911. Keep it to that: a greeting is not the place for medical or legal advice.

Can my calls be answered instead of going to voicemail?

Yes. Voxlivo is an after-hours and overflow line that picks up your calls, introduces itself as a virtual assistant, takes the caller's details and books the job or appointment. It speaks English only, and plans start at $49 a month.

Let callers get an answer, not voicemail.

Voxlivo answers every call, day or night, books the job and sends you the summary. Plans from $49 a month, and we do the setup.

Try the live demo Get started Call us (720) 783-3138