44 greeting scripts, free, no sign-up
44 Business Voicemail Greetings: Examples & Templates ready to copy, for standard hours, after-hours, vacation, holidays, on-call service, law firms, salons, and German/English.
Recording a business voicemail greeting means: in 20 seconds or less, the message states the company name, why nobody's answering right now, what the caller should do next, and a second way to get in touch, such as email, an emergency number, or a callback time.
Below are 44 ready-made greeting scripts for the standard case, business hours, vacation, holidays, on-call service, trades, law firms, property management, repair shops, online stores, salons, and a bilingual German/English version — each with placeholders in brackets, each under 20 seconds. Ready to copy and record.
44 scripts · 12 to 20 seconds each · addressed to callers
What belongs in every business greeting.
Weak greetings are usually too long and never name a next step. Four elements in a fixed order are enough, and all of it fits in 20 seconds.
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Company name first
The caller wants to know within the first second whether they've reached the right place. That's why the company name comes before anything else, even before the greeting itself.
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Why nobody's picking up right now
One sentence is enough: on a job, after hours, closed for the holidays. Honest, without a string of apologies. The caller doesn't need to hear that someone's out sick.
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What the caller should do now
Leave a name and number, or send an email. Framed as a request, not a five-option phone menu.
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A second way to reach you
An emergency number, an email address, or a callback time. Without that alternative, the caller's only option is to hang up — and the next business is one search away.
| Greeting type | Required content | Length | Review schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Company name, reason, request for name and number | 12 to 18 seconds | listen every six months |
| After hours | add business hours with days of the week and a callback the next business day | 15 to 20 seconds | whenever your hours change |
| Vacation, office closed | add exact dates, a backup contact or email address | 15 to 20 seconds | activate before vacation, revert on the first day back |
| On-call / emergency service | add the on-call number and one sentence on what counts as an emergency | 15 to 20 seconds | whenever the on-call rotation changes |
| Law firm, tax advisory | add office hours, request for a case number, email for deadline matters | 15 to 20 seconds | quarterly, before deadline season |
| German and English | both languages, two sentences each | under 20 seconds | listen every six months |
Standard greetings: when nobody can pick up right now
These scripts work during the day, when everyone's on a call, with a customer, or briefly away. Use the short one if most of your callers are regulars who just want to leave a number. Use the one with a callback promise only if you'll actually keep that time window.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're unable to take your call personally right now. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message after the tone, and we'll call you back as soon as possible. Thank you.
[Company name], hello. We're away from the desk right now. Please leave your name and number, and we'll call you back.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Nobody's available right now. Please leave your name and callback number after the tone. If you call before [time], we'll get back to you today; otherwise by [time] the next business day.
Hello, this is [first and last name] from [company name]. I'm with a client right now and can't take your call. Please leave your name and number, and I'll call you back personally.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. All our lines are busy right now. Please leave your name and number, or email us at [email address]. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
After-hours greeting: evenings, weekends, emergencies
After hours, the caller mainly wants to know one thing: when they can reach you again. Always give a concrete time or day of the week. If you run an on-call service, name that number right in the greeting instead of making them find it on the website.
For how to catch after-hours calls without answering them yourself, see the guide Catching calls outside business hours .
Hello, you've reached [company name]. You're calling outside our business hours. We're available Monday through Friday from [time] to [time]. Feel free to leave your name and number, and we'll call you back the next business day.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our office is closed on weekends. We're back for you starting Monday at [time]. If you'd like, leave your name and number, and we'll call you back on Monday.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our office is currently closed. We'll be back starting [day], [time]. For urgent matters, please call our [emergency number]. For anything else, please leave a message with your name and number, and we'll call you back.
[Company name], good evening. Our office is closed for the day. We're back starting tomorrow at [time]. Leave your name and number, and we'll call back.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're on lunch break right now and back for you starting [time]. Feel free to leave your name and number, and we'll call you back early this afternoon.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our office is staffed Monday through Friday from [time] to [time]. Outside those hours, please leave your name and number, and we'll call you back the next morning. Or email us at [email address].
Vacation and office closures
Two details should never be missing: until when and starting when. Without a backup contact, it's more honest to point straight to email than to offer a voicemail nobody will check for two weeks. And set a reminder to switch the greeting back on the first day you're back.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our office is closed from [date] through [date]. During this time, [name of backup contact] is covering for us, reachable at [phone number]. Starting [date], we're back to normal. Thank you for your understanding.
Hello, you've reached the line of [name] at [company name]. I'm out of the office through [date] and won't be checking this voicemail during that time. Please email me at [email address], or call again starting [date].
Hello, you've reached the line of [name] at [company name]. I'm on vacation until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [name of backup contact] at [phone number]. I'll be happy to answer everything else once I'm back.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're closed from [date] through [date] and won't be checking this voicemail during that time. Please email us at [email address], and we'll respond in order starting [date].
Hello, you've reached the line of [name] at [company name]. I'm out of the office until [month and year]. Your contact during that time is [name], reachable at [phone number] or by email at [email address].
Holidays and short-notice closures
Holiday greetings are easy to forget and end up still running the following Tuesday. Record them once, save them on your system, and just switch over when the time comes. If it's a sick day, the caller doesn't need the reason — just until when, and what they can do instead.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Today is a public holiday, so our business is closed. We're back starting [day], [date], at [time]. If you leave your name and number, we'll call you back that day.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're taking a break from [date] through [date] for the holidays. We're back starting [date]. For urgent matters, please email us at [email address]; we'll be happy to return other calls in the new year. We wish you a peaceful holiday season.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're unexpectedly unavailable today, likely through [date]. Please leave your name and number, and we'll get back to you as soon as we're back on the phone. If it can't wait, email us at [email address].
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our office is closed over the holidays, from [date] through [date]. For urgent matters, reach our on-call line at [emergency number]. We'll be happy to handle everything else starting [date]. Happy holidays.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. We're closed for the long weekend today. We're back starting [day] at [time]. Feel free to leave a message with your name and number, and we'll call you back.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Due to an internal event, we're only reachable again starting [time] today. Please leave your name and number, and we'll call you back later today.
Trades and emergency service: job sites, on-call rotations
On the job site, the phone rings in a pocket and nobody can grab it. The greeting says that honestly and gives a callback window you'll actually keep. Your on-call greeting should include the emergency number plus one sentence on what counts as an emergency, or every appointment request ends up calling that line too. Swap the example in the text (a burst pipe) for your own trade.
For how a business handles calls from the job site without answering them itself, see AI phone assistant for trades businesses .
This is [company name], your [trade] business in [city]. We're on a job site right now and our hands are full. Please tell us your name, your number, and briefly what it's about. We'll call you back today, by [time] at the latest.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Outside our business hours, you can reach our on-call service at [emergency number]. Please only call that number if it truly can't wait until tomorrow, such as a burst pipe. We'll be glad to help with everything else starting [time].
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Looking to book an appointment? Please leave your name, phone number, and a one-sentence request, such as maintenance, a repair, or a quote. We'll call you back with a suggested time.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. Our business is currently closed, and no emergency service is running today. We're back starting [day] at [time]. Please leave a message with your name and number, and we'll get back to you first thing.
Hello, you've reached [company name]. This week we're on a large job site and only reachable by phone occasionally. Please leave your name, number, and request, and we'll call back between [time] and [time] in the evening. For emergencies, call [emergency number].
Law and tax firms: formal, professional tone
Clients expect the same register on the phone as in writing. Keep the greeting formal, don't promise to preserve a deadline over voicemail, and name the channel that actually gets through: an email with the case number. During deadline season, it's fine to say the phone is only lightly staffed — that's more credible than a callback promise you can't keep.
For how law firms handle calls when the front desk isn't staffed, see the pages AI phone assistant for law firms and AI phone assistant for tax advisors .
Hello, you've reached [firm name]. Our front desk is not staffed right now. Please state your name, phone number, and, if you have one, your case reference after the tone. We'll return your call during business hours, Monday through Friday from [time] to [time].
Hello, you've reached the tax firm of [name]. We're in the middle of filing deadlines through [date], so our phone is only lightly staffed. Please email documents and questions to [email address]. If you need a call, leave your name and number, and we'll get back to you within [time period].
Hello, you've reached [firm name]. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from [time] to [time]. Please leave your name, phone number, and request. For deadline-related matters, please also email us at [email address].
Hello, you've reached the tax firm of [name]. All of our staff are currently on calls. Please leave your name, phone number, and your client number if you have it handy. We'll return your call during our business hours.
Property management and real estate
For property management, the greeting decides whether a burst pipe reaches the emergency line or lands in voicemail. Keep it clear: emergencies here, everything else there, and always ask for the property. Real estate agents are often out on showings during the day; a short, personal greeting pointing to the listing page is enough.
For how tenant and prospect calls get answered after hours too, see the pages AI phone assistant for property management and AI phone assistant for real estate .
Hello, you've reached [property management name]. Our office hours are [days] from [time] to [time]. For a building emergency, such as a burst pipe or a heating failure in winter, please call our emergency line at [emergency number]. For everything else, please leave your name, the property, and your phone number.
Hello, this is [company name], real estate in [city]. I'm at a showing right now and will happily call you back. Please leave your name, number, and the property you're interested in. Listings and open showing times are also always available at [website].
Hello, you've reached [property management name]. Our office hours have ended for today. For a building emergency, please call our emergency line at [emergency number]. For everything else, email us at [email address], with the property and unit noted.
Auto repair shops and online stores
At a repair shop, calls are almost always about one of two things: an appointment, or "Is my car ready?" Ask for the license plate on the recording, and the callback takes a minute. In an online store, an email with the order number usually beats waiting for a callback. Say that plainly and name the customer account for shipment status.
For automatically answering appointment and status calls: AI for auto dealerships and repair shops and AI customer service for e-commerce .
Hello, you've reached [company name], your auto repair shop in [city]. We're all in the shop bay right now. If you'd like an appointment or want to know if your vehicle's ready, please leave your name, number, and license plate. We'll call you back by [time].
Hello, you've reached the customer service line of [store name]. Our phone is staffed [days] from [time] to [time]. The fastest way to get an answer about an order is by email at [email address] — please include your order number. You can check your shipment status anytime in your account.
Hello, you've reached [company name] in [city]. Our intake desk is staffed [days] from [time] to [time]. Please leave your name, phone number, and license plate, and we'll call you back the next business day.
Hello, you've reached the customer service line of [store name]. We're currently getting a high volume of inquiries, so phone wait times may be longer. The fastest way to reach us is by email at [email address], with your order number. You're also welcome to leave your name and number, and we'll call you back.
Hair salons and studios: hands full, phone ringing
In the salon, the client is in the chair when the phone rings, and color doesn't wait. The greeting points to the channel that works without a callback: online booking, if there is one. Without one, promise a callback between appointments — and keep it.
Hello, you've reached [salon name]. We're with a client right now and our hands are full. Please leave your name and number, and we'll call you back between appointments. You can also book anytime online at [website].
Hello, you've reached [salon name]. Today is our day off. We're back starting [day] at [time]. Feel free to leave your name and number for a callback, or book your appointment directly online at [website].
Hello, you've reached [salon name]. We're on vacation from [date] through [date]. Starting [date], we're back and happy to call you back if you leave your name and number. Appointments already booked remain unchanged.
Recording a greeting in German and English
If customers or suppliers based in Germany call you, record it German first, then English, both short. Two sentences per language is plenty. Otherwise a German-speaking caller hangs up before the tone. Use the German-only version only if nearly all of your callers speak German.
Guten Tag, hier ist [company name]. Wir sind im Moment nicht erreichbar. Bitte hinterlassen Sie Ihren Namen und Ihre Nummer, wir rufen Sie zurück. Thank you for calling [company name]. We are currently unavailable. Please leave your name and phone number after the tone, and we will call you back as soon as possible.
Guten Tag, hier ist [company name]. Wir sind bis zum [date] im Betriebsurlaub und ab dem [date] wieder erreichbar. Thank you for calling [company name]. We are on company holiday until [date]. Please call again from [date] or send an e-mail to [e-mail address].
Guten Tag, hier ist [company name]. Im Moment können wir Ihren Anruf leider nicht persönlich entgegennehmen. Bitte hinterlassen Sie nach dem Signalton Ihren Namen, Ihre Rufnummer und kurz, worum es geht. Wir rufen Sie so bald wie möglich zurück. Vielen Dank.
Recording your greeting: the checklist.
You don't need a studio. Five habits are enough to keep the greeting clear — and to stop it talking about summer vacation well into fall.
- A quiet room: window closed, phone on silent, printer off.
- Print the script and read it aloud twice before you record.
- Speak a little slower than in normal conversation. Say phone numbers twice.
- After recording, call from your mobile and listen back: are the company name and number clear?
- Listen every three months: are your hours, backup contact, and dates still accurate?
Another phone template: the call notes template and phone script as a PDF (in German), so the callback after a voicemail doesn't fail for lack of a note.
The answering service that actually answers.
A good greeting solves one problem: the caller knows where they stand. It doesn't solve a second one. Many people still don't leave a message — they hang up and call the next business. And whoever does speak leaves a recording someone has to listen to and type up later.
An AI answering service picks up instead, asks what it's about, captures the name and callback number, and can log an appointment right away on request. On your existing number, even on the job site and after hours. Steffi, our AI phone assistant, is set up by us and stocked with your own answers. You listen in beforehand and give it the green light. What it does differently than voicemail is covered in the comparison AI Phone Assistant vs. Voicemail, and the step-by-step process is explained in How Does an AI Answering Service Work?. The free intro call clarifies pricing.
Free and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about business voicemail greetings.
What should I say on my business voicemail?
Four things, in this order: company name, why nobody's picking up right now, what the caller should do, and a second way to reach you. For example: "You've reached [company name]. We're on a job site right now. Please leave your name and number, and we'll call you back by 6pm. Or email us at [email address]." 44 ready-made examples for every common situation are above on this page.
How do I record a professional voicemail greeting?
Print the script, read it aloud once, then record it using your business phone in a quiet room. Afterward, call from your mobile and listen back: is the company name clear, does the number come through cleanly? Keep the greeting under 20 seconds, or callers hang up before the tone.
How long should a business greeting be?
12 to 20 seconds, roughly 30 to 50 words at normal speaking pace. It shouldn't run longer: anyone who has to sit through half a minute of greeting often hangs up before they can leave a message. Anything you need to say beyond that belongs on your website, not on the recording.
What should an after-hours greeting include?
Your business hours with days of the week and times, a channel for urgent matters (an on-call number or email address), and a callback promise with a time window, such as "by 10am the next business day." Six templates for exactly that are above under "After-hours greeting."
What if callers don't leave a message?
Many simply hang up and call the next business, no matter how good the greeting is. If you want to avoid that, let an AI answering service pick up instead: it captures the request in a real conversation and logs the callback or appointment right away, instead of waiting for a tone. How this works in detail is on the AI answering service page.
Structure, voice choice, and an AI generator for phone greetings are covered in Professional Phone Greeting →
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Record once, then call back in peace.
Pick a script, swap the placeholders, record it. And whenever the greeting stops being enough, you'll know who to have pick up instead.
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