Answering service or Belle: who runs the office?
When you’re on a job and the phone rings, something has to happen to that call. Here’s what each choice does, and what’s still left for you after it.
Three ways to handle a call you can’t take
| Voicemail | An answering service | Simple Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who picks up | Nobody | A person, working from your instructions | Your phone rings first. Miss it, and Belle answers for your company |
| What the caller gets | A beep | A message taken | The job booked into your open hours |
| What’s left for you | Call back, book it, send the bill | Call back, book it, send the bill | Look over the booking; the estimate and invoice are drafted when you ask |
| After hours | Voicemail | Depends on the plan you buy | Belle answers right away and books the next open slot |
| A month | Included with your phone plan | $300–900 | From $129, with 200 Belle minutes |
Answering-service prices are typical U.S. costs, not quotes. See every plan
Where an answering service helps
A person working from your instructions is better than a beep. If you want a live voice on every call, or a caller would rather leave a message with a person, an answering service does that.
Where Belle does more
- She books it. Belle finds out what’s wrong in your trade’s words, sorts urgent from routine, and books the visit into your open hours with a tech who’s free.
- You still get the calls you can take. During your open hours, Simple Pro rings your phone first, like always. Belle answers when you don’t.
- After hours is covered. She answers right away and books the next open slot. If a caller says it’s an emergency, it reaches you even during your quiet hours.
- The paperwork follows. Ask her for the estimate or the invoice. She writes it from your price list, and it stays a draft until you tap send.
- You see what happened. Each booking or message lands in your Inbox as a card, one sentence each.
Keep your number
You keep your business number. Forward it to Simple Pro, and calls ring your phone first. If you use an answering service today, you don’t have to cancel it to try Simple Pro. A forward sends calls to one place at a time, so point it at Simple Pro, and point it back whenever you like.
Questions
Do I have to cancel my answering service?
No. You can try Simple Pro without cancelling. Forwarding sends calls to one place at a time, so point it at Simple Pro, and point it back to your service any time.
What if Belle can’t answer something?
She takes down what they need and puts it in your Inbox, so you can call back with one tap.
Do I keep my business number?
Yes. Forward it to Simple Pro and it rings your phone first, like always. Miss it, and Belle answers and books it.
Is there a contract?
No. Month to month; cancel any time.
Does it work on Android?
iPhone first. Android is on the way.
What does the test cost?
Nothing. The iPhone test is free through Dec 31.