What are missed calls costing you?

Why missed calls cost more than you think

A missed call isn’t just one lost job. People who call a local business usually need something soon — if you don’t answer, the next business on Google Maps probably will. And a customer you lose today might have become a regular for years, or referred their neighbours.

How the calculator works

It multiplies three numbers: your average job value, how many calls you miss in a typical week, and the share of those callers who would have booked if someone had answered. Weekly losses are then scaled to a month (52 weeks ÷ 12) and a year. The industry presets are typical starting points — the most accurate result comes from your own call log.

How to find your real numbers

Open your phone’s recent calls (or your provider’s call log) for a normal week and count the calls you didn’t answer or return within an hour. Ignore obvious spam. For the booking rate, think about the last 20 enquiries you did answer: how many turned into paid work?

How to stop missing calls

Every Aethely plan includes missed-call text-back, which instantly texts anyone you miss so they don’t move on to a competitor. Every plan also includes an AI receptionist that answers the call, takes the details, books the job and texts you a summary — 24 hours a day. Read more in what missed calls really cost a trades business, or see how it works for plumbers and HVAC.

Is the number realistic?

It assumes each missed call was a genuine enquiry you’d have closed at your usual rate. Some missed calls are spam or existing customers, so treat the result as an estimate — but even half the figure is usually enough to show whether answering more calls is worth it. Compare it with the cost of the plans: the AI receptionist is included from $19/mo (30 minutes), up to 200 minutes on Pro.