After hours answering service
Capture opportunities even when your team is clocked out for the day with our out of hours call management.
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How it works
Sign up, tell us about your business, and let Upfirst handle your calls.
Tell us about your business and how you’d like your calls handled, including any special instructions. We follow them every time.
We pick up each call on the first ring when it’s after hours, weekends, or holidays. Your callers will always reach a helpful voice, not a frustrating voicemail.
Get call summaries delivered to you via SMS and email. Get peace of mind as we answer your calls, collect lead info, set appointments, and more.
The affordable out of hours call management service
Whether you're a contractor or a lawyer, missed calls are missed opportunities. You're busy running a business, wearing a million hats, and the last thing you want to worry about is taking a client call after hours.
And yet, there could be a lot of money left on the table by missing these calls.
With an out of hours call handling service like Upfirst, you could capture the leads you might otherwise miss. Not only that, but your business appears more professional to callers when you’re always available to answer their questions.
Think of Upfirst as your 24/7 virtual receptionist, but smarter, more affordable, and infinitely scalable. We’re here to keep your business connected, no matter what your operating hours may be.
Learn about the key features from Upfirst's after hours answering service, designed to bring you peace of mind and answer your calls when you've clocked out.
Your receptionist is always on, handling calls day and night. No coffee breaks, no sick days – just consistent, round-the-clock service. Turn us on to take calls during the day or only after work hours. The choice is yours.
People still calling your business in the evening and reaching voicemail? These don’t have to be lost customers. Let an out of hours call handling service like Upfirst take those calls and we’ll handle them just the way you want.
From friendly greetings to specific FAQs, tailor your answering flow in a way that fits your business goals. Need to qualify leads one way or set appointments another? Or do you only want us to collect info and send it your way? Whatever it is, you’re in control.
Premium answering services don’t have to cost a fortune, especially if you’re a small business running on limited cash flow. Get every single call covered without the overhead of extra staff so you can keep pushing your business forward.
Responding quickly and professionally, even when you’re off the clock, builds trust and makes you look downright reliable. Let customers reach you after hours and watch happy callers become loyal customers.
We make after hours call answering affordable for small businesses, so you can capture more leads and help more customers without going over budget.
Keep your business open around the clock. Catch every caller, whether it’s the middle of the night or a holiday.
Let callers book time slots right over the phone. Send text links with your calendar or use Zapier to connect with CRMs.
Send urgent or emergency calls straight to you or your team based on your custom rules you set.
Ask callers the right questions to gauge interest and urgency. Collect the info you need and qualify leads.
Stay updated on when customers want to place orders with you with after hours support.
Speak your customers’ language with fluent English, Spanish, and more with bilingual answering.
Receive transcriptions and call recordings of every conversation. Get them delivered to you via SMS or email.
Capture detailed messages with an after hours message taking service. Never worry about missing details.
Quick, easy setup
During business hours, you’re there to answer the door. But after hours, you need a reliable virtual receptionist to pick up a continuous stream of calls. Here's how to get started:
Create your Upfirst account in minutes—it’s free to try. Forward your existing business line to Upfirst or select a new number with your preferred area code. It’s your call.
Add details about your business, craft a custom greeting, and set your call handling preferences. Make some test calls until you are happy with it. Your AI agent learns fast.
Once you're satisfied with how your virtual receptionist sounds, it's time to activate it. Sit back and let Upfirst answer for you. Enjoy easy-to-read call summaries and happier customers.
Use cases
No matter who your clients are and when they need to call on you, Upfirst's AI phone answering service has your calls covered.
Whether you run a plumbing biz, electrician team, or HVAC company, emergency calls don’t keep office hours—and neither do we. Upfirst makes sure your home services line never sleeps, so those 3 AM requests get routed straight to your virtual receptionist.
And for e-commerce & retail brands, we assist with every order inquiry, and answer product questions—even when your brick-and-mortar doors are closed.
Busy law firms and scrappy IT startups rely on us for secure, confidential handling of sensitive calls. If you run a professional service, every message is captured and escalated per your protocol.
Likewise, non-profit organizations—from local charities to community initiatives—lean on Upfirst to ensure no donation opportunity or urgent assistance call ever slips by.
In the world of hospitality & travel, last-minute cancellations and booking changes are par for the course. Upfirst fields calls for hotels, airlines, car rental, taxi services, and agencies 24/7, keeping your guests happy and your calendar up to date.
And if you’re in a niche like dental care, carpet cleaning, or education, we’ve still got you covered—just customize your call flow and consider it done.
Whether you need to pass a lead to Hubspot or schedule an appointment in Calendly, you can use Zapier to pass caller info from Upfirst to any app.
Have a question about our after hours answering service that isn't answered here? Get in touch with our team.
What are the advantages of using Upfirst compared to hiring in-house staff?
Upfirst provides 24/7 coverage without the overhead costs or scheduling challenges of in-house employees. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your calls are always answered professionally, even after hours, at a fraction of the cost.
Can I customize the greetings and scripts?
Absolutely! Upfirst lets you personalize your greetings and scripts to perfectly match your brand voice. Customers who call in receive a professional and informative message, tailored to your specific services.
How are messages delivered to me?
Upfirst offers flexible delivery options so you can choose the method that best suits your workflow. Get calls forwarded directly to your phone, receive detailed summaries by email, or access them through a secure online portal.
Can your out of hours call management handle calls in multiple languages?
Yes! Upfirst offers answering services in multiple languages, ensuring you can provide exceptional service to a wider, more diverse customer base.
How much does an out of hours call handling service cost?
Traditional answering services often come with high asking prices just to start on their basic plan. As a small business with limited cash flow, a couple hundred dollars per month just for a service to answer around 30 calls might not make sense.
Upfirst has plans starting at $24.95 per month, making it affordable for any small business to be able to answer their calls.
Can your after hours answering service schedule appointments or take bookings?
Yes, Upfirst can gather caller information and book appointments through your preferred online scheduling tool via Zapier.
How does your after hours on call service integrate with our existing tools?
We connect directly to popular CRMs, calendars, and help-desk platforms via Zapier integrations. Set it up once, and every call detail flows seamlessly into your workflow.
Is your after hours answering service easy to scale with?
Absolutely—ramp up or dial back coverage in seconds through your dashboard. Whether you’re handling five calls a week or five hundred, we’ve got you covered.
How does your out of hours call handling service manage urgent or emergency calls?
That’s up to you what you’d like to label as urgent. You decide which calls get escalated—send priority alerts to your team’s phones, trigger SMS notifications, or have us forward and dispatch a designated on-call contact. It’s your protocol, our AI just follows it.
Does your service have long-term contracts?
No long-term lock-ins here—stay as long as you like and cancel anytime. We’re confident you’ll stick around because it works, not because you’re tied down.
Don't let another call opportunity slip away when you've closed doors for the day - get started with Upfirst's after hours call handling for free.
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