Affordable call forwarding

Stay connected with your customers with a call forwarding answering service

Never miss a sale, opportunity, or client question. Our call forwarding answering service answers and forwards calls 24/7  – so you can focus on growing your business or enjoying time off.

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A professionally dressed man smiles while checking his phone, with a conversation overlay showing a lawyer’s call forwarding answering service connecting a client to their attorney.

Business call forwarding

What exactly is call forwarding?

As a business owner, you rely on answering calls to connect with your customers, win over new business, and grow your company. But you can’t always be available to accept every inbound call. We get it – life gets in the way, and sometimes you’re too busy with a super important project or taking a much-needed vacation.

However, missing a call can mean missing a golden opportunity to connect with an important client or losing a new customer looking to pay top dollar for your service. 

With a call forwarding answering service from Upfirst, you don’t have to worry about losing customers from missed calls – because our service makes sure that your callers always have someone to speak with. It’s a flexible and affordable solution that allows you to forward calls to our team of knowledgeable and friendly virtual receptionists.

Customize it however you want by letting us answer FAQs and collect lead information, or by taking a message then forwarding the call to another member of your team. Whatever it is, the control is back in your hands. 

Benefits of our virtual call forwarding

Why businesses love our virtual call forwarding service

See why businesses love forwarding calls to our team, allowing them to save time and money while growing their business.

Answer every call, serve every customer

Growing a business is easier when you never miss a chance to connect with your customers. Our call forwarding service greets every caller with a friendly receptionist, whether it’s after-hours, a long weekend, or a busy holiday. The result? Zero unanswered calls and happier customers who can always reach you, no matter when they call.

    A woman sits at a kitchen counter with her laptop, scheduling a dog grooming appointment through a virtual call forwarding service.

    Collect more opportunities

    Sales leads can come from anywhere, and the most valuable ones often come from unexpected calls. With our phone forwarding system, you’re always prepared to seize the moment. Whether you’re in a meeting, on the road, or simply focusing on other parts of your business, rest easy knowing each call is being answered and relevant details are captured. It’s like having a full-time sales assistant that never clocks out.

      A construction worker at a building site, with a text overlay of a virtual call forwarding service handling a request for home-building quotes.

      Customize any way you need

      Customize our virtual call forwarding to suit your needs. Do you want a simple call forwarding system to forward office calls to your cell phone no matter where you are? Just say the word. Looking to free yourself from the phone lines and forward calls to us so we can answer them? Not a problem. Our phone agents are fully equipped to answer your FAQs, book appointments, qualify leads, and pass along important info to you.

        A close-up of hands typing on a laptop, with a text exchange displaying a call forwarding system arranging emergency plumbing services.

        Give your business a strong local presence

        Want to appear local in multiple markets? Our phone forwarding system lets you choose from a range of local numbers, making it simple to establish a local presence wherever you do business. Customers prefer connecting with local experts, and this feature helps you build trust and credibility from day one. By having a local number, your callers feel you’re right in their neighborhood - even if you’re halfway across the country.

          A woman working in a car with a laptop and phone, using a call forwarding answering service to arrange tax filing assistance.

          Save time by automating your calls

          Think about how handling every call yourself can be time-consuming. Even simple questions like “What are your hours on Wednesday?” can eat up valuable time that you could be spending elsewhere. When you forward incoming calls to our AI receptionist, you allow yourself and your team to focus on the big tasks at hand. Spend less time worrying about routine inbound calls and more time scaling your business.

            A workspace with a laptop, coffee, and notepad, showing a message exchange where a photographer responds to a wedding inquiry via a phone forwarding system.

            Get started in minutes with easy setup

            Forget about complex onboarding. Our virtual call forwarding service is built with simplicity in mind. Going from sign-up to live calls takes just a few minutes so you can have our call forwarding answering service up and running quickly. No coding knowledge required, no lengthy onboarding.

              Forget about complex onboarding. Our virtual call forwarding service is built with simplicity in mind. Going from sign-up to live calls takes just a few minutes so you can have our call forwarding answering service up and running quickly. No coding knowledge, no lengthy onboarding.
              Call forwarding capabilities

              Everything you need and more with our call forwarding system

              With Upfirst, you instantly get access to powerful features that allow you to affordably serve your customers, answer every call, and bring in new business.

              quick, easy setup

              Start forwarding business calls in three easy steps

              In just a few minutes, you can set up a simple call forwarding system that allows our knowledgeable virtual receptionist to answer every call and capture new opportunities.

              1

              Sign up

              Create an account and either use your existing business phone number or get a new local forwarding number from us (toll-free 800 numbers are also available). Once you're signed up, you'll access a secure dashboard that lets you configure your settings.

              2

              Testing

              Set up your greeting, choose your AI receptionist’s voice, and give our system the essential details about your business—like hours, call handling protocols, and FAQs. Run a few test calls to see how your customers will experience the system. Adjust settings until you’re fully satisfied.

              3

              Go live

              Ready to launch? Just hit “Activate,” and your call forwarding answering service goes live. You’ll be able to track calls, receive instant notifications, and make adjustments anytime from your dashboard.

              Call forwarding system

              Popular industries that benefit from our phone forwarding system

              Our answering service isn’t limited to any one industry. Businesses from all corners can benefit from our phone forwarding system.

              Contractors

              Focus on your job sites while we handle all inbound calls—perfect for busy pros such as HVAC techs, landscapers, and roofers who can’t pick up the phone every time it rings.

              Real estate

              Capture leads from property showings and open houses for your real state business, even when you’re out touring with clients.

              Finance & more

              From financial advisors to franchises to IT companies, our phone forwarding system helps keep your client communication smooth and consistent in any professional setting.

              Call forwarding answering service FAQs

              Have a question about Upfirst's call forwarding answering service that isn't answered here? Get in touch with our team.

              What is a call forwarding answering service?

              A call forwarding answering service is a system that automatically routes incoming phone calls to an AI receptionist. The AI handles greetings, screens calls, collects information, and forwards calls to the right person, mobile phone, or department based on your preferences.

              How does a call forwarding service work?

              Once activated, your existing phone number is connected to our platform. We take calls on your behalf, gather details, and forward them to you or your team according to rules you’ve set. It’s an easy way to ensure every caller is handled professionally.

              How many telephone numbers can I forward calls to?

              You can forward calls to as many numbers as you need—team members, departments, or external partners. Our flexible system accommodates businesses of all sizes and structures.

              Is it easy to change call forwarding rules?

              Absolutely. You can update your forwarding phone number and call flow anytime from your dashboard. Need to add a new team member, change your schedule, or adjust language preferences? It’s just a few clicks away.

              Can I receive call updates in my email or text?

              Yes. We offer instant notifications via both email and SMS. You decide how you want to be alerted so you never miss an important call or message.

              Can your service integrate with my software tools?

              Our platform is designed to connect with popular CRMs, project management apps, and email providers. Sync leads and call details automatically to streamline your workflow.

              Can it handle multiple calls at the same time?

              Yes. Our AI-based call forwarding system can answer concurrent calls without overloading. This ensures you won’t miss out during peak or overflow call hours.

              Why is this service better than a traditional voicemail?

              Voicemails feel outdated, and many customers won’t even bother leaving one. An AI receptionist immediately engages callers, provides assistance, and captures essential information—making for a more dynamic, customer-friendly experience compared to a traditional business voicemail.

              How much does your call forwarding system cost?

              Pricing with Upfirst starts at $24.95 per month, making it an affordable solution for call forwarding and answering needs. We have tiered plans based on your call volume, making it easy to scale up and down as you need.

              How much money will I save compared to hiring in-house staff?

              By replacing or reducing the need for full-time receptionists, you can save significantly on salary, benefits, and training expenses. To put it into comparison, the average salary of a full-time receptionist is $36,000 per year, and likely works only certain hours. Our service starts at $24.95 per month and works around the clock.

              Start virtual call forwarding for free today

              Never let a call go to voicemail again. Sign up for our call forwarding answering service and start answering every call and capturing more business.

              Try for free