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Affordable call routing for small business

Keep your customers happy, earn more business, and quickly route calls to the right person with our call routing service for small business.

A small business call routing system connects a gym client to a trainer.

Business call routing

What exactly is a call routing service?

Great businesses answer their customers and provide quick assistance. It’s how you build long-lasting customer loyalty and convert new leads into paying customers. But all too often, callers are left on hold for what seems like forever, waiting to be connected to someone who can answer one simple question, leading to frustrated customers and lost business. Sound familiar? 

Instead of losing your customers to lengthy hold times and impersonal voicemail tones, imagine having an incredibly affordable virtual receptionist or auto-attendant who can help book appointments, capture leads, answer FAQs, and direct calls to the right person around the clock – that’s Upfirst. Get ready to cut out wait times, reduce frustrated callers, and build a more efficient phone system.

Benefits of our phone routing system

Why businesses love using our call routing service

Discover the difference our call routing service can make for your business.

Never miss a call, greet every customer

Nothing says “we value your business” quite like a prompt, friendly greeting. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a growing startup, or an established small business, you can’t afford to let a call go to business voicemail.

With our call routing service, you always have a virtual receptionist ready to answer, even if you’re meeting a client or running errands. This means you can welcome each caller in a professional manner and confidently capture every potential lead.

    A call routing service automates scheduling for a legal consultation.

    Quickly route calls when you need it

    Sometimes you need immediate flexibility—like routing incoming phone calls to your personal cell phone when you step out of the office or dividing calls among different departments.

    Our call routing systems for small business make it simple to switch call destinations on the fly. Heading into a meeting? Let our receptionists book appointments and gather important lead info, or route calls to someone covering for you. On the road? Forward calls to your mobile phone. You have total control, so you can handle your day without worrying about missing an important call.

      A call routing system directs a dental emergency to the right specialist.

      Reduce lost opportunities from voicemails and busy signals

      While voicemail can be helpful, it often means longer response times—or worse, no response at all if you overlook the message. With an automated phone routing service, your callers experience minimal wait times and fewer dead ends. They’re assisted by our knowledgeable virtual receptionist, or directed to the right extension or team member instantly, avoiding frustration and reducing the risk of going to a competitor.

        A professional uses a call routing service on a laptop.

        Save time by automating calls

        Manually forwarding calls or having employees constantly pick up and transfer callers wastes valuable time. That lost time could be spent building relationships, closing sales, or focusing on other important tasks. Our automated call routing solution eliminates many of these manual steps. This means faster communication, less confusion, and a better experience for your staff and your callers.

          A telephone routing service gathers details for a flooring inquiry.

          Customize any way you want

          From personalizing the AI greeting to setting custom routing rules based on time of day, you have full control. Do you want bilingual greetings for your customers? Need different routing flows for after-hours, weekends, or seasonal promotions? Do you want us to book new appointments for you, or simply act as an auto-attendant that'll route calls immediately to the right person? It’s all possible with our dashboard. Make changes instantly and ensure your phone routing service always aligns with your current business goals.

            A phone routing service answers a pet owner's question instantly.

            Enjoy the benefits of an in-house receptionist without the added costs

            Hiring full-time receptionists can be expensive, especially if you’re a small business operating on a tight budget. Our call routing system functions like an in-house receptionist minus the overhead costs of salary, benefits, or training. You get the human-like warmth of a friendly greeting paired with virtual call routing that helps customers get connected quickly. It’s a win-win that keeps your bottom line healthy while offering exceptional customer service.

              A small business call routing system books a massage appointment
              Virtual call routing

              All the top features you need for call routing systems for small business

              What makes our call routing service stand out? Upfirst is packed with powerful features that allow you to affordably serve your customers and quickly route calls so no customer is left waiting.

              quick, easy setup

              Start routing calls with our phone routing service in three easy steps

              In just a few minutes, you can set up an affordable auto-attendant who is ready to help your customers, book appointments, and quickly route calls to the right people. 

              1

              Sign up

              Get started by signing up for an account. Use your existing business phone number or pick a new local one to give your brand a polished image. If you need a toll-free 800 number, we have those available too. Within minutes, you’ll have a phone routing service that’s ready to configure.

              2

              Testing

              Next, set up your greeting to reflect your unique brand personality. Choose the AI’s voice—warm, energetic, or straightforward—and provide the necessary details on how you want calls to be handled. You can program responses for common questions, specify business hours, and add custom call routing settings for different team members. We encourage you to make a few test calls until you’re satisfied with the caller experience and call routing rules.

              3

              Go live

              Once you’ve tested your setup, simply click “Activate.” Your AI receptionist is now live and ready to handle incoming calls. Every time your phone rings, callers will be greeted professionally, directed to the right resource, and given the option to leave a message or schedule an appointment. It's all up to you and what you want set up.

              You can relax knowing that this call routing service is working tirelessly behind the scenes.

              Small business call routing

              Popular industries that use our phone routing service

              Our phone routing service isn’t limited to any one industry. Take a look at just a few popular industries that use our service:

              Legal practices

              Easily gather new client details with our law firm answering service. Urgent calls get routed to the right attorney without delay, and bilingual support ensures you can serve clients from diverse backgrounds.

              Real estate

              Capture leads the moment they call—no more lost opportunities. Our service can schedule showings, confirm appointments, and distribute inquiries among agents to keep your pipeline flowing smoothly for your real estate business.

              Contractors & more

              Route emergency repair requests straight to on-call technicians and let less-urgent queries go to voicemail for easy follow-up. From plumbers to electricians, anyone can benefit from fast, efficient call handling.

              Call routing service FAQs

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

              How much does your call routing service cost?

              Open FAQ

              Our call routing service has simple and transparent pricing with no setup fees, no contracts, and a 14 day free trial to get started. Plans begin at $24.95 per month for 30 calls, $59.95 per month for 90 calls, $159.95 per month for 300 calls, and $299 per month for 600 calls. Each plan includes full access to Upfirst call routing features, automated workflows, and real time call insights.

              How do I set up this call routing service?

              Open FAQ

              You can set up call routing in a few minutes. Create your account, and add information about your business and any rules for how we should handle calls. Then, you'll set up your call routing rules and tell us when a call should be routed and to who it should route to. Upfirst gives you a simple onboarding flow so your call routing service is ready to go without technical steps.

              Can I customize the rules for how calls are routed?

              Open FAQ

              Yes. You can set custom call routing rules based on business hours, caller intent, location, team availability, or priority level. Upfirst gives you full control over how each call is handled.

              Can Upfirst route only real callers to me?

              Open FAQ

              Yes. Upfirst can screen calls and transfer only real callers. Spam and short duration calls are filtered out automatically.

              Can it route calls to multiple business locations?

              Open FAQ

              Yes. You can route calls to different locations based on your preferences. Calls can be routed by zip code, service area, or caller selection.

              Can I use Upfirst just for overflow calls or after hours?

              Open FAQ

              Yes. You can let Upfirst answer only overflow or after hours calls, and many businesses do. Just set up call forwarding with your current phone provider to forward your calls when you can't answer them or for your after hours.

              Start call routing for small business for free

              Stop losing opportunities to missed calls and start serving your customers more efficiently and earning more business. Get started with a free trial today!

              Try for free