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Practical guides for local businesses
Short and plain, written for people who run a service business and answer their own phone. You can use every one of them without buying anything from us.
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Newest first. We add one every weekday. This list is everything published so far.
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Answering service vs voicemail vs text-back: costs compared
Three ways to handle the calls you can't answer, with public prices and an honest view of when each one fits.
Missed calls · October 9, 2026
Read the guideWhy a text is 160 characters, and what a long one costs
Why one emoji can triple the cost of a business text, and how to keep every message to one part.
Texting rules · October 9, 2026
Read the guideWhat is A2P 10DLC? Texting registration explained
The registration carriers require before a business can text from a local number, in plain words.
Texting rules · October 9, 2026
Read the guideForward business calls when you can't answer
The codes for Verizon and AT&T, what forwarding costs, what it does not forward, and a five-minute test.
Missed calls · October 8, 2026
Read the guideWhat a missed call costs a home service business
The math for what a missed call costs, with your own numbers and no made-up averages.
Missed calls · October 8, 2026
Read the guideThe 20-minute missed-call audit
Count the calls you actually missed last week from your own phone records, and see when they happen.
Missed calls · October 7, 2026
Read the guideMissed-call text templates, by trade
Copy-ready messages for eight trades, with a character count for each.
See the templatesFree tools
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Short, plain guides for local businesses on missed calls, follow-up and leads. No sales emails. Read the guides.