Phone script · Inbound
Voicemail greeting scripts for a business line
Five greetings you can record today. For one written around your industry and tone, use the free voicemail greeting generator in our tools.
The short answer
What should a business voicemail greeting say?
A business voicemail greeting needs four things: the business name, so callers know they reached the right place; what to leave, such as their name, number and reason for calling; when they'll hear back; and where to go if it's urgent. Keep it short, around 20 seconds at most, and record it in a quiet room. For example: "You've reached [Business name]. Please leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll call you back by [time]."
Standard greeting
For your main line during business hours. Pick one option where you see a slash.
Hi, you've reached [Business name]. This is [Your name].
I can't take your call right now, but I check messages [every few hours / by [time] each day].
Please leave your name, your number and a few words about what you need, and I'll call you back by [time] [the same day].
If it's urgent, [text this number / call [phone number]].
Thanks for calling.
Short greeting
You've reached [Business name]. Leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll call you back today.
After hours
You've reached [Business name] after hours. We're open [days] from [opening time] to [closing time].
Leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll call you back when we open [tomorrow] morning.
For [urgent repairs], call [phone number].
Holiday closure
Hi, you've reached [Business name]. We're closed for [holiday] and back on [day], [date].
Leave a message with your name and number, and we'll call you back when we reopen.
[You can also book online at [website].] Happy holidays!
Away on vacation
Hi, this is [Your name] at [Business name]. I'm away until [date].
For anything that can't wait, please call [Colleague name] at [phone number].
Otherwise, leave a message and I'll get back to you after I return. Thanks.
Tips for a voicemail greeting
Callers want to leave a message, not listen to one. Everything in the greeting should help them leave a useful one.
- Say the business name in the first sentence.
- Tell callers what to leave. Without it, many messages are just "call me back."
- Give a real callback time, and keep it.
- Swap in the holiday or vacation greeting when you need it, and remember to swap it back.
- Record on the phone you'll use, in a quiet room, and listen back before you save.
- Don't list options. A greeting is not a menu.
How to adapt and record it
- 1Pick the version that fits and fill in the placeholders.
- 2Read it aloud with a timer. If it runs past 20 seconds, cut.
- 3Record it, then call your own number and listen as a caller would.
- 4Set a reminder to swap in the holiday or vacation version, and to swap it back.
- 5Or skip voicemail: a Daber AI agent answers instead, takes the message and the details, and every call is saved as a transcript and a summary.
Turn this script into an AI call flow
Paste it into Daber AI and the assistant builds an agent that follows it on every call.
Start for $3Questions
How long should a business voicemail greeting be?
Short: about 10 to 20 seconds. Name the business, say what to leave and when you'll call back, and stop. A long greeting makes callers wait, and some hang up before the beep.
How do you make a voicemail greeting sound professional?
Write it down first, then read it slowly in a quiet room, holding the phone close. Use the business name, leave out filler and apologies, and give a specific callback time instead of "as soon as possible."
Is there an alternative to voicemail for a business?
Yes: answer the call live. An answering service or an AI agent picks up, answers the question or books the appointment, and takes a message only when it has to. With Daber AI you can keep your number and forward only the calls you don't answer, so your phone rings first.
Related
Call the agent now
A real call, not a recording. Exactly what your callers would hear.
Have the agent call me
Leave a number — the agent calls you in under a minute.
Updated: