Stop Losing Customers: 5 Mistakes Businesses Make When Choosing an Answering Service
The common thought is, "An answering service is a necessary evil, and they are all basically the same."
As we all know, that is never true in any industry. Sometimes there are hidden gems you have to dig for to find.
You found that gem.
Every missed call could mean lost revenue. If your business relies on customer inquiries, service requests, or appointment bookings, choosing the right answering service is a necessity.
But not all answering services are created equal. Many business owners make critical mistakes when selecting a provider, leading to frustrated customers, lost sales, and a damaged reputation. The tragedy is they don’t realize the damage until it’s too late.
Here are the five biggest mistakes businesses make when choosing an answering service and how to avoid them.
1. Choosing Based on Price Instead of Quality
Saving money sounds good in theory, but a cheap answering service can cost you far more than it saves.
Low-cost providers often mean:
Long hold times that frustrate customers
Untrained agents who can’t answer basic questions
Missed messages that leave you scrambling to fix costly mistakes
A single bad customer experience could drive a potential buyer straight to your competitor. Instead of looking for the lowest price, focus on value—trained agents, fast response times, and seamless call handling.
The Fix: Choose an answering service that offers quality, professionalism, and reliability. Paying a little more for expert call handling will pay off in customer loyalty and increased sales.
2. Failing to Match the Service to Your Business Needs
Not every business needs the same level of support. Some need 24/7 live answering, while others only require message-taking during office hours.
If your answering service isn’t tailored to your operations, you risk:
Missed urgent calls that require immediate attention
Confusing call scripts that don’t align with your brand
Limited services that don’t support appointment scheduling or lead qualification
The Fix: Before selecting a provider, map out your call-handling needs. Do you need after-hours support? Do your callers expect personalized greetings? Choose a service that can customize its approach to fit your business.
3. Overlooking Professionalism
Your answering service represents your brand. If their agents sound bored, untrained, or robotic, customers won’t see them as a helpful extension of your business—they’ll see them as an inconvenience.
Signs of an unprofessional service include:
Agents who sound uninterested or rushed
Inconsistent messaging that confuses callers
Poor communication skills that lead to lost opportunities
Customers expect a seamless experience, whether they speak with you directly or with your answering service. If your provider doesn’t uphold your standards, you risk losing business.
The Fix: Choose a service with highly trained professionals who can handle calls with confidence, courtesy, and accuracy.
4. Not Checking for 24/7 Availability and Call Handling Capacity
Many businesses assume their answering service is available around the clock, only to find out that calls go unanswered outside of regular business hours.
If customers reach voicemail instead of a live agent, they may never call back.
Ask your provider:
Do they offer 24/7 live answering or just business-hour support?
Can they handle high call volumes during busy periods?
How do they ensure no calls are dropped?
The Fix: Choose a provider that can handle calls any time of day or night. If your business operates in multiple time zones, your answering service should be able to scale with your needs.
5. Skipping the Trial Period
A service might look good on paper, but how do you know it will actually perform? Many businesses sign long-term contracts without testing the service first—only to regret it later.
Without a trial, you won’t know:
How quickly calls are answered
If the operators follow instructions correctly
How professional the agents sound to customers
The Fix: Always request a free trial to test the answering service before committing. A reliable provider will offer a risk-free trial so you can see the results firsthand.
The Right Answering Service Can Help You Win More Customers
Avoiding these mistakes ensures that your business is always accessible, always professional, and always ready to serve customers.
Trained agents who enhance your brand
Custom solutions tailored to your business needs
24/7 availability so you never miss a call
The best part? You can try it FREE for 2 weeks with no commitment and no credit card.
Start Your Free Trial Today → 247Answering.com
Your Customers Are Calling. Are You Answering?
A great answering service doesn’t just take messages—it protects your reputation, captures more leads, and keeps customers coming back.
Don’t let the wrong choice cost you business. Take advantage of our risk-free 2-week trial and see the difference for yourself.
Claim Your Free Trial Now → 247Answering.com
P.S. You might be thinking, "This sounds great, but there has to be a catch."
If you already have an answering service, the idea of switching might feel like a headache you don’t have time for.
That’s exactly why we’ve made it effortless, otherwise you might keep scrolling.
We handle the transition for you—no downtime, no disruptions
Your customers won’t notice a thing—except better service
You can try it risk-free with our 2-week free trial
The only thing you’ll notice?
More calls answered, more customers retained, and better results.
Don’t let a bad answering service cost you another customer. Try Special Interest Answering Service free for two weeks.
Claim Your Free Trial Today → 247Answering.com
