Missed calls: voicemail, an answering service, or a text back?

When you're on a job and can't answer, the caller either waits, leaves a voicemail, or calls someone else. Here's how the common options compare.

Side by side

	Voicemail	Live answering service	Lumière missed-call text-back
What the caller gets	A recording; many hang up	A person who takes a message	A text from your business within a minute
Gets the details (what, where, when)	Only if they leave a message	Yes	Yes, by text, plus your booking link
Hours	Any time	Depends on the plan	Texts go out 9am–8pm your time
Talks about prices	No	Depends on the script	Never quotes prices or makes promises
Urgent calls	You hear them later	Can escalate	Urgent messages come straight to you, no automatic reply
Your number	Yes	Usually forwarded	Yes: a local number we set up for you, or your own Twilio number
Cost	Free	Usually per minute or per call	$200/month + $750 setup, plus texting (about a cent per text, prepaid or billed by Twilio)

Other options vary by provider and plan; check their current features and pricing. Lumière Agents details reflect how the product works today.

Voicemail if…
missed calls are rare and callers usually leave a message.

An answering service if…
you want a live person on every call, any hour.

Text-back if…
you want every missed caller to hear back right away, in your words, at a fixed monthly price.

Do callers know it's automatic?

The first text is the one you write, word for word. Short follow-up replies are written within strict rules and hand the conversation to you.

Can I keep my existing number?

Yes. Forward unanswered calls from your carrier to your texting number, or give out the new number.

You approve every message until you switch an agent to automatic. Cancel any time.