Printable SOP

Missed call SOP

This is the one-page version. Print it, tape it next to dispatch, and the missed call response stops depending on memory. Everything below fits on a sheet of paper on purpose.

The rule

Every missed call gets a text within one minute. The text collects name, job type, location, and urgency. The callback happens with that context in hand.

The checklist

  1. Call missed. Text-back goes out immediately. No judgment call, it always goes.
  2. Customer replies. Collect the four basics in order. Name. Job type. City or address. Urgency.
  3. Basics collected. Log the lead where your team can see it. Phone notes do not count.
  4. Callback within the stated window. Open with what you already know, not "so what do you need?"
  5. No reply after a few hours. Send one follow-up the same day. If still nothing, stop. Two messages maximum.

The scripts

Text-back

Hi, this is {Company}. Sorry we missed your call. What kind of help do you need and what city are you in?

Intake

What's the address, and is this urgent today? A photo helps if you can send one.

Same-day follow-up

Just checking in. Do you still need help with that job, or did you get it handled?

The after-hours variant

Hi, this is {Company}. Sorry we missed your call. We're closed for the evening, but tell me what you need help with and what city you're in, and you're first on the list in the morning. If this is an emergency, reply URGENT.

What not to do

  • Do not try to sell by text. The text collects context. The call closes the job.
  • Do not send more than two messages to a silent lead.
  • Do not call back blind when the intake already told you the job.
  • Do not let the text-back depend on whoever happens to be free.
Want this installed as a system?

The kit includes everything behind this SOP

The Contractor Process Redesign Kit has the full script set, intake prompts, follow-up sequences, and step-by-step setup for common phone and CRM tools.

FAQ

What is a missed call SOP?

A standard operating procedure that tells your team exactly what happens when a call is missed. Who texts back, what the message says, what information gets collected, and when the callback happens.

How fast should the text-back go out?

Under one minute is the target. Under five minutes still recovers many leads. The SOP exists so the response does not depend on who is free.

Do I need special software to run this SOP?

No. If your calls can forward to a number that can send texts, you can run the workflow. The SOP is tool agnostic on purpose.

Free Resource

Get the Contractor Response Pack

This SOP plus the text-back scripts, the four-question intake, and the follow-up sequence on one printable page. No charge, no drip sequence.

Related guides

Running a bigger operation?

If missed calls are one symptom of a wider response problem, with slow follow-up, weak intake, or scheduling chaos, the AI Operations Audit maps every leak at once and tells you which fix pays back first.

By Logan Stahl Updated

Founder of Stahl Automation. I design and implement the systems between demand and delivery, including websites, lead response, AI workflows, intake, routing, approvals, and handoffs.