Home-Based telephone answering service

Self-employed tradespeople, small clinics, solicitors, therapists and other small firms that miss calls while they are working.

Monthly fee per client based on call volume or hours covered, sometimes with a per-call charge for extra calls or out-of-hours cover.

• Clear, friendly phone manner
• Accurate note-taking
• Staying calm and organised

• Data protection: check your ICO registration duties and how you store caller details
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to run a business from home
• Missed calls if you are ill or on holiday, so plan some backup cover
• Be clear with clients about what you will and will not say on their behalf
• Call recording rules, check the guidance before recording any calls

Startup costs are typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on your phone and call-handling set-up and any equipment you need. These are estimates, so check what software and headset you actually require.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on how many clients you take on and the hours you cover. Plan some backup cover for illness or holidays, as missed calls can cost you clients.

Check your ICO registration duties and how you store caller details under data protection rules. Also check the guidance before recording any calls, and whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to run a business from home.