01
A new job or estimate
- It asks
- The address, what the work is (a deck, a basement finish, a roof repair, a panel upgrade), the rough size, and whether the caller owns the property or manages it for someone else.
The problem
Where the work leaks.
The gap between an enquiry and a reply is where most trade work is lost, and it is widest exactly when you are busiest. Scheduling and quote-chasing then compete with the actual job for the same evening.
On the phone
What a contractor's line hears while the crew is on site.
Most calls are about new work, a quote already out, or a job in progress, and each needs different details before the callback.
02
A question about a quote
- It asks
- The name the quote went out under and what they want to change or ask, so whoever calls back has the right quote open.
03
A customer with a job underway
- It asks
- Which job and address, what has happened, and whether it stops the work or can wait for the site lead at the end of the day.
Flagged urgent
Rain getting in through an opened roof or wall, a site left unsafe, a power problem after electrical work, or a customer whose crew has not turned up. These go to the person you name as urgent; estimates and quote questions wait for the office.
Booking tools
Job software such as Jobber is not connected directly yet, so the request is captured in writing and the customer gets your own booking or request link. Estimate visits can go straight into Google Calendar, the one calendar it books into directly.
What we set up
Three that fit this work.
Each one is described by what sets it off and what then happens — so you can check it rather than take it on trust.
01
Lead response
- Starts when
- A call or enquiry arrives while the crew is working.
- What happens
- The details, the scope in the customer's words and the location are captured and passed on, so a callback starts from information rather than from scratch.
02
Quote chasing
- Starts when
- A quote has been outstanding for longer than you allow.
- What happens
- A follow-up goes out on a set schedule and stops on any reply, so chasing happens consistently rather than depending on who remembered.
03
Scheduling and dispatch
- Starts when
- A job is agreed and needs a slot.
- What happens
- It lands in the calendar your team already works from, with confirmations and reminders sent ahead of the visit.
Works with: AI receptionist · missed-call text-back
What a missed call costs a trades business How to follow up on a quote without being pushy
Example scenario
Three enquiries during one kitchen fit
All three are captured with scope and address, two are booked for estimates that week, and the third — clearly outside what you take on — is flagged so a person can decline it politely rather than ignoring it.
A worked example of how a run takes shape.
01
Map
A session on how enquiries reach you now, which ones are missed, and what should happen instead.
02
Script
The greeting, the questions asked and the routing rules, written down for you to change before anything is built.
03
Build
Wired to your number, calendar and records, then tested end to end on a line that is not yours.
04
Launch
Live with a rollback path. We watch the first days of real enquiries and adjust against what people actually say.
Pricing
Month to month, published in the open.
Plans start at $299 a month plus $299 setup, including 200 voice minutes. Cancel any month.
Questions
Trades & Contractors: common questions
Where we work
Where we work for Trades & Contractors teams.
Carrtel supports Trades & Contractors teams in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, and Okotoks. Service delivery is remote: planning, setup, and ongoing support happen online or by phone, without requiring a local office visit.
Other industries
Same setup, different shape.
Start with whatever costs you most.
A short call to map where enquiries are being lost, and what it would take to close the largest one.