Cell Phone or Office Phone

Does anyone operate 100% off your cell phone while out working in the field? Back when I got out I seen lots of guys doing this and knew I had an advantage with an actual secretary answering my calls and booking jobs without missed or dropped calls from out in the field chaos.....but it seems to me many more are doing the "cell" thing. Help me understand how this is going in your area.


Im trying the cell thing but i dont like it so far.....i havent missed anything or had any problems other than hate to drive and take a call.

I have a land line but its always forwarded to my cell. I know Im losing money in the busy season by not having someone answer my phone.

I am all cell these days. Is it better....no freaking way for the reasons that you mentioned, but with my schedule, I am only home for about 7 hours in a 24 hour period.

The one thing that I have noticed is that most of my repeat customers text me instead of calling me. That works out really well actually, but it doesn't work for new customers.

At some point, I want to get back to having a small office away from the house and someone there to answer the calls and help with the admin stuff. It was that way when I started this company, but didn't have the business to support it then.

I was fortunate to have a wife who worked from home....she did for 17 years and handled all my calls too...she worked as a secretary for her dads powerline company.....he paid her more and had insurance covered for us...so it was sweet. now she works a real and real nice job but not from home

I am 100% cell phone. I do also use a blue tooth headset for when I am driving.

Used to do all cell. Never missed calls, but added too much time to my day. Few calls are quick and too many customers just like to talk... A lot... I found a cheap receptionist a couple of years ago and gave her a cell phone and net book. I told her as long as she the keeps the phone on, always keeps the net book with her, and answers all the calls, I don't care if she is at home, on the beach, or out shopping. Works out great and much less stress

Tim, I may look at the blue tooth headset option.

Joe, I would love to find a set-up like that...I will keep my eyes peeled for such a deal.

I have and use both and like Mo, have my biz land line forwarded to my cell........but that doesn't mean I answer it when I'm busy working.

But it has thought me, the customers I'm looking for are usually the ones with patients, and will leave a message.
The ones that usually hang up and I loose are the ones I don't want anyways, last min types, and the cheap-as$es.

ya thats a tough one, I cant wait for the day when there is someone answering calls

If you dont answer your phone every single time in the busy season your losing thousands, and many potential repeat clients.

I do the cell phone thing and hate it.. by next year this is going to be a whole different ball game

Yep, next year diff game, retired.........or maybe in a couple years.

Business phone use Voip and has 4 lines, all forwarded to my cell, I use blue parrot noise cancelling truckers bluetooth, I can talk in front of my machine running full speed and customer thinks I'm at the office, I pick up about 95% of calls, the other 5% is missed due to various reasons but I usually call them back as soon as possible.
Although I somewhat agree with Dave, I also have gotten some really good chunk of business from last minute customers that's in a pinch ( pet accidents, the in laws are on their way, etc ) some absolutely don't care how much I charge them, they just want their stuffs cleaned right away.
It's very tough to answer the phone and scheduling and driving all at the same time but over the years I've gotten used to it, oh did I mention that's driving in LA traffic ?

How do you drive, talk on the phone, and shoot at the same time in LA?

It's not easy!...........but I usually shoot when I'm stopped at a light, and talk while moving. I was never much of a multitasker.

Its easy in LA traffic when you driving 5 miles per hour