How to Forward Business Calls to an Answering Service
By Right On Call ·
To forward business calls to an answering service, set your carrier to forward unanswered calls to the service’s number, then test it with a real call. That keeps the number on your truck and your listings. There are two other routes, and each suits a different shop.
Route 1: forward the number you already advertise
You set call forwarding on no answer with your carrier. You pick up first if you are free, and unanswered rings go to the service. Our call forwarding page lists what each Canadian carrier says about codes and fees, and keep your number covers the three routes side by side.
The catch is that the ring count is your carrier’s timer, not a slider on the service’s dashboard. And if the carrier never forwards the call, the service never sees it.
Route 2: publish a new number
A Twilio number is included on every paying plan. Use it as the public line, or keep your existing number and forward to it.
A new number has no carrier forwarding to configure. The cost is that print, listings and the truck have to change, or you run both numbers for a while.
Route 3: port your number
Porting moves the advertised number onto the service. The digits stay the same and ring control is exact. It has a cutover window, and a failed port is a carrier process, not a toggle. Most first shops forward instead.
What to check, whichever route you pick
Forward on no answer is not the same feature as forward when unreachable. Prepaid plans in particular often offer only the second. Ask your carrier by name for no answer.
Then test the exact setup. We place a live test call on your line during onboarding before it takes real customer calls, and you should do the same on any service you try.
- Does the carrier offer no-answer forwarding on your plan?
- What do forwarded minutes cost?
- Does voicemail have to be switched off?
- Did a test call from another phone reach the service?
If your plan offers no-answer forwarding at a cost you accept, forwarding the number you already advertise is the least work. If it does not, publish the included number or ask about a port.
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