Voicemail greeting examples: the short answer
A good business voicemail message does four things in about 20 to 30 seconds: it confirms the caller has reached the right business, says why nobody picked up, tells them exactly what to leave, and says when they will hear back. Everything else is optional.
Below are ready-to-copy voicemail greeting examples for Australian small businesses: business hours, after hours, public holidays, tradies, clinics, professional services and out-of-office. Swap in your own name, hours and callback times, then record. We also cover length, recording tips and the mistakes that make callers hang up.
One caveat: many callers won't leave a message at all, especially new customers who can simply ring the next business on Google. A clear greeting helps, but it is still a fallback. The last section explains how an AI receptionist answers those calls instead.
What to include in a business voicemail greeting
Every script below follows the same structure. If you write your own, check it against this list:
- Your business name, said clearly in the first sentence, so callers know they dialled the right number.
- Why you can't answer: busy with a customer, on site, after hours or closed for a holiday. One short phrase is enough.
- What to leave: name, number and a quick reason for the call. Asking for the reason means you can call back with an answer instead of a question.
- When they'll hear back: "within two hours" or "by 10am the next business day". Only promise what you'll actually do.
- Another option, if you have one: a website for bookings, an email address, or an urgent number for genuine emergencies.
How long should a voicemail greeting be?
Aim for roughly 20 to 30 seconds, about 50 to 80 words at a relaxed pace. Ten to 15 seconds is fine for a mobile you usually answer. Holiday greetings can run a little longer to fit dates, but if yours heads past 40 seconds, cut it back. Business name first, callback promise before the beep.
General business voicemail greeting examples
Standard business hours: "Hi, you've reached [Business Name]. We're with other customers right now and can't get to the phone. Please leave your name, number and a quick message about what you need, and we'll call you back within [two hours] during business hours. Thanks for calling."
Short and simple: "You've reached [Business Name]. Leave your name, number and the reason for your call, and we'll get back to you today."
Sole trader on a mobile: "G'day, you've reached [Your Name] from [Business Name]. I'm with a client at the moment. Leave your name, number and a short message and I'll call you back between jobs, usually within the hour."
After-hours voicemail message examples
Standard after hours: "Hi, you've reached [Business Name]. Our office is closed for the day. We're open [Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm]. Leave your name, number and a message, and we'll call you back from [8am] on the next business day."
After hours with an urgent option: "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We're closed right now. If your issue is urgent, please call our after-hours line on [number]. Otherwise leave your name, number and what you need, and we'll return your call first thing tomorrow."
Weekend: "Hi, you've reached [Business Name]. We're closed for the weekend and back on [Monday at 8am]. Leave your details and the reason for your call, and you'll be on our callback list for Monday morning."
If after-hours calls are a regular source of work rather than an occasional message, our after hours phone answering service guide compares the options for actually answering them.
Public holiday and Christmas voicemail greetings
Public holidays in Australia differ by state and territory, and some, such as the King's Birthday, fall on different dates depending on where you are. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman public holiday list for your state before you record a greeting with dates in it.
Public holiday: "Hi, you've reached [Business Name]. We're closed today for the [public holiday name] public holiday and back on [day and date]. Leave your name, number and a message, and we'll call you back when we reopen."
Christmas and New Year close-down: "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. Our team is on a break from [date] and back on [date]. Leave your name, number and a short message and we'll call you back in the new year. If it's urgent, email [address] and we'll check it during the break. Merry Christmas and happy new year."
Set a reminder to switch back to your standard greeting the day you reopen. A Christmas message still playing in February tells callers nobody is checking.
Voicemail greeting examples by industry
Tradies: "G'day, you've reached [Business Name]. I'm on a job and can't pick up safely. Leave your name, number, suburb and what needs doing, and I'll call you back with a time. For a burst pipe or no power, please say 'urgent' at the start of your message."
Medical, dental and allied health clinics: "Thank you for calling [Clinic Name]. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call triple zero, 000. Our reception team is with patients right now. Leave your name, number and whether you're booking, changing or cancelling an appointment, and we'll call you back today. For after-hours health advice, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222."
Put the emergency instruction first for any health business, and don't invite callers to describe symptoms in detail on voicemail.
Accountants, lawyers and other professional services: "You've reached [Firm Name]. Our team is in client meetings. Please leave your name, number and a brief description of what you're calling about, and we'll return your call within one business day. Please don't leave tax file numbers, bank details or other sensitive information in this message."
Out-of-office voicemail greeting examples
Annual leave: "Hi, you've reached [Your Name] at [Business Name]. I'm on leave until [date]. For anything that can't wait, please call [Colleague Name] on [number]. Otherwise leave a message and I'll call you back when I return."
At a conference or training day: "Hi, it's [Your Name]. I'm at [event] today and checking messages at lunch and after 4pm. Leave your name, number and a short message and I'll get back to you this afternoon."
How to record a voicemail greeting that sounds professional
- Write it down first. Reading from a script stops the ums and restarts.
- Record in a quiet room. Turn off fans, radios and the coffee machine. A car with the engine off works if the workshop is noisy.
- Slow down on the important bits. Your business name, phone numbers and callback times. Say numbers in pairs or small groups.
- Listen back on a real call. Ring your own number from another phone and check it's easy to follow.
- Re-record when things change. New hours, a new team member, a holiday. Out-of-date details are worse than none.
You set the greeting through your carrier's voicemail or MessageBank menu, or your cloud phone system's admin panel.
Common voicemail greeting mistakes to avoid
- No business name. Callers aren't sure they reached the right place, so they hang up.
- "Your call is important to us." Callers have heard it too many times. A specific callback time does far more for them.
- Promising a callback you can't keep. "Within the hour" on a day you're on a roof until 6pm damages trust.
- Full voicemail box. The best greeting is useless if the mailbox can't accept messages. Clear it daily.
- Asking for sensitive details. Don't request card numbers, Medicare numbers or TFNs by voicemail.
Why most callers won't leave a voicemail (and what to do instead)
A returning customer will usually leave a message. A new caller comparing three businesses often won't: they want an answer now, so they ring the next number. Plenty of missed calls with no voicemails in your call log usually means first-time enquiries are slipping away. Our piece on the hidden cost of missing a business call walks through how to put a dollar figure on it using your own job values.
There are three practical steps up from voicemail:
- Missed call text back. An automatic SMS goes to anyone who hangs up, so they have a way to reply. See missed call text back.
- A message taking service. A person or an AI answers, takes structured details and sends you the note. Our message taking service guide covers which fields to capture and how to route them.
- An AI receptionist. It answers every call in your business name, answers common questions, books appointments where you allow it and sends you a summary, day or night.
How an AI receptionist stops calls going to voicemail
An AI receptionist like Miyai sits in front of your existing number. You set your greeting, business hours, services and booking rules, then forward calls to it when you're busy, after hours, or all the time. Instead of a beep, callers get a conversation. Miyai asks the same questions your best voicemail script would ask (name, number, reason, urgency), and it can also answer "are you open on Saturday?" or offer the next available appointment. Our call forwarding guide explains the busy, no-answer and unreachable settings step by step.
Keep a voicemail greeting as a backup if you like. To compare the options, our phone answering service buyer's guide sets out human, call centre and AI answering side by side.
Miyai's Growth voice plan is $199 AUD/month and website chat is $19 AUD/month, both paid through Stripe before access. Details are on pricing.
FAQ
What is a good voicemail message for a business?
One that gives your business name, explains briefly why you can't answer, asks for the caller's name, number and reason for calling, and says when you'll call back. Keep it to about 20 to 30 seconds.
How long should a business voicemail greeting be?
Around 20 to 30 seconds. A sole trader's mobile greeting can be shorter.
Should I change my voicemail greeting for public holidays?
Yes. Say which day you're closed and when you reopen, and switch back to your normal greeting on the first day back. Public holiday dates vary by state, so check the official list for your state.
Is voicemail enough for a small business?
It's better than nothing for existing customers, but many new callers won't leave a message. If missed calls are costing you work, a message taking service or an AI receptionist answers the call instead.
Next step
Pick the scripts that fit, fill in your details and record them this week, including a holiday version for the next long weekend. If your call log shows plenty of missed calls and few messages, try an AI receptionist that answers instead. Get started when you're ready.