The AI picks up
On Front Desk the AI answers every call, so most callers never reach voicemail. The text is for the ones who hang up before saying anything useful.
Missed call text back for contractors
Missed call text back for contractors, done carefully.
A missed call text back sends one text to a caller you could not get to, so the job does not go to the next contractor on the list. It is simple to switch on and easy to get wrong: texting the same person five times, texting a robocaller, or texting without the registration US carriers require. Aplos includes a careful version in Front Desk at $199 a month, where the AI answers first and the text covers the callers who hang up. Custom builds for your own phone system run $2,500 to $7,500.
Aplos AI · Atlanta, Georgia · last checked 2026-11-09
The message
What we actually send.
This is the exact text in our code, with your business name in it.
Hi, this is [your business]. Sorry we missed you. Reply here with what you need and your address, and we'll get back to you. Reply STOP to opt out.
It asks for the two things you need to call back with a plan: what the job is and where it is. It says who you are. It tells the caller how to stop. It does not promise a time, a price or a callback window.
When it sends
Rules in code, not in a settings page.
Nothing captured
If the caller gave a name, an address or the issue, or asked for a transfer, no text goes out. You already have what you need.
Per number
Each caller gets at most one text back a day, so a caller who rings three times does not get three texts.
Valid ten digits
The text only goes to a full +1 ten-digit number. Blocked, short or international caller IDs are skipped.
Off until you launch
Texting needs both our global switch and your business's own switch. In our checked-in configuration the global switch is off until a business is live.
Never retried blindly
If the carrier's answer is unclear, the send is marked uncertain and not retried, so nobody gets the same text twice.
Before you text anyone
What contractors miss when they set this up themselves.
- Carrier registration. US carriers require businesses sending texts from a regular ten-digit number through software to register for A2P 10DLC. Twilio's documentation puts it plainly: anyone sending SMS over a 10DLC number from an application to the US must register. Unregistered texts can be blocked.
- Opt-out. Every text should say how to stop, and STOP must work right away. Ours suppresses STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT and similar words, and replies that ask to opt out in other words.
- Existing customers and crews. Your own technicians, suppliers and current customers should not get a sales-style text. Tell us which numbers to skip.
- Urgent calls. A text is the wrong answer to a flooded basement. Urgent calls should reach a person by phone. On Front Desk, the urgent rule rings your on-call number.
- Legal questions. Texting rules depend on the situation. Check with your own counsel and your SMS provider. This page is not legal advice.
Two ways to get it
Managed plan or a build in your own accounts.
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Front Desk (managed) | $199/month + $349 launch | Contractors who want the AI to answer and the text to cover hang-ups, on one business number. Includes 250 outbound text segments a month. |
| Revenue Desk (managed) | $399/month + $699 launch | Adds estimate follow-up by text and email, and one tested booking connection. |
| Custom missed-call build | $2,500–$7,500 fixed price | Several lines, unusual routing, or a phone system and CRM a plan does not cover. Delivered in 1–2 weeks, in your own accounts. |
Managed plans cover one location. Calls go live in 1–3 business days once setup is confirmed. Text-back starts once your business’s carrier texting registration is approved, usually 2 to 3 weeks, and we file it on day one. Start free: the AI answers your calls free for 14 days while we file your texting registration. The launch fee and first month start on day 15. Cancel before then and you pay nothing. Optional support for custom builds runs $149, $499 or $1,500 a month.
Already have a phone system you like? The missed-call automation page covers custom builds. HVAC shops can see the HVAC version.
Where we are: one paying client so far, an Atlanta sign shop, for a website and lead dashboard. No contractor runs this on a managed plan yet, and we have no reviews. See how we test.
Sources, checked November 9, 2026
- Twilio docs, A2P 10DLC: https://www.twilio.com/docs/messaging/compliance/a2p-10dlc
- Aplos plan definitions (this site): https://aplosai.com/front-desk
Questions
What owners ask first.
What is a missed call text back?
One automatic text to a caller you could not get to, asking what they need and where. It keeps the job from going to the next contractor while you are on a roof or under a house.
Is it better than an answering service?
It is cheaper and simpler, but a text is not an answer. Many callers will not reply. Front Desk answers the call with an AI first and uses the text only for callers who hang up before giving details.
Will it text the same person over and over?
No. At most one text back per caller number per day.
Do I need to register to send business texts?
In most cases, yes. US carriers require A2P 10DLC registration for software-sent texts from a regular ten-digit number. Text-back stays switched off for your business until texting is set up and tested. Confirm the legal side with your own counsel.
What does it cost?
Included in Front Desk at $199 a month plus a $349 launch fee. A custom build on your own phone system is $2,500 to $7,500 fixed price.
Next step
Stop losing jobs to voicemail.
Book a free 30-minute call. We look at how your calls come in today and send you a written automation plan for free, whether or not you buy. Or call our AI first at (470) 971-3769. It will tell you it is an AI.