For many businesses such as doctors' offices, plumbers, electricians and other contractors who must take around-the-clock calls, a business answering service is an absolute must. Without 24-hour live answering service, patient or customer emergencies could go unanswered or end up getting passed to a competitor. Even worse, an unanswered call could end up in inconvenience - or worse, significant hardship - to a loyal customer. But handling these after-hours calls is more complicated than just signing a contract with a phone answering service office. There are important considerations to take into account when choosing a provider. Ask some pointed questions when reviewing competing bids.

First, does the vendor have experience with this particular type of business? Unless an unproven provider has done a significant amount of research and preparation to handle patient care calls, it is best to stick with vendors who have some background in medical calling to provide those services.

Next, what kinds of incoming calls is the vendor comfortable with taking? Are toll free answering service representatives trained and equipped to provide customer service, make appointments, give tech support, process orders, screen and qualify sales leads or all of the above? Some 24 hour live answering service providers may specialize in sales-related calls, while others are more qualified for support.

Once the company has identified a reputable, live 24x7 answering service, the next step is identifying the parameters in which the vendor must operate. When signing a phone answering service, office managers should take into account call traffic patterns at various times of the month or year. Past patterns can be used to project future volume; those projections will help the company and the vendor determine how to structure pricing for 24 hour live answering service so there is adequate coverage without excessive costs.