What is Missed Calls?
Quick Definition
Missed calls are incoming phone calls that go unanswered. For businesses, each missed call is a potential lost customer — studies show 85% of callers who reach voicemail will not call back.
Missed Calls explained
Missed calls refer to incoming phone calls that are not answered by a business. Research consistently shows that missed calls directly impact revenue: 85% of callers who reach voicemail will not call back and will instead call a competitor. For small businesses, the average missed call costs $100-$200 in lost revenue. A plumber missing one emergency call could lose a $500+ job. A law firm missing an intake call could lose a $5,000+ case. Missed calls happen for many reasons: staff busy with in-person customers, calls after business hours, lunch breaks, high call volume exceeding staff capacity, or no dedicated receptionist. Solutions include hiring a receptionist ($50,000+/year), using a live answering service ($200-$700+/month), or deploying an AI receptionist ($25-$100/month) that answers every call instantly, 24/7, with no hold times. The cost of missed calls almost always exceeds the cost of any answering solution.
Where is missed calls used?
Every business with inbound phone calls.
Related terms
After-Hours Answering
After-hours answering is a phone answering service that handles calls outside normal business hours — evenings, weekends, and holidays — so businesses never miss a call.
AI Receptionist
An AI receptionist is software that answers business phone calls using conversational artificial intelligence. It greets callers, answers questions, books appointments, takes messages, and transfers calls without human involvement.
Answering Service
An answering service is a company that answers phone calls on behalf of businesses, typically using live operators or AI. Services include message taking, appointment scheduling, and call transfer.
Want to see missed calls in action?
AIRA is an AI receptionist that answers your business calls 24/7.