The Backup Line

The Backup Line is a 24/7 AI answering service for restoration, roofing, and plumbing contractors. It works exactly the way the name says: your phone still rings first. You answer the calls you can; The Backup Line catches the ones you can't — after-hours, mid-job, or when the line is already busy — so a missed call never becomes a lost job.

When a homeowner calls at 2 a.m. about a burst pipe or storm damage, the AI answers on the first ring, greets them as your company, and runs trade-native intake: name, callback number, and exactly what's going on. Emergencies are escalated to you instantly — a phone call to your cell (redialed if you miss it) plus email and push — so you call the customer back before they dial the next contractor. Non-emergencies are captured and waiting for you in the morning.

Every call is emailed to you the moment it ends with the full transcript and recording, and lives in your own web portal. You keep your existing number, choose when it picks up (after-hours only, overflow, or every call), and setup is done for you in days — no hardware, nothing to install.

$297/month plus a one-time $99 setup. Built in Michigan, answering calls nationwide.