The text back app for contractors
Contractors miss calls for good reasons: on a ladder, in an attic, driving between jobs, or meeting a customer. Every one of those calls can be a job. TextbackFast is a text back app built for that reality. When you cannot answer, the caller gets a text from your business in seconds, and you pick up the conversation when you are free.
Built around how contractors work
- Keep your number. Forward unanswered calls from the number on your truck and yard signs.
- Replies go to your cell. On Starter, you see customer replies as texts, no new app to check.
- Inbox for the office. On Pro, your office manager works a shared two-way inbox with quick replies.
- AI that books. On AI, the assistant asks your questions, offers times, books the job, and texts you when it does.
Why text, not voicemail
A 2016 study of 85 small and mid-sized businesses found they answered just 37.8% of inbound calls (411 Locals 2016 study, summarized by Numa). In a 2025 survey, 82% of U.S. consumers said they would call a competitor if a business did not answer (CallRail 2025 consumer survey, summarized by Local Voice). Texting back quickly keeps the caller with you.
By trade
Each trade asks different questions. See our pages for HVAC, plumbers, roofers, electricians, landscapers, and pest control.
Setup in three steps
- Pick a plan on our pricing page.
- Turn on conditional call forwarding (no answer or busy) to your TextbackFast number.
- Approve your first message. We complete carrier registration for a one-time $35 fee, and your 14-day trial starts when texting is approved.
What to put in your first text
Name your business, say sorry for missing the call, and ask one simple question about the job. For example: "Hi, this is Oak Ridge Contracting. Sorry we missed your call. What project can we help with, and what is the address?" Keep it under two lines so it reads fully on a lock screen, and skip links and emojis. TextbackFast messages never include emojis.
After the first reply
On Starter, the reply arrives on your cell as "Reply from [number] (missed call)" so you know the context. On Pro, the conversation lands in a two-way inbox where you can use quick replies, save the lead to a CRM or Google Sheet, and send a review request after the job. On AI, the assistant works through your playbook, asks for the need, address, and timing, and offers times. It texts you when a job is booked, or when a caller is urgent, upset, asking about pricing, or wants a person.
Calls you do not want texted
Calls of one second or less are treated as pocket dials and listed in a daily summary rather than texted, and calls you answer are never forwarded. Anyone who receives a text can reply STOP to opt out. See our Privacy Policy for how messaging data is handled.
Pricing
Starter $49, Pro $99, AI $199 a month. No emojis in messages, no long contract, and callers can reply STOP at any time.
Stop losing jobs to missed calls
Starter $49, Pro $99, AI $199 a month, plus a one-time $35 carrier registration fee. Your 14-day free trial starts once texting is approved. Keep your number by forwarding unanswered calls.
Start free trialFrequently asked questions
Is there an app to install?
No app is required. On Starter, replies come to your cell as normal texts.
Does it work for a one-truck operation?
Yes. Starter is designed for owner-operators.
What happens if I answer the call?
Nothing. Only unanswered calls are forwarded and get a text.