The work does not stop for the telephone.
Good leads and current customers should not depend on whether the owner can stop working.
U.S.-based human front office for contractors
Your front office. Without the hire.
A human touch for your customers. Powerful systems behind the scenes.
Calls answered. Jobs scheduled. Customers kept informed.
More than an answering service. TFO handles the next steps you approve after the call. Our systems keep schedules, customer promises, messages, coverage, and follow-up organized.
Recurring service in practice
Our systems handle routine work. Our people handle what needs attention.
A landscaping customer has service scheduled every two weeks. TFO keeps upcoming visits organized. When customer messaging is set up and authorized, the customer can receive a confirmation, a day-before reminder, and a same-day notice. If weather changes the route or the crew is running behind, our team follows approved instructions and updates affected customers.
When the schedule changes, your customers know.
Mountain View LandscapingFICTIONAL DEMO
North route14 recurring customers
PlannedCentral route12 recurring customers
PlannedWednesday routeRain delay affects 8 customers
Customer update neededFollow-up neededConfirm the new spring cleanup date
OverdueU.S.-based front-office team
Written instructions you approve
Primary and backup coverage
Clear responsibility for follow-up
The office your crew does not have
Your crew is in the field. Your customers still need answers.
When the owner is driving, estimating, working on a roof, under a house, operating equipment, or already helping another customer, the front office still has to function.
"Are you coming today?" should not be a routine call.
Customers with recurring service need to know when you’re coming, what to expect, and when plans change.
The change is not the problem. Silence is.
Weather, late jobs, crew delays, emergencies, and route changes are normal. Customers need to know.
Every promise needs follow-through.
Callbacks, quotes, estimates, updates, and recurring service cannot depend on somebody remembering later.
More than an answering service
The call is only the beginning.
An answering service can capture a message. Trades Front Office handles the next steps you approve after the call.
An answering service
Answers the phone and takes a message.
The contractor still has to interpret the message, decide the next step, update the schedule, call the customer back, and remember the commitment.
Trades Front Office
Answers the phone and handles the next steps you approve.
A member of our front-office team knows which business they’re representing, follows your approved written instructions, schedules only when authorized, tracks what has been promised, keeps customers informed, handles routine follow-up, and flags issues that need attention.
After the call, TFO can help manage:
- Scheduling
- Recurring customers
- Appointment confirmations
- Day-before reminders
- Same-day notices
- Delays
- Weather changes
- Rescheduling
- Callbacks
- Estimate follow-up
- Promises to customers
- Issues that need attention
People and systems working together
Real people up front. Good systems behind them.
TFO is a U.S.-based human service backed by systems built for front-office work. Those systems help a small team support contractors consistently while people handle customer relationships.
The human front office
Named team members handle judgment and follow-through.
Team members follow written instructions you approve for your business. Primary and backup team members can be assigned to keep support consistent. They answer customer questions, handle issues that need attention, and refer trade or safety decisions to you.
Systems behind the scenes
The details stay visible instead of living in somebody's memory.
- How calls should be answered
- What services can be scheduled
- Service area
- Scheduling rules
- Promises to customers
- Recurring service
- Who is handling your front-office work
- What needs follow-up
Automation handles routine office tasks. Our team uses judgment, answers customer questions, handles issues that need attention, and follows up. Trade decisions remain with you.
Teach us how your business works
We run the front office your way.
You keep your phone number, customer data, and field-service system. We document your instructions and work within the limits you approve.
Learn how your business works
We learn how you handle calls, customers, service areas, crews, schedules, systems, promises, and unexpected problems.
Approve the written instructions
You approve written instructions for answering calls, scheduling, pricing, weather changes, complaints, closing out jobs, and when to refer a decision to you.
Run and improve
TFO handles front-office tasks, flags issues that need attention, and keeps you informed.
Why Trades Front Office
Big-company experience. Built for contractors.
Small contractors deserve the same disciplined customer service and office processes larger companies take for granted.
Our operating approach combines Fortune 500 experience in scheduling, billing, collections, procedures, staff training, and customer communication with firsthand exposure to contractor businesses.
Focused on your customers
Customers can reach you, know what to expect, hear about changes, and receive promised follow-up.
Written rules, not memory
Each contractor has written instructions they approve for their business. Assigned primary and backup team members can follow those instructions.
Human judgment where it matters
Our systems handle routine work. Our team handles unexpected issues, brings decisions to you when needed, and helps keep support consistent.
Clear service limits
Service is based on reasonable call volumes, customer numbers, and scheduling work. High-volume or complex work is agreed separately.
Transparent starting prices
Costs less than another employee. Does more than an answering service.
Your final service plan depends on how many calls and customers you have, seasonal changes, the amount of scheduling work, and the responsibilities TFO will take on.
Front Desk
Calls, messages and basic booking
$495 / month
- Answer calls forwarded from your number
- Record new inquiries and take messages
- Basic appointment booking
- Customer texting
Front Office
Day-to-day office management
$895 / month
- Everything in Front Desk
- Calendar management
- Recurring-service scheduling
- Appointment reminders
- Customer updates when schedules change
- Routine customer follow-up
Managed Office
Front-office coordination
$1,495+ / month
- Everything in Front Office
- Dispatch coordination
- Keep customer records current
- Estimate follow-up
- Help managing customer service
- Weekly summary for the owner
One-time setup typically costs $350–$750. Prices assume reasonable call volumes, customer numbers, and scheduling work. Plans are not unlimited. 24/7 personal human coverage is not included unless agreed separately. Automated text messages or emails require an approved messaging provider to be set up.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers before we talk.
TFO is designed to support the way your business operates, not force your crew into a replacement system.
Is TFO just an answering service?
No. We also handle the work you approve after the call: scheduling, customer updates, recurring-service planning, follow-up, and tracking what has been promised.
Who handles my customers?
Our U.S.-based front-office team handles your customers using written instructions you approve. Our software organizes routine office work and tracks follow-up; it does not independently speak for your business or make trade decisions.
Do I have to change my phone number?
No. The intended setup keeps your published number and routes calls so the team can identify your business and follow the right instructions.
Can TFO work with Jobber or Housecall Pro?
TFO is designed to connect with Jobber and Housecall Pro. Live syncing requires access to your account and approved credentials from the software provider.
Does TFO provide 24/7 human coverage?
Not by default. During setup, we agree on coverage hours, how extra calls are handled, voicemail, and after-hours arrangements. We do not promise continuous personal coverage.
Can TFO quote prices or make technical decisions?
Only when your approved written instructions allow it. Otherwise, we collect the details, schedule an estimate, or bring the question to you. Trade diagnosis and safety decisions remain yours.
How do we get started?
Complete the contractor fit check. You’ll see a starting package recommendation and can immediately book a 30-minute setup call.
Get out of the office work.
Get back to the work that pays.