AI Receptionist for Locksmiths · 24/7 Phone Answering

Locksmith work is hands-on and inside the lock. You're picking a stuck cylinder, you're cutting a key on the bench, you're installing a deadbolt for a new homeowner, every job demands both hands and full focus. The phone in your pocket might as well be in another truck. When a lockout call comes in mid-rekey, you have two bad choices: stop the job to grab the phone, or finish the job and lose the lockout to the next locksmith on the page.

Lockout customers don't wait. They're standing outside in the rain, they're at the school running late to pick up their kid, they're stranded in a parking lot with a phone at 4%. Research from Harvard Business Review on lead response found businesses replying within five minutes are 100 times more likely to make contact than those waiting thirty. For a locksmith, where the customer is actively in crisis, the difference between picking up and not is the difference between a $150 call-out and silence.

Industry research from Invoca puts the small-business missed-call rate around 25%. For locksmiths, where the techs are also the owners and physically can't pick up while working a lock, the rate runs higher. A locksmith you trust in a crisis becomes the one you call for the deadbolt upgrade, the safe install, the office rekey when an employee leaves. Every missed emergency call is potentially a years-long customer relationship that goes to whoever did pick up.

Residential lockouts

Car lockouts

Commercial lockouts

Lock rekeying

Broken key extraction

New deadbolt installs

Safe & security upgrades

24-hour emergencies

When customers call, Clara can...

Ask what's locked, home, car, or business
Confirm the address and any access details
Check if anyone is at risk (kids in a car, pets, etc.)
Capture the lock type and customer ID
Save their name and number for dispatch

Hi there, you've reached Acme Locksmiths. I'm the virtual assistant, how can I help you today?

Hi, I'm locked out of my house. I left my keys at work and my husband won't be home until late. Can someone come?

I'm sorry to hear that. Let's get someone to you as fast as possible. Are you in a safe place right now?

Yeah, I'm just on my porch. It's a bit cold but I'm okay.

Got it. Is this a single-family home, an apartment, or a townhouse?

It's a single-family home.

And do you know what kind of lock is on the front door, a regular knob, a deadbolt, or both?

Both, I think. A regular knob and a deadbolt above it.

Got it, knob plus deadbolt. Can I take your name and the best number to reach you?

Megan Foster. 303-555-0119.

Thanks Megan. And what's the address?

1842 Walnut Street, Denver, 80211.

Got it. Eddie's en route to another call but he'll ring you back in the next few minutes with an ETA. Stay warm, he'll be there as soon as he can.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome, Megan. Hang tight, he'll be in touch shortly.

Simple pricing, 7 days free

Clara knows your services, your area, and your customers. Always learning, always improving.

2 months free with Yearly 2 months free

Unlimited calls answered

Clara

The essentials to answer every call, day and night.

CA$41

.58

CA$49.99 /month

7 days free, cancel anytime Billed CA$499/year, cancel anytime

Single user only

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AI receptionist

24/7 AI receptionist

Business-trained AI

Custom greetings & questions

Unlimited outbound calling

Phone numbers

Use your existing number

Or a Clara number as your second business line

Unlimited calls answered

Clara Pro

Popular

The full Clara experience, with automation built in.

CA$74

.92

CA$89.99 /month

7 days free, cancel anytime Billed CA$899/year, cancel anytime

Supports teams

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Everything in Clara, plus:

AI receptionist

Your caller ID on outgoing calls

Automation

Automated text follow-ups

Personal contact exclusion

Live call transfers

Support

Priority customer support

Unlimited calls answered

Teams

One business, multiple people, total coverage.

CA$149

.99

/month

Available soon

Supports teams

Coming Soon

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Everything in Clara Pro, plus:

Booking

Takes bookings during the call

Appointments synced to your calendar

Collaboration

Multiple users on one account

Shared phone numbers

Call routing to the right person

Notifications

Call summaries sent to email

See all plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Clara handle emergency lockout calls?

Yes. Clara flags lockouts and other emergencies as high priority so you can respond immediately, even if you're mid-job. The caller hears straight away that the message is being passed on.

Will Clara know what questions to ask about a lockout?

Clara asks the right opening questions: what's locked, where, lock type, urgency, and whether anyone is at risk. You can customize the questions any time.

What if it's a commercial or after-hours emergency?

Same flow. Clara captures the property type, address, and contact and sends it to you instantly. After-hours calls are flagged so you can decide whether to dispatch now or first thing.

Can Clara verify customer ID before dispatch?

Clara can be configured to ask for ID and the address on file as part of the standard intake. The decision to dispatch is still yours, with all the info in front of you.

Does Clara work overnight?

Yes, 24/7. Lockouts at 2 a.m. are captured the same way as Tuesday-morning rekeys, name, address, lock, urgency, so you never miss a call you'd have wanted to take.

Will callers know they're speaking to AI?

Clara introduces herself as the virtual assistant and sounds natural. In a lockout situation, callers are usually relieved someone picked up, most don't think twice.

Can Clara quote a call-out fee?

You decide. Clara can share your call-out rate up front or let callers know you'll confirm pricing on arrival once you've seen the lock. You're in control of what Clara says.

Do I need a new phone number?

No, and you have two options. Forward calls from your existing business number and Clara answers when you can't pick up, or use your Clara number as a dedicated second business line and give that out instead. Either way, Clara answers.

Comparing your options? See the best AI phone answering services for Canadian contractors

Last reviewed May 2026

Hands in a lock cylinder. Phone in the van.

When customers call, Clara can...

Simple pricing, 7 days free

Clara

Clara Pro

Teams

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the app to stay on top of every call

Try Calling Clara

Hands in a lock cylinder. Phone in the van.

When customers call, Clara can...

Simple pricing, 7 days free

Clara

Clara Pro

Teams

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the app to stay on top of every call