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The Back Office

Field notes on running a service business — the calls, the customers, the things nobody tells you.

The best AI phone answering service for US contractors (2026)

The best AI phone answering service for US contractors (2026)

Comparing AI phone answering services for US contractors and home service businesses — what to look for, what each costs, and which one actually works when you're on the job.

Adam Stevens 25 April 2026 10 min read
All calls, answered: the new way Clara works Product Updates

All calls, answered: the new way Clara works

We've changed how Clara handles incoming calls. Instead of only catching the ones you miss, Clara can now be your primary answering service — with scheduling, rules, and call learning built in.

Adam Stevens 25 April 2026 3 min read
Why Taxi and Private Hire Operators Are Switching to AI Receptionists

Why Taxi and Private Hire Operators Are Switching to AI Receptionists

Missed calls mean lost bookings in taxi and private hire. AI receptionists answer 24/7, capture pickup details, and make sure every job reaches the driver — even at 2am.

Shani Sofer 24 April 2026 4 min read
How Carpenters and Joiners Stop Missing Jobs While They're on the Tools

How Carpenters and Joiners Stop Missing Jobs While They're on the Tools

Carpenters can't answer the phone mid-cut. An AI receptionist captures enquiry details — what the job is, where, and how to reach them — so you follow up with everything you need.

Shani Sofer 24 April 2026 4 min read
The calls you miss at 6pm are worth more than the ones at 10am

The calls you miss at 6pm are worth more than the ones at 10am

After-hours calls aren't just inconvenient — they're disproportionately high-intent. Here's why the evening is where most small businesses leak the most money.

Shani Sofer 23 April 2026 5 min read
How mobile mechanics are winning jobs from the driveway

How mobile mechanics are winning jobs from the driveway

Mobile mechanics can't answer the phone while they're under a car. But the ones who are growing fastest have figured out what to do about it.

Adam Stevens 22 April 2026 4 min read
Why heating engineers lose more leads in April than December

Why heating engineers lose more leads in April than December

Winter emergencies keep the phone ringing. Spring servicing season is where the real lead loss happens — and most heating engineers don't see it coming.

Shani Sofer 21 April 2026 4 min read
How roofers handle enquiries when they're on a job

How roofers handle enquiries when they're on a job

When you're working at height, answering the phone isn't just inconvenient — it's dangerous. Here's how roofing businesses deal with the enquiry problem.

Shani Sofer 13 April 2026 4 min read
"I don't want to talk to an AI"

"I don't want to talk to an AI"

The most common concern about Clara, and the answer isn't as simple as 'they'll be fine with it.'

Shani Sofer 12 April 2026 4 min read
Why electricians lose leads they never knew they had

Why electricians lose leads they never knew they had

The missed calls that hurt most are the ones you don't know about. For electricians, invisible lead loss is more common than most realise.

Adam Stevens 11 April 2026 4 min read
Can't Siri already do this?

Can't Siri already do this?

It's a fair question. But Siri and Clara are solving completely different problems.

Shani Sofer 9 April 2026 3 min read
Taking on more cleaning clients without the chaos

Taking on more cleaning clients without the chaos

Growing a cleaning business sounds simple. In practice, every new client adds more admin, more calls, and more things to keep track of.

Shani Sofer 9 April 2026 4 min read
Why phone tag is killing dog grooming businesses

Why phone tag is killing dog grooming businesses

Dog grooming runs on repeat bookings and loyal clients. But the back-and-forth of scheduling is eating into time that should be spent on the actual work.

Shani Sofer 7 April 2026 4 min read
No, it's not 'press 1 for sales'

No, it's not 'press 1 for sales'

When people hear 'AI phone system,' they picture the worst kind of automation. Clara isn't that.

Shani Sofer 6 April 2026 4 min read
How estate agents are judged before the first viewing

How estate agents are judged before the first viewing

Vendors choose their agent before they've seen a single property. The decision often comes down to one thing: how quickly you picked up the phone.

Shani Sofer 4 April 2026 4 min read
Keeping your gardening business ticking over in the off-season

Keeping your gardening business ticking over in the off-season

The winter slowdown doesn't have to mean a dry diary. How gardeners keep enquiries warm and clients loyal through the quieter months.

Adam Stevens 2 April 2026 3 min read
Why the phone is the hardest part of running a removals company

Why the phone is the hardest part of running a removals company

Removals is a complex, high-stakes service to sell over the phone. Most companies handle it the same way — and most leave money on the table because of it.

Shani Sofer 29 March 2026 4 min read
What it actually costs to answer your own phone

What it actually costs to answer your own phone

Most self-employed tradespeople think of the phone as free. It isn't. Here's what it's actually costing you.

Shani Sofer 27 March 2026 4 min read
Why your busiest days are bad for future business

Why your busiest days are bad for future business

When the work is flowing, it's easy to feel like everything is fine. But your busiest days are often the ones quietly costing you the most.

Shani Sofer 23 March 2026 4 min read
What customers think when nobody picks up

What customers think when nobody picks up

The missed call is only half the story. What happens in the customer's head after nobody answers tells you a lot about why they don't call back.

Shani Sofer 20 March 2026 4 min read
The callback you keep meaning to make

The callback you keep meaning to make

It's on your list. It's been on your list for three days. At some point, it stopped being a lead and became a guilt trip.

Shani Sofer 15 March 2026 5 min read
What missed calls actually cost tradespeople (the numbers most never add up)

What missed calls actually cost tradespeople (the numbers most never add up)

A locksmith handled 68 calls in his first month with Clara. 16 turned into booked jobs. Here's how to work out what unanswered calls are costing your business.

Adam Stevens 14 March 2026 5 min read
On being busy versus building something

On being busy versus building something

Busy feels like progress. Sometimes it is. But there's a difference between a business that's growing and one that's just full.

Adam Stevens 11 March 2026 4 min read

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