About 15 minutes. You set conditional call forwarding on your existing line — no software, no integration, no new number. Most contractors are live the same day.
Answering services take a message; generic AI receptionists just greet and route. FirstCue is a dispatcher — it runs the full intake (problem source, severity by category, caller details, and insurance), books the job, and pushes true emergencies straight to you. Full comparison →
FirstCue runs the emergency intake, flags the call as a true emergency, and immediately alerts the people you choose with the full details — so you can call back in seconds. Every emergency is also logged in your dashboard in real time.
Yes. Every call is logged and recorded, and each call opens with a disclosure greeting so callers know. The recordings and intake details are there whenever you need them.
It's your choice. Job alerts and intake details go by email to whoever you want — you, your receptionist or intake coordinator, or a shared inbox. Your team can also sign in to the live client dashboard to see every call and booking in real time.
Yes. Plans are month to month with no contract and no cancellation fee. Cancel anytime from your dashboard — it takes effect at the end of your current billing period, and you keep access through the time you've already paid for.
You start free for 14 days — the trial begins the day your dispatcher goes live. We collect a payment method up front. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, your plan begins automatically at the listed monthly rate ($199 or $399). We send a reminder before the first charge, and you can cancel anytime.
Your first 14 days are free — we save your payment method up front but don't charge until after your trial ends. If you cancel before it ends, you are never billed. After the trial ends, monthly payments are non-refundable and we don't prorate partial months. You can cancel anytime to stop future charges and your service runs through the period you've already paid for.
Nights, Monday through Friday. Coverage starts at your closing time and runs up to 15 hours. Close at 5:00 PM and you are covered until 8:00 AM. Close at 4:00 PM and you are covered until 7:00 AM.
Weekends. Saturday and Sunday are covered around the clock — and coverage never stops in between. From the time you close on Friday until you open on Monday, every call is answered.
You set your business hours in your portal, and your portal shows the exact hours you are covered. If you do not set hours, we cover 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM, Monday through Friday, plus the full weekend. If you need coverage during your open hours too, that is the 24/7 Dispatcher plan.
Yes — move between Nights & Weekends and 24/7 Dispatcher anytime from your dashboard. The change takes effect on your next billing date.
No. You keep your existing number. FirstCue works through conditional call forwarding, so unanswered and after-hours calls simply roll over to it.
Any business that lives on inbound calls — restoration, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, landscaping, locksmiths, cleaning, moving, and more. The intake adapts to your trade.
FirstCue serves businesses in all 50 U.S. states.