SMS 1 of 15
Day 2 — quote check-in
2 days after sending a quote.
Hey {first_name}, it's {your_name} — quote land okay? Happy to tweak anything. Want me to hold {start_date}?
108 characters
Free SMS templates for contractors
Contractor SMS follow-up templates that get a same-day reply
15 ready-to-send text scripts for the moments that actually win the job — instant lead reply, missed-call recovery, day-2 quote nudges, appointment confirms, review requests, and more. Texts get 6–8x the response rate of email. Steal these.
Free tools, no card. The full CRM is $29/month — flat, not per user.
The 3 rules of contractor SMS
- 1. Under 160 characters. Long texts read like spam.
- 2. Always sign your name and company on the first text. Otherwise it gets ignored as a wrong number.
- 3. End with a question they can answer in 5 seconds. Yes/no or a time window — never an open-ended ask.
SMS 2 of 15
Day 7 — short nudge
1 week after the quote, no reply.
Hi {first_name} — still here when you're ready on the {project_type}. Thumbs up or thumbs down works 👍👎
105 characters
SMS 3 of 15
Day 14 — friendly close
2 weeks out — make it easy to say no.
{first_name}, last check on the {project_type} quote — should I hold the slot or close it out? No worries either way.
117 characters
SMS 4 of 15
Missed call recovery
Send within 60 seconds of any missed call.
Hi, this is {your_name} — sorry I missed you. I'm on a job site. Text me what you need and I'll get back in under an hour.
122 characters
SMS 5 of 15
New web lead — instant reply
Auto-send the second a lead form submits. 5-min response rate is the #1 close-rate driver.
Hey {first_name}, {your_name} here from {company}. Got your request for {project_type}. Can I swing by {tomorrow_window} for a quick look?
138 characters
SMS 6 of 15
Day-before site visit confirm
Send the evening before any site visit.
Hi {first_name} — confirming I'll be by tomorrow around {arrival_time} for the {project_type} estimate. Reply Y to confirm.
123 characters
SMS 7 of 15
On-my-way
Send 20 minutes before arrival. Cuts no-shows in half.
Hey {first_name}, on my way — should be at your place in about 20 min. Driving a {vehicle_description}.
103 characters
SMS 8 of 15
Review request — day after wrap
Send 24 hours after finishing the job.
Hey {first_name} — really enjoyed working on your {project_type}. If you have 30 seconds, a Google review means everything to a small business like ours: {review_link}
167 characters
SMS 9 of 15
Deposit reminder
Send 24 hours before the deposit due date.
Hi {first_name}, friendly reminder the {amount} deposit is due {due_date} to lock in your {start_date} start. Pay link: {pay_link}
130 characters
SMS 10 of 15
Invoice follow-up — 7 days late
1 week past invoice due date.
Hi {first_name} — just a quick nudge, the invoice for the {project_type} is showing unpaid. Want me to resend the link or anything I can help with?
147 characters
SMS 11 of 15
Seasonal reactivation
Send to past customers at the start of season.
Hi {first_name} — it's that time of year again for {seasonal_service}. Want me to swing by and take a quick look? No pressure either way.
137 characters
SMS 12 of 15
Referral thank-you
Send the day a referral becomes a booked job.
Hey {referrer_name} — {first_name} booked the {project_type} you referred. Massive thank you — drinks/coffee on me next time we cross paths 🙏
142 characters
SMS 13 of 15
Schedule change
When weather or a job overrun forces a reschedule.
Hi {first_name} — yesterday's job ran long, need to push your {project_type} to {new_date}. Same time of day. Reply Y to confirm or call me.
140 characters
SMS 14 of 15
30-day warranty check-in
30 days after the job wraps.
Hey {first_name} — quick check-in. Anything not sitting right with the {project_type} from last month? Want to make sure you're 100% happy.
139 characters
SMS 15 of 15
Old lead revival
60+ days of silence.
Hi {first_name} — it's been a couple months since we talked about {project_type}. Still on the table or should I close the file? Either is totally fine.
152 characters
Stop typing the same nudge a dozen times a week.
FollowUpDesk drafts every follow-up — email and text — in your voice with AI, schedules the cadence automatically, and shows you exactly which leads need attention today.
- AI drafts every text in your voice
- Auto-cadence runs while you're on a job
- $29/month flat — not per user
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Frequently asked questions
Do SMS follow-ups work better than email for contractors?
Yes, by a wide margin. Contractor texts get 6–8x the response rate of email and are usually read within 90 seconds versus 6+ hours for email. Use email for the first touch and detailed quotes; use SMS for nudges, confirmations, and quick yes/no questions.
Is it legal to text customers without asking first?
In the US, you generally need consent before sending marketing texts (TCPA). For transactional texts — confirming an appointment, sending an invoice link, replying to a customer who texted you first — consent is implied by the prior relationship. Add a one-line opt-in to your quote form: "OK to text you about your project?"
How fast should I text back a new lead?
Under 5 minutes if you possibly can. Lead-response speed is the #1 predictor of close rate for contractors — 5-minute responders close roughly 4x more than 30-minute responders. Set up an auto-reply so the first text goes out instantly even when you're on a job.
What time of day should I send follow-up texts?
Between 8am and 7pm in the customer's local time zone. Avoid weekends for first touches; Saturday morning is fine for warm leads who already know you. Never text after 9pm — it kills your reply rate and feels invasive.