After-hours call answering for tradies

After-hours call answering that doesn't cost you your evenings

The calls that come in after 5pm are often the ones worth the most — and the ones most likely to reach a voicemail. Kaelo answers nights, weekends and public holidays, sorts genuine emergencies from things that can wait, and only puts the urgent ones in front of you.

Read the how it works walkthrough or check pricing.

After-hours enquiry — Urgent10:07pm Sat
CallerMichael Osei — 0438 715 062
SuburbFrankston South
IssueNo power to the kitchen, safety switch keeps tripping
UrgencyEmergency — wants someone tonight
Told callerAfter-hours callout rates apply
Next actionCall back now or refer to Monday
Delivered to your phone within seconds of the call ending.

What after hours usually looks like

Evening and weekend callers ring the next name on the list when nobody picks up.

Answering everything yourself means no real break from the business.

Non-urgent calls interrupt dinner while a genuine emergency sits in voicemail.

Monday morning starts with a backlog of missed numbers and no context.

How after-hours cover works with Kaelo

You set your standard hours during onboarding. Outside those hours the agent uses your after-hours script, which can differ from the daytime one.

Separate after-hours script

Different greeting, different expectations — including callout wording if you charge after-hours rates.

Urgency triage

Emergencies are flagged for immediate callback. Everything else is queued as a next-business-day summary.

Morning-ready list

You start the day with a written list of overnight enquiries instead of anonymous missed calls.

What happens to a call at 9pm on a Friday

Kaelo answers and records the enquiry. It does not dispatch anyone or commit you to attending — the decision to go out stays with you.

The call is answered

A professional after-hours greeting instead of a voicemail beep or an unanswered ring.

Details are captured

Name, number, address, what's happened and when they're available.

Urgency is assessed

Measured against the emergency rules you set during onboarding.

Expectations are set

Callers are told when they can expect a response, using wording you approve.

You get the summary

SMS and email straight away, with urgent enquiries clearly marked.

You decide the response

Attend tonight, call the customer back, or roll it into the next business day.

Example: a Saturday night call

The caller gets a professional answer at 10pm. You get a text that tells you in one glance whether to move.

After-hours enquiry — UrgentSummary sent by SMS + email
CallerMichael Osei — 0438 715 062
SuburbFrankston South
IssueNo power to the kitchen, safety switch keeps tripping
UrgencyEmergency — wants someone tonight
Told callerAfter-hours callout rates apply
Next actionCall back now or refer to Monday
Delivered to your phone within seconds of the call ending.

Why after-hours cover pays off

You choose what wakes you

Only calls that meet your emergency rules are flagged. The rest wait until morning.

Higher-value work captured

Callout jobs at night and on weekends usually price higher than routine daytime work.

Cheaper than an on-call staffer

One monthly plan covers evenings, weekends and public holidays without rostering anyone.

Callers know where they stand

Expectations about response times and after-hours rates are set on the call, not after you arrive.

Setting up after-hours handling

Onboarding covers your hours, your emergency definitions and how far you're willing to go at night.

  1. 1

    Set your hours

    Standard trading hours, weekends and public holiday behaviour.

  2. 2

    Define emergencies

    The specific situations that justify a callback outside hours.

  3. 3

    After-hours wording

    Callout rates, expected response times and what you won't attend at night.

  4. 4

    Test and go live

    Test an after-hours call, adjust the script, then forward your number.

After-hours cover is included in every plan

There's no separate after-hours fee. Plans start at $299/mo + GST with included minutes, plus a one-off $200 + GST setup, and no lock-in contracts.

After-hours FAQs

Can I use Kaelo only after hours?

Yes. Plenty of businesses answer their own calls during the day and divert only outside trading hours.

Does it cover public holidays?

Yes. Public holiday behaviour is configured with your hours during onboarding.

Can it tell callers about after-hours rates?

Yes. We include the callout wording you approve so callers are told before you commit to attending.

What happens to non-urgent calls overnight?

They're captured with full details and appear in your summary list for the next business day.

Cover your nights and weekends

Book a demo to hear an after-hours call handled, or start onboarding and set your hours in the process.

More detail: How It Works · Pricing · Who It's For