Let’s be real for a second. You didn’t start your business to spend your day juggling calls, apologising for missed ones, and hoping the next big client doesn’t give up before someone picks.
You started it to serve people well—and to grow.
The messy calls, the late-night rings, the “please hold” that feels like forever… that’s the part none of us signed up for.
Underneath all of this is one feeling: you want to look and feel in control.
You want customers to dial your number and think, “These people will handle me.”
You want your team to breathe. And you want your phone line to match the quality of your work.
That’s what a simple, well-set-up business hotline gives you.
Let’s walk through it together.
You Know that Moment When…
It’s 8:32 a.m. You haven’t had breakfast. Two new enquiries, one delivery issue, and a vendor call all land within five minutes.
You answer the first, miss the second, and by the time you’re calling back, they’re already talking to someone else.
You don’t need magic. You need a line that routes calls, sets expectations, and shares work across your team—without buying extra phones or swapping SIMs.
That’s your hotline. One number. Calm front door. Clear paths inside.
What “Good” Looks Like
- A number that looks professional and is easy to reach.
- A short, friendly greeting (10–15 seconds).
- A tiny menu (max three options) that sends callers to the right place.
- Routing rules that fit your team (who rings first, after-hours behaviour).
- Voicemail that promises a callback that same day.
- Call logs so you know what’s happening and where things break.
- Call recording (with a short consent line) for training and quality.
Choose the Number that Matches Your Stage
PressOne has a few solid paths. Pick what fits your goals and budget:
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 020 (Standard) | ₦6,000/month | Simple start, everyday business |
| 020 (Growth) | ₦15,000/month | Small teams, more features |
| Regular 070 | ₦350,000/year | A strong, shareable business line |
| Customisable 070 | ₦450,000/year | Ads, radio, brand recall (memorable pattern) |
| Toll-Free 0700 (customisable or not) | ₦550,000/year | Trust at scale; callers don’t pay |
Quick Guidance:
- Want low-cost and simple? 020 (Standard or Growth).
- Want a “serious” business line you can share with the team? Regular 070.
- Running ads or want a number people remember in 3 seconds? Custom 070.
- Want people to call without worrying about airtime? Toll-Free 0700.
We can set up any of these with the same call flow. Your choice depends on where you are right now.
Step-by-step: Set Up Your Hotline this Week
Step 1: Pick Your Number
Decide based on the table above. If you choose Custom 070 or 0700, write down 2–3 pattern ideas (e.g., 070-1111-1111 or something that sounds like your brand).
If you need to go live fast, pick a regular 070 or 020 and move.
Step 2: Do Simple KYC and Pay
Have these handy:
- Business name (and RC number if registered)
- Business address and email
- Signatory ID (NIN, driver’s license, or passport)
- Contact phone for verification
Make your payment for the plan you chose. That unlocks provisioning and testing.
Step 3: Write a Short Greeting (then Record it)
Keep it warm, short, and plain. Smile as you speak—people can hear it.
Script you can copy (10–15 seconds):
“Thanks for calling [Your Business]. Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, 0 to speak to an agent.”
If you don’t need a menu yet, keep it even simpler:
“Thanks for calling [Your Business]. Please hold while we connect you.”
Step 4: Create a Tiny Menu (Max 3 Options)
More options = more drop-offs. Start with two or three.
1 → Sales
2 → Support
0 → Agent (always give a human escape)
If you run bookings instead of sales/support, rename them:
1 → New bookings
2 → Change an appointment
0 → Agent
Step 5: Set Routing that Fits Real Life
Pick one:
- Simultaneous ring (everyone rings at once) → fastest pickup.
- Sequential ring (A → B → C) → when there’s a clear first responder.
- Time-based (day vs. night) → avoid burnout; protect after-hours.
- Overflow after ~30–45 seconds → go to voicemail.
Tip: Write your rule out:
- 8 a.m.–6 p.m.: ring A then B then C; if no answer, voicemail.
- 6 p.m.–8 a.m.: go straight to voicemail.
Step 6: Turn on Voicemail that Earns Trust
No lectures. No maze. Promise a callback and keep it.
Script (8–10 seconds):
“Sorry we missed you. Please leave your name and number. We’ll call you back today.”
Then actually call back the same day. A short, kind message + a fast callback does more for loyalty than a long apology later.
Step 7: Decide on Call Recording
Recording helps with training and quality. If you turn it on, add a short consent line to your greeting:
“This call may be recorded to help us serve you better.”
Also decide who can access recordings and how long you keep them.
Step 8: Test Like a Skeptic
- Call your number from at least two different networks.
- Try every menu option.
- Let it overflow to voicemail.
- Check that you receive the voicemail and any missed-call notices.
- Fix volumes, trims, and delays now—so your launch is quiet and clean.
Step 9: Launch it Everywhere
If people don’t see the hotline, they won’t use it. Update:
- Website header and contact page
- Google Business Profile
- Invoices, receipts, email signatures
- Social bios and pinned posts
- Flyers, trucks, storefronts, radio scripts
Keep the number style consistent. If you show +234, drop the leading 0 (e.g., +234 70…).
Menus and Scripts You Can Use Today (By Industry)
Restaurant / Food
- “Press 1 to place an order, 2 to change an order, 0 for an agent.”
- Routing: Simultaneous ring during lunch and dinner. Sequential at off-peak.
Logistics / Delivery
- “Press 1 to book a pickup, 2 to track a package, 0 for an agent.”
- Routing: Sales first for 1; operations first for 2.
Salon / Spa
- “Press 1 to make a booking, 2 to change a time, 0 to talk to us.”
- Routing: Front desk first; owner second.
Clinic / Health
- “Press 1 for appointments, 2 for results or follow-up, 0 for reception.”
- Routing: Reception first; nurse/assistant second; escalate only when needed.
Keep it short. Put the most common option first. Stick to words your customers actually use.
“Will This Really Change Anything?” (The Honest Answer)
If your phone is already part of how you make or lose money, yes.
A clean hotline + a simple process usually bumps your pickup rate and time to answer in the first week. That’s the leading indicator. Sales and customer happiness follow.
If you rarely get calls, or you’re still testing, you may not feel a big difference yet. In that case, start with 020 (₦6,000/month Standard or ₦15,000/month Growth) and build the same flow.
When calls pick up, step into 070 or 0700.
How to Measure if it’s Working (5 Numbers You Can Track in a Notebook)
- Pickup rate = answered ÷ total calls
- Average time to answer (seconds)
- Worst time windows (when queues form)
- Top 3 reasons for calling (does your menu match reality?)
- Call → sale rate (for sales teams)
Spend 10 minutes every Friday looking at these.
Fix one small thing each week—reorder menu options, extend overflow by 10 seconds, add a second person to the lunchtime ring group.
Small steady tweaks beat big, rare overhauls.
Common Mistakes (and Nicer Alternatives)
- Long menus. People hang up. Keep it ≤3 options.
- No “0” for a human. Always give an exit.
- No after-hours plan. Send to voicemail after hours and return calls the same day.
- Silent launch. Put the number everywhere. Tell people you want to hear from them.
- Never checking logs. Data is your friend. Ten minutes a week is enough.
Real-life setups (copy what fits you)
Solo founder
- Number: 020 Standard or Regular 070
- Routing: Your phone first, voicemail after 25 seconds
- Menu: None (or “Press 0 for an agent”)
Goal: Look professional; keep work and personal separate
Team of 3–5
- Number: 020 Growth or Regular 070
- Routing: Simultaneous ring during business hours; sequential after hours
- Menu: “1 Sales, 2 Support, 0 Agent”
Goal: Faster answers; fewer missed calls
Ads, radio, or big buyers
- Number: Custom 070 or Toll-Free 0700
- Routing: Simultaneous ring + overflow to voicemail
- Menu: Short and clear; put the most common option first
Goal: Higher call volume, strong recall, larger accounts feel confident
Pricing Recap
- 020: ₦6,000/month (Standard) • ₦15,000/month (Growth)
- Regular 070: ₦350,000/year
- Customisable 070: ₦450,000/year
- Toll-Free 0700 (customisable or not): ₦550,000/year
All of these support routing, IVR, voicemail, teams, call logs, and recording (with consent). You’re choosing how you want to be reached and how your brand feels when the phone rings.
A Short Case Study Just Before We Conclude
There’s a small furniture shop in Abuja—three staff, good craftsmanship, terrible phone days. They weren’t lazy; they were busy sanding, wrapping, and delivering.
We set them up with a short greeting, two options (1 Orders, 2 Support), and simultaneous ring at peak hours.
Voicemail after 6 p.m., with a promise to call back the next day. Nothing wild. Just steady.
Their pickup rate rose the first week. The owner slept better.
One corporate office called about outfitting a meeting room, liked how fast they got through to a sales rep, and moved forward.
That one order paid for months. Not magic. Just a fair fight for every call.
Your 7-day Plan (Actionable and Possible)
- Day 1: Choose your number (020, 070, Custom 070, or 0700). If custom, write 2–3 patterns.
- Day 2: Send KYC and pay.
- Day 3: Draft your greeting. Record it (10–15s).
- Day 4: Set menu (max 3 options) and routing (day/night + overflow).
- Day 5: Test from two networks. Fix little annoyances.
- Day 6: Put the hotline on your site, contact page, receipts, and materials.
- Day 7: Start tracking pickup rate and time to answer. Call back every voicemail the same day.
Conclusion
As a business, you need to look and sound reliable.
A business hotline is a quiet promise: we’ll pick, we’ll help, we care. When customers feel that, they stay. And they tell other people.
If you’re ready, we can get your number live, map your menu, and set rules that match your life. Book a free 15-minute live demo today and see how it works.
