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Phone Scripts

Phone Script Templates for IT Companies (2026)

IT support calls are usually time-sensitive: an outage, a security scare, or a VIP user who “can’t work.” These scripts help you qualify the issue fast, set expectations on response time and pricing, and keep tickets moving—even when you’re in a server room or on a live troubleshooting session.

New Customer Inquiry (First-Time Caller)

Use when a new business calls asking if you can “take a look” or become their IT support.

“Thanks for calling—this is [Name] with [Company]. Are you looking for immediate help today, or are you comparing IT providers for ongoing support?”
“Quick questions so I point you the right way: how many users and computers do you have, and are you on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?”
“Is anything down right now—email, internet, phones, or a server?”
“If it’s a one-time fix, our break/fix rate is usually $100–$200 per hour depending on urgency. If you want ongoing coverage, managed services typically run $1,000–$10,000 per month based on users, security, and response time.”
“Do you want me to schedule a discovery call, or open an urgent ticket and start triage?”

Tips for this scenario

  • -Ask “what’s down?” first—email, internet, phones, or server—because it decides urgent routing and billing.
  • -Get user count and platform (Microsoft 365/Google Workspace) so you can estimate managed services range without guessing.
  • -End with a clear fork: “discovery call” vs “open urgent ticket,” so the caller doesn’t stall.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

!You don’t ask “is anything down right now?” so urgent outage calls get treated like routine requests—and the caller hires the next MSP.
!You quote a flat price without learning user count, Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace, or whether it’s one user vs the whole office.
!You skip collecting the basics (address, on-site contact, callback number, domain/DNS host), then waste time calling back for info during triage.
!You don’t set urgent billing expectations ($100–$200/hour), so the client argues about cost while you’re trying to restore service.
!You let security calls turn into long stories instead of containment steps (disconnect devices, confirm suspicious Microsoft 365 logins, identify decision-maker).

Pro Tips

  • 1.Create a “first 60 seconds” checklist: what’s down, how many users affected, Microsoft 365/Google, ISP name, and who can be your hands near the rack.
  • 2.Use two lanes every time: break/fix ($100–$200/hour urgent) vs managed services ($1,000–$10,000/month). It keeps the call clean and helps the caller choose.
  • 3.When it’s network-related, ask for photos of the modem/ONT, firewall, switches, and patch panel—this saves an on-site trip or shortens it.
  • 4.For cybersecurity scares, move straight to containment language (disconnect from network, don’t power off, identify decision-maker) before you talk about audits ($2,000–$20,000).
  • 5.If you’re often unavailable during on-site work, use a 24/7 AI receptionist like SkipCalls to capture outages, collect intake details (user count, what’s down, callbacks), and book a slot without you leaving a server room.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you politely ask if it’s urgent without sounding pushy?

Use outage language: “Is anything down right now—email, internet, phones, or a server?” Clients expect that question from IT, and it helps you route the call correctly.

What details should you always collect on an IT emergency call?

Get: what’s down, how many users affected, business location, best callback number, who can be your hands on-site near the network rack, ISP name, and whether they use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.

How do you explain break/fix vs managed services fast?

Say: “Break/fix is one-time support at $100–$200/hour, usually higher when it’s urgent. Managed services is ongoing monitoring, patching, backups, and security, typically $1,000–$10,000/month depending on users and coverage.”

What should you say when a caller demands an exact price right away?

Give a range, then qualify: “Most break/fix is $100–$200/hour depending on urgency. If you tell me whether this is one user or everyone, and what’s down, I can confirm the best next step and a tighter estimate.”

How do you handle after-hours outage calls without burning out?

Set a clear on-call policy and route calls by severity (full outage vs single user). Many IT companies use an answering service or AI receptionist like SkipCalls to capture details and only escalate true emergencies.

Stop losing MSP and IT support calls while you’re on a live ticket

SkipCalls answers 24/7 for your IT company, filters spam, captures the exact outage details (what’s down, user count, callback, site contact), and can even book appointments automatically. It’s $19.99/month (or $199/year) for unlimited minutes—so you respond faster than the competitor who sent them to voicemail.

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