Three options
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded verbal yes | Fast, no friction, ends doorstep arguments | Some callers still back out |
| Payment link after the yes | Money in before the truck rolls | Adds a step at 2am; some callers struggle |
| Card taken on the phone | Certain | You handle card details; compliance burden |
Taking card numbers over the phone puts you in scope for card security rules. A payment link from Square, Stripe or your field-service software keeps card data off your phone line entirely.
What a payment link flow looks like
Our after-hours visit is $189, credited toward the repair. Shall I send someone tonight?
Yes.
I'm texting you a secure payment link for the $189 now. The technician will call you within 15 minutes.
Fee agreed · payment link texted · on-call tech paged
Josie texts your own link; the money goes straight to you, not through HireJosie.
A sensible default
- Always: state the fee and get a recorded yes before paging anyone.
- Optionally: text a payment link after the yes.
- Track it: count fees agreed every week, in dollars, in the Weekly Revenue Report.
What Josie does
- Emergency Fee Consent + Payment Link: States your after-hours fee and gets a clear yes before anyone is woken. Can text a payment link.
- On-Call Paging + Schedules: Calls your on-call tech with the details. Press 1 to accept. No answer? Next person, then you.
- Weekly Revenue Report: A 7am morning report and a Monday email in dollars: emergencies, fees agreed, jobs won back.
- For your trade: 24/7 Emergency Answering Service for Home Service Companies
Common questions
Is verbal consent to an emergency fee enough?
For most small service businesses, a clearly stated fee and a recorded yes before dispatch prevents most disputes. Check your local rules and your own terms.
Does HireJosie process payments?
No. If you add your own payment link, Josie texts it to the caller after they agree. The money goes straight to you.
What does HireJosie cost?
HireJosie is $29/month for 200 AI minutes, starting with a 7-day free trial — cancel before day 7 and you pay nothing. Pro is $79/month for 500 minutes, with $0.25/minute overage after that. Every feature is on every plan, and every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.