Setting up your CRM phone

In this article, you'll learn your way around the page where you set up the CRM phone. You'll see what's already done for you, what's left to finish, and where each call setting lives.

Every company has the CRM phone, so there's nothing to switch on in Features. On a paid plan you get two numbers when you sign up:

  • CRM number: calls and texts to this line come into the CRM.
  • Review requests: this line sends your review requests. Calls to it get a few seconds of silence and then hang up. It never rings anyone.

Calls work as soon as a number is set up. Texting waits for a one-time carrier registration. For the bigger picture, see What is the CRM phone?.

To open the phone settings:

  1. In the menu, click Phone.
  2. Or open Settings and, under Phone & booking, click Phone numbers.
The Phone numbers page
The Phone numbers page
Note: On the free CRM, this page is calls only. It shows your one business number with no texting registration, no caller ID registration and no way to add numbers. A line at the foot reads More numbers and texting come with the paid plans, with an Upgrade link.

The sections below follow the page from top to bottom.

All calls

A quick switch for closing early or taking a day off. It overrides every number's hours and ringing until you switch it back.

  • Ring as normal: calls follow each number's own settings.
  • All to voicemail: every call goes straight to voicemail.
  • Forward all calls: type a phone number and click Turn on. Texts, pictures included, are forwarded to that number too.

While it's on, the card is outlined and tells you who switched it on.

Forwarding every call to one number

Text messaging registration

Carriers check every business before its numbers can send texts. This runs in the background, and approval usually takes a few business days. The card shows four steps: Account, Business profile, Brand and Campaign.

If you see Registered business details, copy the legal name, EIN and registered address exactly from your IRS EIN letter (the CP-575), then click Save details. Click Continue registration to move things along, and Refresh status to check where it stands. Once texting is approved, the card shows A2P Verified. See Understanding texting registration (A2P).

Calling registration

This card lists Trusted calls, Caller ID name and Spam protection. They file themselves once your business profile is approved. Fill in Employees and Outbound calls per business day (whole numbers, your best guess is fine), plus an optional Caller ID name, and click Save. Once the caller ID name is registered, the field locks. See Setting your caller ID name.

Your numbers

Under Phone numbers, your lines are grouped as CRM number, Review requests and, if you have any, Other numbers. A group can list a temporary number above the permanent one. The temporary number sends your texts until carriers approve the permanent one, and then the permanent one takes over.

  • The star marks your default outbound number. Click an empty star to make another number the default.
  • The badges show Setting up, Active or Porting, then Temporary, or A2P Verified, A2P pending or A2P failed.
  • The row also notes a forwarding number and whether recording is on.
  • Click Edit to open a number's settings. It has five tabs: Basic, Ringing & forwarding, Hours, Phone menu and Advanced.

Your CRM number starts out open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. You can change that on the Hours tab.

Opening a number's settings and its tabs

Each tab has its own article:

Adding a number

Under your numbers, click Buy a number to search by area code. Once the Account step of registration is done, a second button, Bring a number you already have, lets you move over a number you already use. A port in progress shows under Numbers you're bringing over. See How to get a new phone number and Bringing your existing phone number over.

Voicemail greetings

One set of greetings is used on every number: During business hours, After hours, and After-hours urgent prompt (for numbers that let callers press 1 after hours). Edit the words and click Save and record. If you've changed one, Use the default puts the standard wording back. See Updating your voicemail greetings.

Who's taking calls

Untick yourself when you're off shift or on a job, and calls skip you until you tick the box again. Anyone can switch their own. Only an admin can switch someone else.

Closed days

Pick a Date, add a Name and click Add closed day. All day on those dates, every number answers with your after-hours greeting.

Adding a closed day

Voicemail alerts

Under App notification, choose Everyone or Only these people. Add phone numbers under Text these numbers (one per line) and addresses under Email these addresses (one per line), then click Save. See Getting voicemail alerts by text and email.

Spam filtering

  • Send suspected spam calls to voicemail catches callers whose caller ID fails the carriers' spoofing check.
  • Ask unknown callers to press 1 makes callers you haven't saved press 1 before your phones ring. It only works while the first switch is on.

Anyone saved as a customer always rings through. Below this card there's a link to Settings → Blocked callers. See Blocking unwanted calls and texts.

On the phone app

In the app, open the menu, tap the gear at the bottom, and under Phone & booking tap Phone numbers. It edits the same settings, with a few differences:

  • Each number's button says Call settings instead of Edit, and the tabs read Basic, Ringing, Hours, Phone menu and Advanced.
  • Your default number reads Outbound caller ID instead of having a star.
  • On an iPhone, a Caller ID for your customers card lets your phone show a customer's name when they call. Tap Open iPhone settings to switch it on, and Refresh list to reload your customers.
Note: Buying and porting numbers, the Calling registration card and the registration step tiles are only on the web.