🎯 Complete Setup Guide

How to Forward Phone Calls to
AI Answering Service

Replace voicemail forever. Forward calls from any phone—cell, landline, or VoIP—to VoiceCowboy and let AI handle every conversation professionally. Complete setup in under 5 minutes.

📞 Works with all carriers • ⚡ 5-minute setup • 🚫 No more voicemail

Voicemail is Killing Your Business

Every voicemail is a missed opportunity. Customers don't leave messages anymore—they call your competitor who answers.

📱

94% Won't Leave Voicemail

Modern customers expect immediate answers. When they hear voicemail, they hang up and call someone else.

After-Hours = Lost Revenue

35% of calls happen outside business hours. Voicemail means zero capture rate during your most valuable time.

💸

Busy Signal = Lost Customers

When you're on another call, new customers get busy signals or voicemail. They don't wait—they move on.

The Solution: Business Call Forwarding to AI Answering Service

Keep your existing business phone number. Set up conditional call forwarding to send missed calls, after-hours calls, or all calls to intelligent AI. Every caller gets professional conversation and lead capture instead of dead-end voicemail.

🎯

Choose Your Forwarding Strategy

Forward only when busy/no answer (overflow protection), after-hours only, or all calls for complete AI handling.

🧠

AI Learns Your Business

VoiceCowboy learns from your website, FAQs, and business knowledge to answer questions like your best employee.

📝

Instant Lead Capture

Every call becomes a detailed lead with contact info, project details, and next steps—emailed to you immediately.

Forwarding Options

Overflow Protection

Forward only when busy or no answer

RECOMMENDED
After-Hours Only

Forward outside business hours

POPULAR
All Calls

AI handles 100% of calls

MAXIMUM

5-Minute Setup: Forward Your Calls to AI

Choose your phone type below and follow the simple steps. No technical knowledge needed.

1

First: Get Your VoiceCowboy Number

Sign up for VoiceCowboy and get your dedicated phone number. You'll need this number for the steps below. Get your number here →

📱

Cell Phone (iPhone or Android)

📱 AT&T or T-Mobile Users

🎯 When you don't answer (RECOMMENDED):
  1. 1

    Open your phone's dialer (like you're making a call)

  2. 2

    Type this exactly (replace 5551234567 with your VoiceCowboy number):

    **61*5551234567#

    That's: star-star-6-1-star-your-number-pound

  3. 3

    Press the Call button

  4. 4

    Wait for a confirmation beep or message, then hang up

📞 When your line is busy:

Use this if you want VoiceCowboy to answer when you're already on another call

**67*5551234567#

That's: star-star-6-7-star-your-number-pound

Follow the same steps as above (dial, press Call, wait for confirmation)

🚪 Forward ALL calls to VoiceCowboy:

Your phone won't ring at all - every call goes straight to VoiceCowboy

**21*5551234567#

That's: star-star-2-1-star-your-number-pound

Follow the same steps as above (dial, press Call, wait for confirmation)

To turn OFF any forwarding later:
##004#

Then press Call (this cancels all forwarding)

📱 Verizon Users

🎯 When you don't answer (RECOMMENDED):
  1. 1

    Open your phone's dialer

  2. 2

    Type this exactly (replace 5551234567 with your VoiceCowboy number):

    *715551234567

    That's: star-7-1-your-number (no spaces or dashes)

  3. 3

    Press the Call button

  4. 4

    Wait for a confirmation beep or message, then hang up

📞 When your line is busy:

Use this if you want VoiceCowboy to answer when you're already on another call

*675551234567

That's: star-6-7-your-number

Follow the same steps as above (dial, press Call, wait for confirmation)

🚪 Forward ALL calls to VoiceCowboy:

Your phone won't ring at all - every call goes straight to VoiceCowboy

*725551234567

That's: star-7-2-your-number

Follow the same steps as above (dial, press Call, wait for confirmation)

To turn OFF any forwarding later:
*73

Then press Call (this cancels all forwarding)

📱 Other Carriers (US Cellular, Xfinity, etc.)

🎯 When you don't answer (RECOMMENDED):
  1. 1

    Open your phone's dialer

  2. 2

    Type this (replace 5551234567 with your VoiceCowboy number):

    *715551234567

    That's: star-7-1-your-number

  3. 3

    Press Call and wait for confirmation

📞 When your line is busy:
*675551234567

That's: star-6-7-your-number

🚪 Forward ALL calls:
*725551234567

That's: star-7-2-your-number

Note: If these codes don't work, call your carrier and ask them to help set up "conditional call forwarding" to your VoiceCowboy number. To turn off: dial *73

📞

Business Landline

📞 Most Landline Providers

🎯 When you don't answer (RECOMMENDED):
  1. 1

    Pick up your landline phone (get a dial tone)

  2. 2

    Dial this (replace 5551234567 with your VoiceCowboy number):

    *925551234567#

    That's: star-9-2-your-number-pound

  3. 3

    Wait for a confirmation tone, then hang up

📞 When your line is busy:

Use this if you want VoiceCowboy to answer when you're already on another call

*905551234567#

That's: star-9-0-your-number-pound

Follow the same steps as above (pick up, dial, wait for confirmation, hang up)

🚪 Forward ALL calls to VoiceCowboy:

Your landline won't ring at all - every call goes straight to VoiceCowboy

*725551234567#

That's: star-7-2-your-number-pound

Follow the same steps as above (pick up, dial, wait for confirmation, hang up)

To turn OFF any forwarding later:
*93

Then hang up after the confirmation tone (this cancels all forwarding)

Note: Some landline providers use different codes. If these don't work, try replacing *92 with *72, *90 with *68, etc. Or call your provider for help.

💻

VoIP & Cloud Phone Systems

💻 Google Voice

  1. 1
    Go to voice.google.com and sign in
  2. 2
    Click SettingsCallsCall Forwarding
  3. 3
    Add your VoiceCowboy number as a forwarding destination
  4. 4
    Set rules for when to forward (e.g., after hours, when busy)

💻 Other VoIP Systems

For RingCentral, 8x8, Nextiva, etc.:

  1. 1
    Log into your business phone dashboard
  2. 2
    Look for "Call Forwarding," "Call Routing," or "Call Handling"
  3. 3
    Add your VoiceCowboy number as an external forwarding number
  4. 4
    Set conditions (busy, no answer, after hours)

Need help? Contact your VoIP provider's support—they can walk you through it in 5 minutes.

✅ Test Your Setup (IMPORTANT!)

1

Test the Forwarding

Call your business number from another phone. Let it ring without answering. It should forward to VoiceCowboy.

2

Check AI Response

Make sure VoiceCowboy answers professionally and asks for your contact information.

3

Verify Email Alerts

Check your email for the call summary and transcript within 2 minutes of the test call.

✅ Working? Congratulations! You'll never miss another customer call.

AI Call Forwarding by Industry

See how different businesses use call forwarding to AI answering service to capture more leads and improve customer service

🔧

Contractors & Home Services

HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing contractors use call forwarding to capture emergency calls 24/7. AI qualifies leads, schedules estimates, and handles urgent service requests when you're on job sites.

  • • Emergency call handling
  • • Lead qualification while on jobs
  • • After-hours service requests
⚖️

Professional Services

Law firms, consultants, and medical practices forward calls to AI when in meetings or court. AI captures intake information, schedules consultations, and handles routine inquiries professionally.

  • • Client intake and screening
  • • Appointment scheduling
  • • After-hours consultation requests
🏢

Real Estate & Sales

Real estate agents and sales professionals never miss a lead with AI call forwarding. While showing properties or in meetings, AI captures buyer information and schedules showings.

  • • Lead capture during showings
  • • Property inquiry handling
  • • Buyer qualification

Real ROI From AI Call Forwarding

💰

Capture Every Lead

Turn missed calls into qualified leads with contact info and project details

🕒

24/7 Availability

Handle after-hours emergencies and capture weekend opportunities

Better Customer Experience

Customers get instant answers instead of frustrating voicemail dead-ends

Month 1 Results

Missed calls captured: 100%
After-hours leads: +247%
Customer satisfaction: +89%
Response time: Instant

VoiceCowboy ROI: 847%

Frequently Asked Questions About Call Forwarding to AI Answering Service

Everything you need to know about setting up business phone call forwarding

How does call forwarding to AI answering service work?

Call forwarding redirects incoming calls from your business phone number to VoiceCowboy's AI answering service. When customers call your number, they're seamlessly connected to intelligent AI that handles the conversation professionally, captures lead information, and emails you a detailed summary.

What's the best call forwarding setup for small business?

Most small businesses benefit from "conditional call forwarding" - forwarding calls only when busy or no answer. This lets you take calls when available while ensuring AI captures every missed opportunity. It's perfect for contractors, consultants, and service providers who can't always answer their phone.

Will customers know calls are being forwarded to an AI service?

No. Call forwarding is completely transparent to callers. They dial your business number and hear a professional AI receptionist that sounds natural and handles conversations intelligently. The AI is trained on your business information to provide accurate, helpful responses.

Can I still answer my business phone calls myself?

Absolutely. With conditional call forwarding (busy/no answer), you continue answering calls normally when available. The AI answering service only handles calls when you're busy, unavailable, or after hours. You maintain full control over your customer interactions.

Does call forwarding to AI cost extra on my phone plan?

Most major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) include call forwarding free with business and consumer plans. Some may charge standard airtime rates for forwarded calls, but this cost is minimal compared to the revenue from captured leads that would otherwise be lost to voicemail.

How do I set up call forwarding on my business phone?

Setup varies by carrier but typically involves dialing a simple code. For AT&T/T-Mobile: **61*YOUR-AI-NUMBER#. For Verizon: *71 YOUR-AI-NUMBER. For landlines: *92YOUR-AI-NUMBER#. The complete setup takes under 5 minutes and works with any phone type.

What happens to calls when I forward them to AI answering service?

When calls are forwarded, the AI answering service greets callers professionally, asks relevant questions about their needs, captures contact information, and provides helpful information about your business. You receive an email summary with caller details, their inquiry, and recommended next steps within minutes.

Can I forward multiple business phone numbers to one AI service?

Yes. You can forward your main business line, after-hours number, mobile phone, and even toll-free numbers all to the same AI answering service. This provides complete coverage across all your communication channels while maintaining consistent professional service.

Is AI call forwarding better than traditional voicemail?

Absolutely. While 94% of callers won't leave voicemail, AI answering services engage every caller in conversation, capture complete lead information, and provide immediate responses. Instead of dead-end voicemail, customers get helpful interaction that builds trust and moves them toward hiring your business.

How do I turn off call forwarding if needed?

Disabling call forwarding is simple. Most carriers use ##004# (AT&T/T-Mobile), *73 (Verizon), or *93 (landlines). You can turn forwarding on/off instantly as your business needs change, giving you complete flexibility in managing your phone system.

What types of businesses benefit most from AI call forwarding?

Service-based businesses see the biggest impact: contractors (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), consultants, law firms, medical practices, real estate agents, and home service providers. Any business where missed calls equal lost revenue benefits from AI call forwarding that captures leads 24/7.

Stop Losing Customers to Voicemail

Set up call forwarding in 5 minutes and start capturing every lead. Your AI receptionist is ready to transform your business communication.

Professional service from $49/month • Setup in 5 minutes • 30-day guarantee