# How to cold call local business owners

> For trades and small shops the phone can still beat email. Here is how to make calls owners stay on for.

## When calling works best

Calling beats email for businesses where the owner is on the job all day and rarely checks email: plumbers, electricians, roofers, auto shops, salons. It's also the only route to businesses with no public email.

## Who will answer

At small businesses the owner, a family member or a front-desk person picks up. GetClient lists include the main phone plus **mobile numbers and phone type** where available — mobile numbers often reach the owner directly.

## Best times

- Trades: early morning before jobs, or late afternoon.
- Restaurants: mid-afternoon, never during service.
- Clinics: just after opening or after lunch.

## The first 15 seconds

Say who you are, why them, and ask permission:

> "Hi, is this Mike? This is Dan from Northside Web — I noticed Mike's Plumbing has great reviews but no website. Have you got 30 seconds?"

## Keep the goal small

Don't sell on the first call. Aim for permission to send something: a mock-up, an audit, a price.

## Follow the rules

Calling rules differ by country. In the US, for instance, there are restrictions on autodialled and prerecorded calls and texts to mobile numbers, and do-not-call lists apply in many cases. Dial manually, respect opt-outs and check the rules where you call. This is general information, not legal advice.

## Log everything

Mark outcomes in your CRM (GoHighLevel imports are built in) so follow-ups happen on time.

## A straightforward call structure

1. **Opener** — name, company, why you're calling them specifically.
2. **Permission** — "Have you got 30 seconds?"
3. **Observation** — one fact: their rank, reviews, website, ads.
4. **Question** — "Is getting more calls from Google something you're working on?"
5. **Next step** — send a mock-up, audit or price; book a 10-minute follow-up.

## Handling "send me an email"

Treat it as a yes. Ask for the best address (it may be the owner's personal email, which is gold), send within the hour, and reference the call in the subject line.

## Prepare with your list

Before calling, glance at the lead detail: website summary, rating, reviews, owner name and socials. Thirty seconds of context makes your opener specific instead of scripted.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does GetClient show which numbers are mobile?

Where available, leads include a mobile number, the phone type and the carrier, so you can see which numbers are mobile.

### Should I call or email first?

For trades and businesses without email, call first. For professional services with public emails, email first and call as a follow-up.

Source: https://getclient.pro/blog/cold-calling-local-businesses