Acornby Oak Labs

How it works · Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, handyman

See every text.

Your phone rings first. If you miss the call, Acorn texts the caller and sends the details to the phone you already use. Sample shops below, in English or Spanish.

Start 30 Days Free See pricing

On your phone?
Tap to call (215) 631-8735. Hang up after one ring and watch how fast it texts you back.

Try it: call (215) 631-8735

30 days free once your texting is live, then $99/month or $990/year. No contract.

Photo of water leaking from the bottom of the water heater

No contract. Monthly or yearly. Keep your number and your phone Run it all by text. No app. Local support in Bucks and Montgomery County

Built in Perkasie by Evan Lowery · About

Set up by a neighbor in Bucks County, not an out-of-state pitch.

How it works

What happens on a missed call

No app. Calls still ring you first.

1
Keep your number
Your phone rings first. If you miss it, the call goes to Acorn.
2
Acorn texts the caller
A text in your shop's name, then a few short questions and a photo ask, one at a time. The text goes out right away, day or night.
3
You get the answers
An alert right away, their first reply, then one text with every answer. URGENT is flagged when it matters.
4
Voicemails and web forms too
A voicemail comes in the same alert, as a short summary with a play link. Web form leads can get a text too.

30 days free once texting is live, then $99/mo or $990/yr. No contract.

Getting started takes four steps

1
Create your login and add a card
Use your email and a password, or Continue with Google. Nothing is charged today.
2
Dial one forwarding code
Missed calls are answered right away with your greeting and voicemail, and you get an alert for each.
3
Fill out the business form
About 5 minutes: your shop's legal name, EIN (if you have one), address, and contact.
4
Carriers approve your texting
Usually a few days to two weeks. Then texts start and your 30 days free begin. We email you when it's live.

Sound familiar? The phone rings while your hands are full.

Hands using a power drill at a work site

Missed calls while your hands are full

The phone rings in the truck. By the time you wrap up, that homeowner already booked someone else.

Business owner checking messages on a phone

Nights and weekends go quiet

Calls and web forms after hours sit until morning. Whoever replies first usually gets the estimate.

Why Acorn Made for local trades, and kept simple

Set up for you, locally

We get your number, the texting registration, and the forwarding code ready. You dial one code. Questions go to a person in Bucks County.

Built for the trades

Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, and handyman callers each get their own first question, so you know what you're walking into. Urgent jobs get flagged right away. Callers can text in English or Spanish. You set English, Spanish, or both in the portal after signup.

Run it all by text

Alerts, answers, and BLOCK happen in your texts. The portal has the Won $ field, your Customers list, greetings, and settings when you want them.

Tells you what it made you

A next-day text can ask what the job was worth. It stays off until you turn it on in the portal. The Won $ field is in the portal either way. On the 1st, you get one text with what came in last month.

Cleaner leads

Robocalls and known spam get no text and no alert. Hidden numbers get no text, and you only hear about them if they leave a voicemail. Very short hang-ups are tagged Maybe spam. Landline callers still get an alert that says Landline, no text-back, so you can call them back. Links callers send are made safe to look at, with a warning.

Knows your regulars

Returning callers are greeted by name and skip questions you already have answers for. Your alert says they called before, and the Customers tab shows each caller's history, notes, and who still needs a follow-up.

What it made you Know which calls turned into jobs

If you turn it on in the portal, Acorn asks the next day what each job was worth. Reply with a number and it's saved. It stays off until you do. The Won $ field is in the portal either way. The monthly recap can include a dollar line from saved amounts, or est. $ when you use an average ticket.

The next day, if that text is on, Wed 10/7

Did (215) 555-0142 turn into a job? Reply with the amount, like 450, or N.

450

Saved: $450 for (215) 555-0142.

Monthly recap, on the 1st

Mike's Plumbing: Your Acorn recap for September 2026: 23 calls caught, 18 texted back, 11 replied, 5 jobs won, est. $2,750 booked.

Reply STOP to end alerts.

Example using an average ticket, so this one says est. $2,750 booked. Saved amounts can show as $2,750 booked. The STOP line is included when it is due.

Optional The web portal

Acorn portal, Leads and jobs: Dana · Doylestown, water heater leaking in the basement, with chips for URGENT, Replied, and Business hours. One lead in the last 7 days. The menu includes Customers, Messages and greetings, Hours and forwarding, and Settings. — Day to day, leads come by text so you can reply between jobs. The web portal is optional, for when you want to track revenue saved. Demo data.
See the demo portal

Customers on a phone, listed name first: Dana · Doylestown, Ana · Quakertown, and Priya Shah, with the phone number under each name. The tab bar includes Leads, Customers, and Settings. — Day to day, leads come by text so you can reply between jobs. The web portal is optional, for when you want to track revenue saved. Demo data.
See the demo portal

The real texts Want to see every text? See every text

Sample texts, with a sample shop name and 555 numbers. Your shop's name goes in. The first text asks what's going on.

What your customer sees

After a missed call, business hours

Hi, this is Mike's Plumbing. Sorry we missed you, we're on a job. What's going on? Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

After a missed call, after hours

Hi, this is Mike's Plumbing. We're closed right now, but we got your call. What's going on? Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

About 20 minutes later, if they haven't replied

Hi, this is Mike's Plumbing. No rush. If you still need help, reply with what's going on. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

After-hours call-out fee, only if you turn it on

The text names the fee you set and asks them to reply GO or WAIT. It does not book a time. It stays off until you turn it on.

Then, one at a time, after each reply (plumbing shown)

Mike's Plumbing: Thanks! Is water leaking right now? Reply Y or N.

Mike's Plumbing: How soon do you need someone? Text T for today, W for this week, or Q for a quote.

Mike's Plumbing: Thanks! What's your first name and town?

Mike's Plumbing: Thanks! We'll reach out soon. If you can, text us a photo so we bring the right parts.

If they send a photo

Mike's Plumbing: Got it, thanks!

Returning caller, greeted by name (no name and town question)

Hi Jim, this is Mike's Plumbing again. Sorry we missed you, we're on a job. What's going on?

Web form lead (if your form connects)

Hi Jordan, this is Mike's Plumbing. We got your request and will be in touch soon. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

HVAC asks "Is it the heat, the AC, or both?" Electrical asks "Is the power out, or do you smell burning? Reply Y or N." Roofing asks "Is water coming in right now? Reply Y or N." Handyman shops ask "Is this a repair or a new project?" A new question only goes out after the caller replies. The STOP line goes on the first text, and again after 30 days with no texts. After-hours calls get the text right away, with the same questions. Every text is also available in Spanish, and a bilingual shop answers in the caller's language. You set English, Spanish, or both in the portal after signup. The sample closing line is "We'll reach out soon." It does not promise a time. You can change that caller closing line in the portal.

What you see

Missed call alert (your first one, then once every 30 days)

Mike's Plumbing: Missed call from (215) 555-0142 at Tue 10/6 10:42 AM. Source: missed call (business hours). Auto text sent.

Reply BLOCK to stop auto texts to them. Reply STOP to end alerts.

Missed call alert (the rest)

Mike's Plumbing: Missed call from (215) 555-0142 at Tue 10/6 10:42 AM. Source: missed call (business hours). Auto text sent.

A caller you know (STOP line when it is due)

Mike's Plumbing: Missed call from (215) 555-0188 at Thu 10/8 9:10 AM. Source: missed call (business hours). Returning customer: Jim Smith, 2 past jobs, $1,850. Auto text sent.

Reply STOP to end alerts.

Their first reply, right away (URGENT if it sounds urgent)

URGENT: From (215) 555-0142: Water heater is leaking in the basement

If a later answer makes it urgent

URGENT: (215) 555-0142 says water is leaking now. Details to follow.

Every answer in one text

URGENT: Details from (215) 555-0142: Leaking now: yes. When: today. Name/town: Dana, Doylestown.

If they send a photo

From (215) 555-0142:
1 photo: https://app.theoaklabs.com/portal#p=d4e5f6

A missed call with a voicemail, one text

Mike's Plumbing: Missed call from (215) 555-0121 at Tue 10/6 2:15 PM. Source: missed call (business hours). Auto text sent. Voicemail: Basement floor drain backing up toward the furnace. Wants a visit this afternoon. Listen: https://app.theoaklabs.com/portal#v=a1b2c3

If a caller sends a link

From (215) 555-0177: Here is the listing hxxps://example[.]com/house
Caller sent a link. Don't open it unless you trust them.

The next day, only if you turn that text on in the portal

Did (215) 555-0142 turn into a job? Reply with the amount, like 450, or N.

You text BLOCK

Blocked (215) 555-0142. They will not get auto texts from Mike's Plumbing. You will still get alerts when they call. Reply UNBLOCK 215-555-0142 to undo.

Acorn pricing

One plan. No contract.

One simple thing, done for you. No per-seat fees and no pile of software you won't use.

Acorn text-back

Monthly Yearly

$99/mo $990/yr 2 months free

Billed monthly. Cancel anytime. Billed once a year. Cancel anytime. Terms

Your $99/mo or $990/yr rate is locked while you stay subscribed. No per-text fees.

First 30 days free, starting when your texting goes live
One flat price. No per-user fees, no setup fee, no contract.

Start 30 Days Free

Nothing charged today. 30 days free once texting is live, then $99/month. Nothing charged today. 30 days free once texting is live, then $990/year.

Or ask a question first

What's included from day one

Missed-call text-back seconds after the call ends, day or night, signed with your shop's name
A text in your shop's name, then a few short questions for your trade: what's urgent, how soon, and where, plus a photo of the problem if they can send one
Voicemails summarized in one text, with a link to listen
Spam filtering: failed carrier checks, robocall patterns, and known spam numbers get no text and no alert. Hidden numbers get no text. Possible spam is tagged Maybe spam.
A text alert to you for every missed call, the caller's first reply right away, and one text with all their answers. Short "thanks" or "ok" replies stay in your portal. No new app.
Separate business-hours and after-hours messages, in English, Spanish, or both. You set that in the portal after signup.
An optional next-day "what was it worth?" text (off until you turn it on in the portal), the Won $ field in the portal either way, and a monthly recap of what came in
A portal you can open on your phone: every lead, plus a Customers tab with each caller's history, notes, follow-ups, and CSV export
Text-back for website form leads, if your site's form can connect (we'll check)
Done-for-you setup, including texting registration and STOP opt-outs

FAQ

Before you start

Will Acorn take over my phone when I actually want to answer?

Not at all. Your phone rings normally just like it always does. Acorn only steps in when you're busy and don't pick up.

What if someone just wants to leave a regular voicemail?

Your phone still rings like it always does. If you don't pick up, Acorn answers with your greeting, can take a message, and texts them back so you get the job details instead of a buried voicemail. Add family or VIP numbers and those callers skip the text-back.

Do I have to change my business number or download an app?

No. You keep your existing phone number, and lead summaries are texted straight to your regular phone. There is no new app to download or check.

Will it sound like a pushy robot or quote the wrong prices?

No. It asks what's going on, asks a couple of quick questions about the job, gets their name and town, and lets them know you'll reach out soon. It does not book a time. If you turn on an after-hours call-out fee, that text names the fee and asks them to reply GO or WAIT. The fee text stays off until you turn it on.

How does setup work, and how long does it take?

We handle the setup for you. Because cell carriers verify business texting (using your EIN or business info) to keep your messages out of spam folders, carrier approval usually takes a few days to two weeks. Your 30-day free trial doesn't start until your texting is live.

What if I don't have an EIN or I'm a one-truck shop?

Carriers prefer an EIN for business texting. Acorn can still run as a sole proprietor without one. A free EIN from the IRS is usually smoother. Apply for an EIN at IRS.gov.

What happens if a spammer or landline calls me?

A landline can't get a text back. You still get an alert that says Landline, no text-back, so you can call them. Robocalls and known spam get no text and no alert. If a caller sends a link, you see it with a warning. It is not hidden.

Does Acorn work in Spanish?

It replies in Spanish only when you set the shop to Spanish or both. An English-only shop stays in English. You choose English, Spanish, or both after signup.

How is this different from Jobber or Podium?

Acorn is a flat $99/mo (or $990/yr) done-for-you missed-call text-back. Jobber's text-back is an add-on with a conversation limit, then a per-conversation charge, and it needs a dedicated number. Podium is a larger inbox product, not a single missed-call text-back.

Ready when you are

For plumbers, HVAC, electricians, roofers, and similar trades in Bucks and Montgomery County. We set up your Acorn number, usually within 24 hours. Texting starts once carriers approve your shop.

Start 30 Days Free

No contract. Cancel anytime.

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