Since I don't answer my phone, I DO ask my clients to correspond primarily by email - this gives us BOTH a hard-copy (so-to-speak) record of our 'conversation' and allows us to clarify/verify project requirements before getting in too deep.

When searching to work with a new business, I always leave a message. However, I will pass them up if I don't receive a return call within 24 hours, which is my own personal max response time (I try to return calls same day).

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"