SMA Support Virtual Assistants vs. Call Centers
A call center will answer phones and take messages for your business. A virtual assistant from SMA Support will own the entire admin seat – from the first call to the final payment.
If you’re a growth-minded contractor, have the things that made you successful become bottlenecks that keep you from scaling more?
If leads are pouring in, but you lack the manpower to answer calls, respond to emails, and collect payments, and admin overload has become a distraction that’s forced you to spend more time working in your business than on it, you need admin support. But you need more than someone who just answers phones and takes messages.
You need a virtual assistant (VA).
Unlike call centers, VAs support jobs through their lifecycles – from first calls to final payments. By providing both front-office and back-office support, VAs will help you win more jobs and get paid faster – and free up your time to focus on building your business.
Comparison: SMA Support VAs vs. Call Centers
SMA Support provides contractors with dedicated, trained VAs who deliver front-and back-office support. Here’s how our VAs compare to call centers:
| SMA Support Virtual Assistant | Call Center | |
|---|---|---|
| Owns the entire administrative lifecycle of each job | ||
| Answers phones | ||
| Follows up on leads | ||
| Receives specialized contractor training | ||
| Creates, sends and follows up on quotes | ||
| Books jobs | ||
| Manages scheduling | ||
| Handles billing and insurance payments | ||
| Embedded directly in your team | ||
| Removes bottlenecks so you can focus on growing your business |
| SMA Support Virtual Assistant | |
|---|---|
| Owns the entire administrative lifecycle of each job | |
| Answers phones | |
| Follows up on leads | |
| Receives specialized contractor training | |
| Creates, sends and follows up on quotes | |
| Books jobs | |
| Manages scheduling | |
| Handles billing and insurance payments | |
| Embedded directly in your team | |
| Removes bottlenecks so you can focus on growing your business | |
| Call Center | |
| Owns the entire administrative lifecycle of each job | |
| Answers phones | |
| Follows up on leads | |
| Receives specialized contractor training | |
| Creates, sends and follows up on quotes | |
| Books jobs | |
| Manages scheduling | |
| Handles billing and insurance payments | |
| Embedded directly in your team | |
| Removes bottlenecks so you can focus on growing your business | |
First Call
LEAD CAPTURE
Answer incoming calls, respond to inquiry emails and site form submissions
QUOTE CREATION & FOLLOW-UPS
Prepare and send estimates to customers; manage ongoing correspondence
JOB SCHEDULING
Schedule service and inspections, and manage client communication
Final Payment
BILLING & INSURANCE PAYMENTS
Send invoices, submit insurance claims, and ensure timely payment
What to Expect from a Call Center
Call centers can help you capture leads by answering phones and taking messages. But their support ends there. Once leads are contacted or responded to, they become your responsibility. Because of this, call centers can sometimes exacerbate existing bottlenecks. You may have an influx of leads – but no one to help you create quotes, send follow-ups, book jobs, coordinate materials, file insurance claims, and ensure payments are made on time.
The result: you remain mired in admin work and stuck on a growth plateau.
- Answers phones
- Takes messages
- Provides reactive support
- Lacks specialized training
- Employees turn over frequently
- Owns the full admin seat
- Books jobs and follows up
- Proactively captures opportunities
- Are contractor-trained
- Dedicated to and embedded within your team
What to Expect from an SMA Virtual Assistant
SMA’s VAs provide end-to-end support that starts with front-office services. Our assistants have a best-in-industry 38-second average response time, which will help you win more business and increase customer satisfaction.
Unlike call centers, our VAs’ work doesn’t stop once leads have been captured. Assistants create, send, and follow up on quotes, book jobs, and rehash old estimates. Once estimates are signed, our VAs provide back-office support, including scheduling and assistance with permitting and inspections. Finally, they ensure you get paid on time by customers and insurance companies.
The result: you leave your admin work in capable hands and are free to build your business
Start Working on Your Business & Let SMA VAs Handle the Rest
Don’t let missed calls cost you valuable opportunities, and sluggish payments interrupt cash flow. Instead, invest in a trained, dedicated VA who will help you reclaim your time and scale.
SMA VAs are a cost-effective solution that reduces the need for expensive, full-time hires. Their services can be flexed up or down as needed, so you can respond to fluctuations in demand without unnecessary overhead.
If you’re ready to learn how an SMA VA can help remove bottlenecks and free you up to focus on your business, contact us or schedule a profit leakage audit.
Get started with a profit leakage audit
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Explore common questions about our support services and how they can transform your business.
SMA offers significant cost savings compared to hiring in-house staff. You don't have to worry about overhead costs like benefits, office space, or equipment. Our team members are already trained professionals with expertise in roofing and home remodeling operations. Plus, you get the support of our dedicated management team and quality assurance department to ensure consistent, high-quality service without the burden of training and managing employees yourself.
Most clients are up and running within 30 to 45 days. That said, we can schedule your free process audit right away. During this audit, we'll take a look at your current workflows and create a customized implementation plan. The faster you provide us with your processes and systems access, the quicker we can get your dedicated team member trained and working for you.
Your satisfaction is our top priority. Each client has a dedicated account manager who regularly checks in to ensure you're happy with the service. Our quality assurance team monitors performance and provides ongoing training to maintain excellence. We work on flexible terms and are committed to making adjustments as needed to ensure the partnership works for your business.
While we specialize in roofing and home remodeling businesses (we have deep expertise in industry tools like ProLine, Roofle, and CompanyCam), we can definitely support related industries in the home services sector. Our team understands the unique challenges of field service businesses, including project management, insurance claims, and customer communications. Feel free to reach out and we can discuss your specific needs.
Quality is built into everything we do. We have a dedicated Quality Assurance department that monitors all work and provides continuous feedback. Our team receives ongoing training (both daily and weekly) to stay sharp and up to date with best practices. Every team member follows documented processes and scripts to ensure consistency. Plus, each client has a US based account manager who oversees operations and serves as your primary point of contact.