Call Forwarding Setup Guide (US & Canada) — 2026

Call forwarding is a phone feature that sends incoming calls from one number to another automatically. You dial a short code, enter the number you want calls sent to, and every call to your line either always goes there (unconditional) or only when you miss, are busy, or your phone is off (conditional).

For a trades business — plumbers, HVAC, electricians, movers, roofers, landscapers — call forwarding is the difference between capturing a $500 job and losing it to the next number Google shows. You're rarely at a desk. You're under a sink, on a ladder, or driving. Voicemail kills leads: most callers don't leave one, and the ones who do won't wait a day for a callback.

The right setup is conditional forwarding to an AI receptionist: your phone rings first, and if you can't answer, the call forwards to a dedicated line that picks up in your business name, captures the caller's name, number, and job, and texts you the lead. Every guide below shows the exact codes for your carrier — verified July 2026 against official sources.