While most small businesses chase Black Friday deals on office furniture and tech gadgets, the smartest operators know the real opportunity lies elsewhere. The best Black Friday buys for small business aren’t discounted products – they’re services that help generate revenue every single day. Here’s what successful Australian business owners are doing differently this Black Friday.
Quick answer: what’s actually worth buying this Black Friday
- Smart investment: Professional virtual reception services (30% off for three months at OfficeHQ)
- Pays for itself in: 2-4 weeks
- Why it matters: Captures every lead, saves 15+ hours weekly, costs 90% less than hiring
- Bottom line: Stop buying things that sit on desks or software you won’t use. Invest in ensuring someone answers the phone when customers call, whatever the time of day or night.
Table of contents
The Black Friday mistake most small businesses make
Every November, Australian small businesses are among the over $37 billion spent during the Black Friday period, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. But here’s the problem: most are buying things that sit on desks, or software they hardly use.
Smart small business owners are using Black Friday deals to invest in services that bring in more customers. We’ve
The reality check: According to research by The Brevet Group, it takes an average of eight call attempts to reconnect with someone after a missed call – by which time they’ve already moved on to your competitor. If you’re missing just two calls per week at an average value of $1,200 per new customer (based on home services industry data), that’s over $124,800 annually walking out the door. Yet most business owners will spend Black Friday hunting for a $200 discount on a monitor!
Comparison: smart vs wasteful Black Friday purchases
We’ve answered about 100 million calls on behalf of other businesses, across 22 years, with the majority of our clients continuing their service beyond their first year. And many still trusting in us to answer their calls after more than a decade!
We know the value of preventing missed calls and lost opportunities … and so do those long-term clients!
Consider these revenue impact calculations and weigh up for yourself where it’s best to spend this Black Friday.
| Purchase type | Upfront cost | Generates revenue? | Pays for itself in | Annual impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional call answering (smart) | $300–900/year | Yes – captures every lead | 2–4 weeks | +$50,000–150,000 in captured revenue |
| Office furniture discount | $500–2,000 | No | Never | $0 |
| Discounted laptop | $800–1,500 | No | Never | $0 |
| Coffee machine deal | $200–800 | No | Never | $0 |
| Printer/scanner combo | $300–1,000 | No | Never | $0 |
| Desk accessories bundle | $100–400 | No | Never | $0 |
The best Black Friday deals for small business in 2025
The smartest Black Friday deals for small business aren’t about scoring 40% off a new coffee machine. They’re about putting services in place that pay for themselves within weeks.
Strategic buyers ask: “Will this make money or just sit in my office?”
Impulse buyers think: “This is 50% off, I should probably buy it.”
The services worth investing in
Every time your phone rings, it’s either a current customer needing support or a potential customer ready to buy. When those calls go unanswered because you’re in a meeting, on another call, or simply trying to get actual work done, you’re actively losing money.
According to Zendesk research, 52% of consumers will switch to a competitor after just one bad customer service experience. An unanswered phone call? That’s a bad experience before you even get the chance to serve them.
The solution isn’t working longer hours or hiring expensive full-time staff. It’s having professionals answer your calls for you – they can handle it better than you can, for a fraction of the cost. Explore live call answering services.
Three trends making this Black Friday critical
The cost of hiring has skyrocketed
According to Hays salary data, a full-time receptionist in Australia costs $52,000-60,000 annually in base salary, plus superannuation (currently 11.5%), leave entitlements, workspace costs, and equipment. Virtual reception services deliver the same outcome for $300-1,200 annually – a saving of over 90%.
Customer patience is at an all-time low
If your phone rings out, they’re calling your competitor within minutes. As noted by The Brevet Group, it takes an average of eight call attempts to reconnect with someone after a missed call – by which time they’ve already moved on.
Small businesses are competing with larger operations
Professional call handling used to be something only corporations could afford. Now, virtual receptionists give you the same advantage, letting solo operators and small teams deliver the same customer experience as much larger businesses.
How professional call answering transforms your business
Australian businesses across every industry rely on OfficeHQ’s virtual reception services to ensure they never miss an important call.
Real estate agencies use virtual receptionists to capture every enquiry during the spring selling season. Trade businesses ensure urgent customer calls are answered even when they’re on job sites. Professional services firms deliver the high-touch experience their clients expect without hiring additional admin staff.
The common thread? They’ve all discovered that professional call answering delivers ROI that far exceeds its cost.
Start the new year organised, professional and focused
Imagine starting 2026 with a professional virtual receptionist handling all your business calls. No more juggling your phone while trying to get actual work done. No more missed opportunities. No more apologising to potential clients because you were in a meeting.
Here’s what changes when you have professional call answering in place:
You get every potential customer
When your phone is answered within seconds by a friendly, professional receptionist, potential customers don’t get the chance to call your competitors. They get immediate help, their details are recorded, and you can follow up when it suits your schedule.
For businesses that get customers through Google Ads, local SEO, or any form of marketing, this changes everything. You’re already paying to get the phone to ring. Professional call answering makes sure you actually turn those expensive enquiries into paying customers.
From our experience: Across over 5 million calls answered since 2003, we’ve found that businesses using virtual reception services get 40-60% more customers than when handling calls themselves, simply because every call is answered professionally, every time.
Your customers feel valued
There’s a massive difference between reaching voicemail and speaking to a real person. Professional receptionists make every caller feel heard and important—even if you’re not immediately available. Research shows 92% of callers prefer speaking to a real person over leaving a voicemail.
You gain back your time
The average business owner is interrupted by phone calls 12 to 15 times per day. Each interruption takes 23 minutes to fully regain focus on what you were doing.
When calls are handled professionally on your behalf, you work without interruption. You return calls when it suits you, not when your phone decides to ring.
Client insight: Our most successful long-term clients report saving an average of 15-20 hours per week by not having to personally handle routine calls.
You appear larger and more established
A business that answers calls professionally, every time, appears more established and trustworthy than one that sends callers to voicemail. Your virtual receptionist answers in your business name and follows your specific instructions for different call types.
This Black Friday: 30% off virtual reception for three months
For a limited time during Black Friday, OfficeHQ is offering 30% off virtual reception services for three full months. That’s three whole months of professional call answering at an incredible price, giving you the breathing space to focus on growing your business as you head into the new year.
Whether you’re a solo operator, small business owner, or growing team, this is your chance to improve your customer service without breaking the bank.
What you get
Professional Australian-based receptionists answering your calls 24/7 (or during your chosen hours). Calls are answered in your business name, with messages delivered to you instantly via email or SMS. Optional call transfers when you’re available to take calls directly.
Learn more about our virtual receptionist service.
Plans start from just $25 per month (before the discount), making this one of the most cost-effective investments you can make in your business. View full pricing details.
The perfect time to start
Starting in late November gives you the entire summer period—traditionally one of the busiest times for Australian businesses—with professional call coverage in place. You’ll get more new customers during the holiday period, deliver better service to existing customers, and start 2026 already organised and professional.
By the time your three-month discounted period ends, you’ll have clear numbers on exactly how many extra customers you’ve gained, how many hours you’ve saved, and what the real financial return looks like for your specific business.
What businesses are saying about virtual reception
Australian businesses across every industry rely on OfficeHQ’s virtual reception services to ensure they never miss an important call.
Real estate agencies use virtual receptionists to capture every enquiry during the spring selling season. Trade businesses ensure urgent customer calls are answered even when they’re on job sites. Professional services firms deliver the high-touch experience their clients expect without hiring additional admin staff.
The common thread? They’ve all discovered that professional call answering delivers ROI that far exceeds its cost.
Claiming your Black Friday discount
Taking advantage of the Black Friday virtual reception offer is straightforward. Simply sign up using the code BF30 and you’ll receive 30% off for your first three months of service.
There’s no lock-in contract, so you’re free to adjust your service level or cancel anytime if it’s not working for your business. But based on our experience, most businesses quickly realise they never want to go back to missing calls or answering the phone themselves during important work.
Getting started is simple
You’ll be allocated a unique phone number that you can forward your existing business line to. Calls are answered in your business name by professional receptionists who follow your specific instructions. Messages are delivered instantly. You pay only for the calls you receive.
Many businesses are ready to have our receptionists answer their calls within minutes of starting a free trial.
Making 2026 your most organised year yet
The new year always brings fresh motivation to get organised, work smarter, and grow your business. But that motivation usually fades by late January when the reality of day-to-day operations kicks back in.
The difference between businesses that actually transform in 2026 and those that just talk about it? The former put services in place before the year starts.
This Black Friday offer gives you the perfect opportunity to enter 2026 with professional call handling already in place. From day one, you’ll have more time to focus on activities that make money, better customer service, and the confidence that every call is being handled professionally.
Use code BF30 to claim three months of professional virtual reception services at 30% off. No lock-in contracts. Instant setup. Australian-based receptionists ready to start answering calls in your business name.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How much does virtual reception cost after the Black Friday discount ends?
Plans start from $25 per month for message-taking services. After your three-month discounted period, you'll return to standard pricing. Virtual reception typically costs $300-$1,200 annually depending on call volume – a fraction of the $52,000-$60,000 annual cost of a full-time receptionist. There are no lock-in contracts.
Can virtual receptionists handle calls for my specific industry?
Yes. OfficeHQ has been in business since 2003 and we answer well over 5 million calls per year, serving every industry from real estate and trades to legal services and healthcare. You can provide detailed instructions to receptionists and, on certain plans, follow custom scripts specific to your industry needs.
What happens if I need someone to answer calls right away?
Most businesses are can be set up and have receptionists answering calls within minutes of signing up. You'll receive a unique phone number to forward your existing business line to and, once you enable call forwarding, receptionists will start answering calls in your business name.
Do I need to commit to a long-term contract?
No. OfficeHQ operates on month-to-month agreements with no lock-in contracts. You have complete flexibility to adjust your service level or cancel at any time.
Can virtual receptionists transfer calls to me when I'm available?
Absolutely. Call transfer is included in most plans. You can set specific rules about when calls should be transferred to you and when messages should be taken instead, giving you the best of both worlds.
How do I know if a call is urgent or can wait?
Receptionists follow your specific guidelines to determine call urgency and flag urgent calls.
Can I use virtual reception just for after-hours or overflow calls?
Yes. Many businesses use virtual reception specifically for after-hours coverage, overflow during busy periods, or while their in-house receptionist is unavailable. You have complete flexibility to set when calls are forwarded to OfficeHQ.
How does live call answering services compare to AI call answering services?
Real human receptionists offer clear advantages over AI. They handle complex questions, show genuine empathy, adapt to unexpected situations, and build relationships with callers in ways AI cannot yet match. At OfficeHQ's pricing (starting from $25/month), the cost difference is minimal while the quality difference is substantial. We do, however, also offer a hybrid AI receptionist service (AI answers the calls but we still keep humans in the loop because of the reasons already outlined).
