Free script · Cold calling

The cold call script that books the meeting.

Three openers, three qualifying questions, the close, ten objection answers, the gatekeeper and three voicemails. The whole script is below, free. The kit adds a Word version, a one-page card to keep beside the phone and a call tracker that shows your numbers.

minute call: 5
objections answered: 10

Free · Ten minutes to learn. Print the card and dial.

Cold Call Script Kit

Open, qualify and book the meeting in a five-minute call, word for word.

The full script, editable DOCX
One-page script card to print PDF
Call tracker with conversion rates XLSX

The goal of every line is a booked meeting, not a sale on the first call. Includes the US calling rules with sources.

What the call is for

A cold call has one job: earn a second conversation. Nobody buys from a stranger in five minutes, but plenty of people will book 20 minutes with someone who understood their problem in three.

So the script is short on pitch and long on questions. Say who you are and why you called, ask, listen, and offer two times.

The rules

Five rules for every dial.

The words matter less than these.

01
Who and why in 15 seconds
Your name, your company and the reason for the call before they have to ask.
02
Ask, then listen
Three questions, and let them talk. Write down their exact words; you'll use them in the follow-up.
03
Book, don't sell
The only close on a cold call is a time in the calendar.
04
Respect a no
One honest attempt to understand the objection, then thank them and go. A polite exit keeps the door open.
05
Log it and follow up the same day
Every call goes in the tracker, and every conversation gets an email before you finish for the day.

The script

The call, in order.

Read it aloud until it sounds like you, then stop reading it. Replace everything in [square brackets].

01 / 03

The call.

Opener A: ask for 30 seconds

Your default opener

Hi [First name], it's [Your name] from [Company].

I'm calling out of the blue. Can I have 30 seconds to tell you why, and you decide whether we keep talking?

Opener B: name the problem

When you know their role well

Hi [First name], [Your name] from [Company].

I work with [role]s at [type of company] who are [dealing with a specific problem]. Is that something you're dealing with, or not an issue for you?

Opener C: the referral

Only when someone really did suggest the call

Hi [First name], [Your name] here. [Name] suggested I call you about [topic].

Have you got a couple of minutes?

The reason for the call

Thirty seconds, no more

The reason I'm calling: we help [type of company] [outcome]. For example, [one specific thing you did for a real client, or a plain description of what you do].

I don't know whether that's relevant to you, which is why I wanted to ask a couple of questions.

Three qualifying questions

Ask, then listen

1. How are you handling [the process] today? 2. What's the hardest part of that? 3. If you could fix one thing about it this quarter, what would it be?

Book the meeting

When they've described a real problem

Based on what you said about [their problem, in their words], it's worth a 20-minute look. I've got [day] at [time] or [day] at [time]. Which works better?

Once they pick: I'll send the invite to [email]. Who else should be on it?

When it isn't a fit

When there's no problem to solve

Sounds like it isn't a priority right now, and that's fine.

Would it be useful if I checked back in [month]? Thanks for your time, [First name].

The gatekeeper

When someone else answers

Hi, it's [Your name] from [Company]. Could you put me through to [First name]?

If asked what it's about: It's about [their area, such as how the team handles new enquiries]. Is [First name] the right person for that, or is it someone else?

02 / 03

Objections.

Just send me an email

The most common brush-off

Happy to. So I send you something useful rather than a brochure, what would you want to see in it?

We're not interested

Find out why, once

Fair enough. Is that because you've already got [problem] handled, or because it isn't a priority right now?

We already use [competitor]

Good news: they buy in your category

Good, then you know the space. What do you like most about it?

And if you could change one thing about it?

We don't have the budget

Ask about timing, not money

Understood. When do you next set budgets? Would a short look now help you have numbers ready by then?

I'm busy right now

Offer two times

Of course. Is it a bad time or a bad topic? If it's the time, which is better: [day] morning or [day] afternoon?

How did you get my number?

Always tell the truth

From [the real source: your website, LinkedIn, a directory]. If you'd rather I didn't call again, I'll take you off my list now.

Just send me pricing

Pricing needs context

I can. It depends on [the main factor], so which is closer for you: [option A] or [option B]?

Call me back in six months

Make the callback real

Will do. What changes in six months?

Then: I'll put [date] in my calendar and call you then.

I'm not the right person

Get a referral

Thanks for telling me. Who is?

Would you mind if I said you pointed me their way?

We tried something like this and it didn't work

Learn what went wrong

That's useful to know. What happened?

After listening: If that's the risk, here's how we'd handle it differently: [one line].

03 / 03

Voicemails.

First voicemail

Under 30 seconds

Hi [First name], [Your name] from [Company], [phone number]. I'm calling about [a specific reason tied to them]. I'll send you a short email so you have my details. Again, [phone number].

Second voicemail

Two or three days later

Hi [First name], [Your name] again, [phone number]. I emailed on [day] about [topic]. One question: [a yes or no question]. Reply to the email if that's easier.

Last voicemail

A week later

Hi [First name], [Your name], [phone number]. I've tried you a couple of times about [topic], so this is my last voicemail. If it becomes a priority, you have my email. Thanks.

Before you dial

The US calling rules, in brief.

Rules differ by country and by state, so check the ones that apply to you. This is general information, not legal advice.

The US calling rules, in brief.
Rule	Source	What it means for you
Most sales calls to businesses are exempt from the Do Not Call provisions	FTC, Telemarketing Sales Rule	Calling a company about its business needs is generally allowed
Calls to consumers must respect the National Do Not Call Registry	FTC	Scrub consumer numbers against the registry before you dial
Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to mobiles need prior express written consent	FCC, TCPA rules	Dial by hand, speak live, and don't leave prerecorded messages without consent
Honour requests not to be called	FTC and FCC	Note it in your tracker and never call that number again

AutomateNexus CRM

Dial from the CRM instead.

AutomateNexus CRM has an in-app softphone and Power Dialer that run on your own Twilio account, so Twilio bills the minutes and the CRM adds no per-minute charge. Call recording, when you switch it on, plays the recording notice first.

How calling works with Twilio

Work through a call list with the Power Dialer instead of dialing by hand.
Buy a US, Canadian or UK number inside the CRM, or connect one you already own.
Calls made from the softphone are logged on the customer's timeline, next to their emails.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Your name, your company and why you're calling, within about 15 seconds. A permission-based opener such as 'Can I have 30 seconds to tell you why I'm calling, and you decide whether we keep talking?' is honest and gives the other person control.

Around five minutes for a first call: 30 seconds to open, a minute to explain the reason, two or three minutes of questions and a minute to book the next step. Longer conversations happen in the meeting you book.

Agree, then ask what would make the email useful to them. Their answer tells you what they care about, and often turns the brush-off into a real conversation.

Yes, a short one under 30 seconds with your name, number and a specific reason, followed by an email so they have your details in writing. Leave no more than three.

Generally yes. Most sales calls to businesses are exempt from the FTC's Do Not Call provisions, but calls to consumers must respect the National Do Not Call Registry, and autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to mobile numbers need prior express written consent under the FCC's TCPA rules. This is general information, not legal advice.