Cold call script examples: 6 you can read aloud today
A five-step script for a first call to a business contact who does not know you. Your only goal is a short follow-up conversation, not a sale on the phone.
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Use it for first calls of two to four minutes, once you have checked who you are calling and why they might care.
The script
Cold call script examples: 6 you can read aloud today
Call script
Opening
Hello [Name], this is [Your name] from [Company]. Have I caught you at a bad moment, or have you got thirty seconds?
Honest reason for the call
I am calling because [role] teams at [type of company] often tell us that [specific problem]. I do not know yet whether that applies to you.
One qualifying question
How are you handling [topic] at the moment?
What would you most like to be different about it?
If they brush you off
Fair enough. Would it help if I sent two lines on what we do, so you can judge for yourself?
If it is not relevant, just say so and I will not call again.
Close with a small step
Would a fifteen-minute call on [day] or [day] be worth trying?
I will send a calendar invitation with the topic, so you know exactly what we would cover.
DIRI AI · diriai.com · Training material, not legal or financial advice.
Replace the [square brackets] with your own facts and adapt the wording to your own voice.
Six cold call scripts, line by line
A script is a map, not a speech. Read each one aloud, keep the lines that sound like you and cut the rest. The right-hand column says why each line is there, so you know what you lose if you drop it. Names, companies and numbers are made up.
1. SDR to a mid-market B2B contact
A head of sales operations at a 200-person software company. You have checked their job title and that they are hiring SDRs.
Say
Why
“Hi Daniel, it’s Priya from Fieldnote. You weren’t expecting me, so I’ll keep it short.”
Name, company and an honest admission that the call is unplanned. It lowers the guard.
“I saw you’re hiring four SDRs this quarter. Teams in that spot often tell us ramp-up takes longer than planned.”
A fact you checked plus a pattern, not a claim about them.
“How are you getting new reps ready for their first calls at the moment?”
One open question. Your job now is to listen.
“Would twenty minutes on Wednesday be worth it to compare notes on that?”
A small, concrete ask with a day attached.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “We’ve got an onboarding programme already.” “Send me something and I’ll look at it.”
2. To a small business owner
The owner of a plumbing firm with six vans. They answer the phone themselves, often between jobs.
Say
Why
“Hi, is that Mark? It’s Ellie from Routewise. Are you driving, or is now OK for thirty seconds?”
Owners are often on the move. Asking about driving shows respect and gets a real yes or no.
“I work with plumbing and heating firms around Leeds on van scheduling. Most owners I speak to do it by hand at night.”
Local, specific, and it names a chore they recognise.
“Is that you, or does someone in the office do it?”
Finds out who owns the problem without asking a formal qualification question.
“Could I show you on your phone in ten minutes, Thursday after five?”
Fits their working day and keeps the commitment small.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “I haven’t got time for this.” “How much is it?” asked in the first minute.
3. To an operations director
A director of operations at a regional distribution company. Results-focused, short on time, has heard many pitches.
Say
Why
“Good morning, Ms Okafor. James Hart, Linebridge. I’ll be brief.”
Formal and short. Senior buyers notice wasted words.
“I’m calling about missed delivery slots. I don’t know whether that’s a problem for you, which is why I’m asking rather than pitching.”
Names one operational problem and says honestly that you do not know yet.
“What does a missed slot cost you when it happens: a re-delivery, a penalty, or something else?”
Lets them size the problem in their own terms. You suggest no number.
“If it’s worth a look, my suggestion is fifteen minutes with whoever owns the delivery schedule. Would that be you or someone on your team?”
Respects their time and finds the right person.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “We already work with a supplier for that.” “Talk to my team, not me.”
4. To someone who did not ask for a call
A finance manager who has never heard of you. You found the company on a trade association list.
Say
Why
“Hello, is that Anna Kowal? My name is Leo, from Quayside Payroll. This is a sales call, so feel free to tell me if it’s a bad time.”
Saying it is a sales call removes the guessing. People relax when you are straight with them.
“I found your company on the North West Manufacturers’ list. We help firms your size close the month two days earlier.”
Says where the contact came from before you are asked. Replace the result with one you can prove.
“Is month-end something you’d like to be quicker, or is it fine as it is?”
A simple choice question. “Fine as it is” is a valid answer that ends the call politely.
“Thank you. Would a short call next week be useful, or should I leave it there?”
Gives a real way out. A clear no saves both of you time.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “Where did you get my number?” “Not interested.”
5. Referral opener
A contact you were introduced to by an existing client who agreed to the introduction.
Say
Why
“Hi Ruth, it’s Sam from Brightwell. Helen Price at Calder Foods suggested I call you. Is now all right?”
The referrer’s name goes in the first sentence. Only use it if they agreed.
“Helen mentioned you’re reviewing how you handle customer renewals. I helped her team with the same thing last year.”
Connects the call to something the contact is already working on.
“What prompted the review on your side?”
Asks about their reasons instead of assuming Helen’s reasons apply.
“Would it help to talk it through for twenty minutes on Friday?”
Referral calls earn a slightly longer meeting, but keep it concrete.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “I’ll speak to Helen first.” “We’re not at that stage yet.”
6. Warm inbound lead
Someone who downloaded a guide or filled in a form yesterday. They know your name but did not ask for a call.
Say
Why
“Hi Chris, it’s Nina from Ledgerly. You downloaded our VAT checklist yesterday, so I wanted to check it was what you needed.”
Opens with their action, not your product.
“What made you look for it this week?”
The trigger tells you how urgent this is.
“From what you’ve said, the part we could help with is [fit]. The part we don’t cover is [limit].”
Saying what you do not do builds trust and saves a wasted demo.
“The easiest next step is a fifteen-minute call with a colleague who handles this. Tuesday or Wednesday?”
One next step, two options.
Objections you will most likely hear next: “I was just researching.” “Can you send me the pricing?”
Gatekeeper and voicemail variants
If reception answers
“Good morning, could you help me? I’m trying to reach whoever looks after delivery scheduling. Who would that be, and when is a good time to call?”
Replace every bracket with a fact you checked before dialling.
Say the opener aloud twice, then shorten it until it fits in one breath.
After a batch of calls, note which line got a reply and change one thing.
Practise it before you dial
In DIRI AI an AI customer, clearly marked as AI, answers your call and reacts the way a busy person might. Matching scenario: Short cold call with a dominant executive. The Free plan costs nothing.
A short one: your name and company, one honest reason for calling this person, one open question and a small next step with a day attached. It should take under a minute to say and leave most of the call for the other person to talk.
Should I read a cold call script word for word?
No. Learn the structure and the first sentence, then say the rest in your own words. Buyers notice a read-out script within seconds, and it stops you reacting to what they just said.
How long should a cold call script be?
Four or five spoken lines before your first question. Anything longer becomes a monologue. Prepare replies to the two most likely objections instead of adding more opening lines.
Can I practise a cold call script for free?
Yes. The DIRI AI Free plan gives 3 voice practice calls a month of up to five minutes each, with a report after each call. You only need to confirm your e-mail.