Call Recording Consent: Best Practices for Sales Calls

Recording your sales calls is one of the fastest ways to get better at selling, and to coach closers. But you have to do it right. Here are the call recording consent best practices we follow. This is general information, not advice for your situation.

One-party vs all-party consent

Most US states are one-party consent: one person on the call (you) can agree to the recording. A number of states require all-party consent, meaning everyone on the call must agree. They include California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. When you call across state lines, follow the stricter rule.

The simple, safe approach

Tell the other person at the start of every recorded call. A short line is enough: “This call may be recorded.” If they object, stop recording or end the call. Doing it every time means you don't need to remember each state's rules.

Store recordings carefully

• Keep recordings private: only you and the person who made the call should hear them.
• Don't share them outside your team.
• Delete old recordings you no longer need.

What to listen for

• How long until you said why you were calling.
• Who talked more: you or the owner?
• The objection you heard most this week.
• The exact words that got a “yes, send it”.

Next: a short cold calling script for web design clients.