How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Key Facts
- The real annual cost of a full-time human receptionist is $46,500–$52,000, including salary, benefits, and training.
- AI receptionists cost $50–$300/month, saving small businesses $49,000–$64,000 annually vs. in-house staff.
- 62% of small business calls go unanswered, and 85% of those callers never return—costing $200+ per missed lead.
- General contractors lose $17,640/year from missed calls, but AI receptionists recover 50–70% of those leads.
- Roofers see $79,500/year in lost revenue from unanswered calls—AI can deliver 2,464% ROI in one year.
- Answrr’s AI receptionist deploys in under 10 minutes with AI-powered onboarding, eliminating 25–40 hours of setup.
- Flat-rate AI plans like $199/month offer unlimited calls, no overages, and triple calendar integration (Cal.com, Calendly, GoHighLevel).
The Hidden Costs of Human and Virtual Receptionists
The Hidden Costs of Human and Virtual Receptionists
Every unanswered call is a silent revenue leak. For small businesses, the true cost of a receptionist goes far beyond a paycheck—it’s a web of hidden expenses that quietly erode profits.
- Salary: $3,875–$4,342/month for full-time roles
- Benefits & taxes: 20–30% of base salary
- Training: 1–3 weeks of onboarding time
- Overtime & scheduling: Unpredictable labor costs
- Overhead: Desk space, phone lines, software licenses
According to NextPhone, the real annual cost of a full-time human receptionist—including benefits, taxes, and training—ranges from $46,500 to $52,000. That’s nearly $4,400 per month in total spend.
Meanwhile, a part-time receptionist (20 hrs/week) costs $1,940–$2,170/month, still far exceeding most AI alternatives. And despite this investment, 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, with 85% of those callers never returning—a lost lifetime value of $200+ per missed lead according to NextPhone.
A general contractor handling 42 calls/month faces a 60–80% miss rate, losing an estimated $17,640/year in potential revenue as reported by NextPhone. That’s not just inefficiency—it’s a direct hit to the bottom line.
Enter Answrr’s AI receptionist, which eliminates these hidden costs entirely. With 24/7 availability, no salary, no benefits, and zero overtime, it delivers consistent lead capture without the overhead.
- Flat-rate pricing: $199/month (unlimited calls, agents, minutes)
- Triple calendar integration: Cal.com, Calendly, GoHighLevel
- Rime Arcana voice: Human-like, expressive AI tone
- AI-powered onboarding: Setup in under 10 minutes
Unlike human or virtual assistants, Answrr’s system never calls in sick, never quits, and never forgets a caller’s history—thanks to long-term semantic memory per NextPhone’s research.
The result? A 432% ROI for general contractors and 2,464% ROI for roofers—not from cutting staff, but from capturing 50–70% of missed calls as shown in industry data.
This isn’t just cost savings—it’s revenue recovery. And with Answrr’s AI onboarding assistant, businesses deploy in minutes, not weeks, avoiding the 25–40 hours of setup and $1,875–$6,000 in labor value tied to DIY platforms per Novum AI.
The real cost isn’t what you pay—it’s what you lose by not acting.
AI Receptionist Pricing: What You Actually Pay
AI Receptionist Pricing: What You Actually Pay
The real cost of an AI receptionist isn’t just a monthly fee—it’s about predictable pricing, hidden savings, and revenue recovery. Unlike human staff, AI agents don’t require salaries, benefits, or overtime. For small businesses, this means $49,000–$64,000 in annual savings compared to in-house receptionists, according to GetVoIP. The shift from variable labor costs to flat-rate models transforms reception into a scalable, high-ROI operation.
Most AI receptionists cost $50 to $300/month, but the real value lies in what’s included. Flat-rate plans eliminate overage fees and scale seamlessly—critical for businesses with seasonal spikes. Providers like Answrr and NextPhone offer unlimited calls at $199/month, a benchmark for value in the SMB space. This model beats traditional phone systems and virtual assistants, which often charge per minute or per call—costs that can double or triple effective pricing.
- Average monthly cost of a full-time human receptionist: $3,875–$4,342
- Annual cost of a part-time receptionist (20 hrs/week): $1,940–$2,170
- AI receptionist monthly cost range: $50–$300
- AI receptionist cost for similar volume: $50–$500/month (vs. $200–$3,000+/month for human virtual assistants)
- Annual savings vs. in-house receptionist: $49,000–$64,000
As reported by NextPhone, the $199/month flat rate has become the “sweet spot” for contractors and service-based businesses—offering unlimited usage, compliance, and integration without surprise fees.
Advanced AI isn’t just cheaper—it’s smarter. Features like triple calendar integration (Cal.com, Calendly, GoHighLevel) and long-term semantic memory reduce administrative work and improve lead capture. Answrr’s AI remembers past interactions, personalizes conversations, and books appointments in real time—cutting follow-up tasks and human error.
For example, a general contractor using Answrr’s AI receptionist captures 50–70% of missed calls, recovering $17,640/year in lost revenue. A roofer sees $79,500/year in recovery—a 2,464% ROI in the first year. These gains come not from lower pricing alone, but from 24/7 availability, consistent follow-up, and no missed opportunities.
- 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered
- 85% of those callers never call back
- Miss rate for contractors: 60–80% (74% realistic)
- Lead capture increase: Up to 20–40% from never missing after-hours calls
These numbers show that the cost of inaction is far higher than the cost of AI.
Many businesses avoid AI due to setup fears—but Answrr’s AI-powered onboarding assistant configures your receptionist in under 10 minutes, with zero technical skills needed. This eliminates 25–40 hours of DIY setup and 8+ hours/month of maintenance—a burden valued at $1,875–$6,000/year when factored at $75–$150/hour.
As NextPhone notes, “The cost of doing nothing often exceeds the cost of a solution by 10X or more.” With AI receptionists now expected to handle 85% of customer interactions by 2025, the time to act is now.
How AI Receptionists Deliver Real ROI, Not Just Cost Savings
How AI Receptionists Deliver Real ROI, Not Just Cost Savings
Every missed call is a lost opportunity—often worth hundreds in lifetime value. For small businesses, especially in home services, 62% of calls go unanswered, and 85% of those callers never return. That’s not just a cost; it’s revenue bleeding out silently. But AI receptionists don’t just cut expenses—they actively recover lost revenue, capture high-value leads, and boost operational efficiency through intelligent automation.
AI receptionists like Answrr deliver real ROI by transforming call handling from a passive expense into a proactive revenue engine. While cost savings are undeniable, the real game-changer is performance: 24/7 availability, consistent lead capture, and personalized interactions powered by semantic memory and real-time booking.
- Capture 50–70% of missed calls—turning silence into sales
- Recover $17,640–$79,500+ in annual revenue depending on industry
- Increase lead capture by 20–40% through never-missing after-hours calls
- Reduce administrative overhead with triple calendar integration
- Cut setup time from weeks to under 10 minutes with AI onboarding
A roofing contractor, for example, could lose $79,500/year from missed calls—yet with an AI receptionist, those inquiries are answered, qualified, and booked instantly. The result? 2,464% ROI in the first year, far exceeding any salary-based model.
This isn’t about replacing humans—it’s about protecting revenue streams that would otherwise vanish after hours or during vacations. Answrr’s Rime Arcana voice and long-term semantic memory ensure callers feel heard, not robotic. The AI remembers past conversations, adapts tone, and books appointments across Cal.com, Calendly, and GoHighLevel—eliminating repetitive follow-ups and freeing staff for high-impact work.
According to NextPhone’s research, the cost of doing nothing often exceeds the cost of a solution by 10X or more. That’s not just a savings—it’s a strategic investment in growth.
Now, consider the hidden costs of human receptionists: $3,875–$4,342/month for salary, benefits, training, and overhead. An AI receptionist at $199/month doesn’t just undercut that—it outperforms it in lead capture and consistency.
The shift from “how much does it cost?” to “how much are we losing by not having one?” is the defining move for modern SMBs. And with 85% of customer interactions expected to be AI-managed by 2025, the time to act is now—not when the next missed call turns into a lost client.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an AI receptionist really cost compared to hiring a human assistant?
Are there hidden costs with AI receptionists, or is $199 really all I pay?
Can an AI receptionist actually capture leads better than a human, especially after hours?
I’m worried about setup—will it take weeks like hiring a real person?
Is the AI voice going to sound robotic and turn people off?
How much revenue can I actually recover by switching to an AI receptionist?
Stop Losing Revenue to Silent Calls—Here’s the Real Cost of Inaction
The true cost of a receptionist isn’t just in the paycheck—it’s in the missed calls, untracked leads, and hidden overhead that quietly drain small business profits. With human receptionists costing $46,500–$52,000 annually—including benefits, taxes, training, and scheduling chaos—and virtual assistants still falling short of consistent availability, the math is clear: traditional solutions are unsustainable. When 62% of calls go unanswered and 85% of those callers never return, the financial impact is real—up to $17,640 in lost revenue per year for a general contractor alone. Answrr’s AI receptionist cuts through the noise with a flat $199/month plan that eliminates salary, benefits, overtime, and training costs—delivering 24/7 lead capture with human-like clarity powered by Rime Arcana voice. With triple calendar integration (Cal.com, Calendly, GoHighLevel) and AI-powered onboarding, administrative overhead shrinks while efficiency soars. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about turning every call into a converted opportunity. The time to act is now: audit your current reception costs, calculate your missed lead value, and see how Answrr can protect your revenue—without raising your monthly spend.