AI Receptionist That Answers Every Call
An AI receptionist picks up your business line in a natural voice, answers questions from your own information, books appointments and sends urgent callers to you. We build it for you, connect it to your calendar and keep your existing number. Most businesses are live within 48 hours.
What Is an AI Receptionist?
An AI receptionist, also called an AI virtual receptionist or AI phone receptionist, is a voice agent that handles the phone work of a front desk. Callers talk to it in plain language instead of pressing buttons on a menu.
It differs from a chatbot because it works on a live phone call, and from a virtual receptionist service because no person is reading a script in a call center. It can take many calls at the same time, so nobody hears a busy signal when three customers ring at once.
What Your AI Receptionist Handles
Answers common questions
Hours, services, service areas, pricing rules and policies, all taken from your website and documents.
Books appointments
Checks live availability in Google Calendar, Outlook, Cal.com, Calendly or your industry CRM and books during the call.
Qualifies new leads
Asks your screening questions, records the answers and tells you which callers are worth a fast callback.
Transfers urgent calls
Puts the caller on a short hold, calls your cell, briefs you, then connects the call.
Filters spam
Intercepts robocalls and sales pitches so they never reach you or your staff.
Sends a summary of every call
You get a summary, transcript and recording link by email, SMS or in your CRM within seconds.
How It Works on Your Phone Line
- 1
Keep your number
We set up call forwarding with your current carrier. You choose whether the AI answers every call, only after hours, or only when you do not pick up.
- 2
We train it on your business
Share your website, services, booking rules and common questions. Our engineers write the call flows and build the knowledge base. You do not configure any software.
- 3
We test it before launch
We run realistic test calls covering emergencies, accents, scheduling conflicts and awkward questions, then tune the agent.
- 4
You go live and we keep tuning
After launch we review how calls went and adjust the prompts, so answers improve as real callers ask new questions.
AI Receptionist vs. Human Receptionist vs. Answering Service
A human receptionist is still the better choice for walk-in guests and sensitive conversations. An AI receptionist is usually the better choice for covering phones at all hours and handling several calls at once. Many businesses use both, with the AI taking overflow and after-hours calls.
| AI receptionist | In-house receptionist | Traditional answering service | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From $99/mo plus usage | $3,500 to $5,000 with taxes and benefits | $300 to $1,500, often $1.50+ per minute |
| Coverage | 24/7/365 | About 40 hours a week | 24/7, sometimes with after-hours surcharges |
| Simultaneous calls | Many at once | One at a time | Queues and hold times |
| Calendar booking | Live, during the call | Yes, during work hours | Basic or a paid add-on |
AI Receptionists Built for Your Industry
Callers ask different things in different trades, and urgency means different things too. These guides cover how we set up the receptionist for each one.
Small business
One location, a busy owner and a phone that rings at the worst moment.
AI receptionist for small businessLaw firms
24/7 intake that screens matter types and books consultations.
AI receptionist for law firmsDental practices
New patient calls, appointment booking and recall outreach.
AI receptionist for dentistsHVAC companies
Separates no-heat and no-AC emergencies from routine tune-ups.
AI receptionist for HVACAI Receptionist Pricing
Starter is $299 one-time setup plus $99 per month for one custom AI receptionist. Growth is $1,199 setup plus $399 per month for up to three agents with multi-step lead qualification and deeper CRM workflows. Enterprise is custom. Call minutes are billed separately, typically $0.15 to $0.40 per minute. There is no long-term contract.
See all plansFrequently Asked Questions
What does an AI receptionist do?
It answers your business phone in a natural voice, responds to common questions, books appointments in your calendar, qualifies new leads, filters spam and transfers urgent calls to you. After each call it sends you a summary, transcript and recording link.
Is an AI virtual receptionist the same as an AI receptionist?
Yes. AI virtual receptionist, AI phone receptionist and AI receptionist describe the same thing: a voice agent that answers business calls. A plain virtual receptionist usually means a remote human team, which is a different service.
Will callers know they are talking to AI?
Some will, and you should not try to hide it if they ask. A good AI receptionist sounds natural and answers quickly, and it can transfer anyone who prefers a person. If a caller asks to speak to someone, it follows the transfer or message rules you set.
Can I keep my existing business number?
Yes. We set up call forwarding with your current carrier, so your number does not change. You choose when calls go to the AI: always, after hours, or only when you do not pick up.
How long does setup take?
Most small business receptionists are live within 48 hours of the discovery call. Projects with compliance requirements or custom integrations take longer, and we tell you the timeline up front.
Do I have to build or configure anything myself?
No. The setup fee pays for our engineers to design the call flows, import your knowledge base, connect your calendar and CRM, and test the agent before it answers real calls.
See If It Fits Your Phone Line
Tell us about your calls and we will tell you honestly whether an AI receptionist makes sense.
Book a 15-minute call