What are your other options?
An honest look at how an AI receptionist compares to hiring someone, using an answering service, or doing what most businesses do, which is nothing.
| Feature | AI Receptionist | Hiring a receptionist | Answering service | Voicemail | Letting it ring out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost & commitment | |||||
| Typical monthly cost | Quoted per business | $5,000+ full-time, plus super | Monthly fee plus per-call charges | Free | Free, but costs you jobs |
| Lock-in contract | None | Employment agreement | Often 6–12 months | None | None |
| Set up for you | Partial | ||||
| When it actually answers | |||||
| Business hours | Partial | ||||
| Nights, weekends & public holidays | usually costs extra | Partial | |||
| Two calls at once | Partial | Partial | |||
| Sick days, leave & smoko | Never | Yes, and you cover them | Covered | Never | Constantly |
| What the customer gets | |||||
| Australian voice | Partialoften offshore | Partial | |||
| Knows your services & prices | takes a message only | ||||
| Answers the usual questions | |||||
| Books the job into your calendar | Partial | ||||
| Texts you a summary after the call | Partial | Partial | |||
| Customer has to leave a message and wait | No | No | Usually | Always | They ring someone else |
| Beyond the phone | |||||
| Website built and connected | |||||
| Missed-call text back | |||||
| Review requests after each job | Partial | ||||
| Local Sydney support | Partial | ||||
* Costs for hiring and answering services are indicative Australian market figures and vary by provider, hours and call volume. Our own setups are quoted individually after a free consultation.
A fraction of a hire
A full-time receptionist in Sydney costs north of $5,000 a month once you add super, and still goes home at five. This doesn't.
It works the hours you actually lose jobs
Most tradies miss calls mid-job, after five, and on weekends. That is exactly when this answers, books the work in, and texts you the details.
It sounds like it's from here
A natural Australian voice, trained on your services and prices. Your customers get a local conversation, not an offshore script.
Hear the difference for yourself.
Book a free 15-minute call and we'll let your AI receptionist answer for you, in your business's words, so you can judge it on the actual voice.