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An answering service that sounds like your front desk.

Reviewed by the VirtualAssist team · Updated 20 October 2026 · Editorial policy

An answering service picks up every call in your business name, with a trained receptionist, an AI receptionist, or both. Messages, bookings and urgent transfers are handled the way you decide.

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What would a virtual receptionist cost? Calls per month: 300 Average call length

$live receptionist / month

$AI receptionist / month

Rough planning ranges: live answering is often priced around $1–2 a minute, AI reception far less per minute. Plans, minimums and features vary by provider.

What you get

Answers in your name

Callers hear your business greeting, not a call centre.

Follows your script

What to ask, who to transfer, what to say when you're closed.

Books and qualifies

Appointments go straight into your calendar; leads arrive with the details you need.

Reports every call

A summary by email or text after each call, plus a monthly log.

Answering service, voicemail or in-house receptionist?

	Answering service	Voicemail	In-house receptionist
Calls answered live	Yes, every call	No	During office hours
After hours and weekends	Yes	Message only	Rarely
Books appointments	Yes	No	Yes
Cost structure	Monthly plan by minutes or calls	Free	Salary, benefits, cover
Callers who hang up	Few	Many prospects won't leave a message	Few

Who it's for

Service businesses that miss calls while on the job
Professional offices with busy front desks
Any business that wants after-hours cover

How it works

Tell us what you need

Calls, hours and budget.

Get options by email

Live, AI, or both, matched to your business.

Start with a trial

Keep what works, change the rest.

Questions

What is an answering service?

A team (or an AI system) that answers your business calls remotely, in your business name, following your instructions: taking messages, booking appointments, answering common questions and transferring urgent calls.

How is an answering service different from a call centre?

Call centres usually handle high-volume campaigns or support queues. An answering service acts as your receptionist: fewer calls, more personal, using your script.

Can callers tell it isn't my office?

A good service answers with your greeting and knows your business basics, so to most callers it simply sounds like your front desk.

How do I choose one?

Compare how they price (per minute or per call), what counts as billable time, whether they book into your calendar, after-hours cover, and how quickly you can change your script.