Introduction
If you're a small business owner juggling customer calls, appointments, and daily operations, hiring a virtual receptionist might sound like a dream come true. But how much does a virtual receptionist actually cost in 2025? And more importantly — is it worth it?
This guide breaks down the pricing models, cost ranges, and how AI-powered options like DaVoice AI can help you save money while improving customer service.
What Is a Virtual Receptionist?
💼 A virtual receptionist is a remote professional or software assistant that answers calls, manages bookings, and handles customer inquiries — without needing to be in your office.
There are two main types:
- Live Virtual Receptionists – Real people answering calls from a remote call center.
- AI Virtual Receptionists – Advanced phone assistants powered by artificial intelligence, like DaVoice AI.
Virtual Receptionist Pricing Models
💰 Different services use different billing structures. Here's what to expect:
1. Per-Minute Pricing
Most live answering services charge based on talk time.
- Average Cost: $1.00–$1.50 per minute
- A 10-minute call could cost $10–$15.
2. Monthly Flat Rate Packages
Some live receptionist services offer monthly plans with a set number of minutes.
- For example, Ruby charges:
- 100 minutes/month = ~$385
- 300 minutes/month = ~$705
- If you exceed your minute cap, you’ll often pay overage fees.
3. AI Receptionist Pricing (Like DaVoice AI)
AI-powered virtual receptionists like DaVoice AI often use a combination of:
- Affordable monthly base plans
- Low per-minute usage charges
- Example:
- Starting at $159/month for 150 minutes
- $0.25 per additional call minute
👉 See our full pricing plans here
📌 Pro Tip: AI receptionists often cost 60–80% less than hiring a live agent.
Live Agent vs. AI Receptionist - Key Differences
Live Receptionist Services:
- Monthly Cost: $245–$1,695+ depending on call volume
- Overages: Often $1–$1.50 per minute beyond your plan
- Availability: May not be 24/7 without an added fee
- Languages: Typically English only
- Location: May not be in the USA
- Consistency: Depends on individual agents — can vary day to day
AI Receptionist (DaVoice AI):
- Monthly Cost: $159-$299 based on feature set
- Overages: $0.25 per minute, only when you go beyond base plan
- Availability: 24/7 coverage included — no extra cost
- Languages: Supports multiple languages
- Consistency: Always on-brand, professional, and never forgets a line
- Customizable: Can answer custom FAQs, pricing, upsell, book appointments and more
What About Hiring an In-House Receptionist?
👥 Let’s break it down:
- U.S. minimum wage: ~$7.25/hour (federal) to $15/hour+ in many states
- Full-time cost (40 hrs/week @ $15/hr):
➜ $2,400/month — and they only work 8 hours/day - Missed calls after hours? Still lost revenue.
- Sick days, PTO, training? You cover all of it.
With DaVoice AI, you get:
- 24/7 availability
- No sick days, no training time
- A consistent customer experience — every time
For less than 7%-15% of the cost, an AI receptionist can do the job around the clock, without burnout or breaks.
Why Small Businesses Are Switching to AI Receptionists
- Lower Costs – You only pay for what you use.
- 24/7 Availability – Never miss a call, even after hours or on weekends.
- Instant Scheduling – Syncs with your calendar to book appointments in real time.
- Professional Experience – Every caller is greeted with a friendly, branded voice, customized with your FAQ, pricing and more.
📈 Whether you're a solo contractor, service business, or small clinic, AI receptionists offer enterprise-level call handling at small business pricing.
Is a Virtual Receptionist Right for Your Business?
🔍 Ask yourself:
- Do I miss customer calls during the day?
- Am I losing business after hours or on weekends?
- Do I or my staff spend too much time on the phone?
- Would I benefit from automated scheduling?
- Are robocalls driving me crazy and/or distracting me?
If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to explore a virtual receptionist solution.
Try DaVoice AI - Affordable, Smart, and Always On
DaVoice AI is built for small businesses that need reliable, professional phone coverage without the big-business price tag.
✅ 24/7 Call Answering
✅ Appointment Booking (Pro Plan)
✅ Custom Business Scripts
✅ Business Plan starts at just $159/month
📞 Ready to See It in Action?
👉 Click "Talk with Ava" in the bottom right corner. She is our AI Sales Receptionist for DaVoice AI. (Make sure to allow microphone access). Or you can call (479) 317-8827 to talk with Ava on the telephone.
You can also view our Demo Directory and choose a specific industry AI Receptionist to talk with. Ask it questions like a customer would. This is a way to see how advanced an AI receptionist actually is, and get an example of how they can interact with your customer.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a big budget to deliver a big-time customer experience. With AI virtual receptionist pricing now accessible to small businesses, there’s never been a better time to automate your front desk — and free up your time to focus on what matters most.
