Resources · Pricing

How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?

Short answer: far less than the jobs you lose to voicemail, and a fraction of a full-time receptionist. Here’s how AI receptionist pricing actually works for contractors and what drives the number.

The Real Comparison

What you’re really comparing it to

The honest way to price an AI receptionist isn’t “software cost” — it’s the cost of the jobs you’re currently losing. Most service businesses miss 30–40% of inbound calls, and 80% of people who hit voicemail never call back. If your average job is worth several hundred to several thousand dollars, a single recovered call can pay for the system many times over.

Against the alternatives: a full-time receptionist runs $35,000–$50,000/year for a single shift; a traditional answering service charges per minute or per call and only takes messages. An AI receptionist covers you 24/7 and actually qualifies and books — for a fraction of a salary.

Pricing Factors

What drives the price

Call volume
How many calls and texts the system handles each month.
Scope
Answering only, or answering + qualification + booking + missed-call text back.
Integrations
Calendar, CRM, and dispatch connections you want wired in.
Setup
A one-time build to train it on your services, area, and rules.
How ERA Prices It

Scoped to your business, quoted up front

ERA scopes pricing on a short strategy call so it’s sized to your call volume and the pieces you actually need — no per-minute surprises. You get a written quote before any work begins, and most contractors are live in 1–2 days.

FAQ

Common questions

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a receptionist?

Yes — a full-time receptionist costs $35k–$50k/year for one shift. An AI receptionist covers you 24/7 for a fraction of that and never misses a call.

Are there per-minute charges like an answering service?

ERA scopes a clear price up front based on your volume and scope, rather than nickel-and-diming per minute or per call.

How fast does it pay for itself?

Because most contractors miss a large share of calls, recovering even one or two jobs a month typically covers the cost.

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