In a small business, the person who answers the phone is usually the same person doing the work. So calls get missed, and missed calls mean missed customers. An AI receptionist for small business answers every call for you, day and night, for a fraction of the cost of hiring.
01What an AI receptionist does for a small business
An AI receptionist is software that answers your business phone in a natural voice. For a small business, it does the jobs a receptionist would, without you having to stop what you're doing:
- Answers every call. Day, night, weekends and bank holidays, including when you're with a customer or already on the phone.
- Answers the common questions. Opening hours, services, prices and availability, taken from your own website.
- Takes bookings. New appointments, changes and cancellations, straight into your Google Calendar.
- Takes messages properly. Name, number and what the caller needs, so you can call back with the right answer.
- Passes on what matters. Urgent calls and complaints go to you the way you choose.
- Keeps you in the loop. A summary, transcript and recording of every call, sent to your inbox.
02Why small businesses miss so many calls
Small teams don't miss calls because they don't care. They miss them because they're busy doing the work. The numbers show how common it is:
of calls to small businesses went unanswered in a study of 85 businesses across 58 industries.
Source: 411 Localsof 142 UK small businesses left a test call unanswered.
Source: TelePA, via UBCof callers sent to voicemail actually leave a message.
Source: InvocaIf most callers won't leave a voicemail, every unanswered call is a customer who may have gone to a competitor. For a small business, even a few of those a week adds up.
03What an AI receptionist costs (vs hiring)
The main alternative is hiring a receptionist. The National Careers Service puts the average UK receptionist salary at £21,000 to £25,000 a year for 37 to 40 hours a week, before employer costs like National Insurance and pension.
| Hiring a receptionist | Anser AI receptionist |
|---|---|
| £21,000 to £25,000 a year in salary, plus employer costs | From £99 a month, plus a one-off £149 setup fee |
| Covers 37 to 40 hours of a 168-hour week | Answers day, night and weekends |
| Holidays, sickness and lunch breaks need cover | Never off, never on a break |
| Handles one call at a time | Up to 3 calls at once on the Team plan |
| Recruitment and training before they're up to speed | Trained on your website and live the same day |
Anser's plans are simple and there's no contract:
Solo
£99 / month500 minutes, 1 call at a time. For a solo business.
Team
£299 / month1,500 minutes, 3 calls at once. For a team of 3 to 6.
Scale
From £499 / monthFrom 2,500 minutes, custom call capacity. For busy firms.
A one-off £149 setup fee applies to each plan. Cancel any time, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on your subscription. Full details on our pricing page.
Hear it before you pay.
Ring our line and our own AI receptionist will pick up.
04Is an AI receptionist right for your business?
It's likely to pay for itself if any of these sound familiar:
- You can't answer while you work. You're with a client, on a job, driving, or under a car when the phone rings.
- Calls come in after hours. Customers ring in the evening and at weekends, when you're closed.
- The same questions come up every day. Prices, opening times and "can you fit me in?"
- Callers hit voicemail and don't call back. You see missed calls with no messages.
- Hiring doesn't add up. You need cover, but not a full-time salary.
It suits salons, garages, trades, cleaners, letting agents, offices and any small team that can't always pick up. See more on our Who it's for page.
05How to get started
With Anser there's no fiddly set-up and nothing new to learn:
- 1
We read your website
We build a receptionist that knows your services, area and prices.
- 2
You call it first
Hear exactly what your customers would hear before you pay a penny.
- 3
Forward your number
Keep your number and divert calls all the time, after hours, or only when you're busy.
Want to compare options first? Read Best AI Receptionist: what to look for, or get to know us in Introducing Anser.
06Frequently asked questions
Is an AI receptionist worth it for a small business?
For most small businesses that miss calls, yes. If one extra booking or job a month covers the cost, every other call it answers is profit. With Anser you can hear it working before you pay, so you can judge for yourself.
How much does an AI receptionist cost in the UK?
Anser starts at £99 a month, with a one-off £149 setup fee. There's no contract, and your subscription has a 30-day money-back guarantee. A human receptionist typically costs £21,000 to £25,000 a year in salary.
Will my customers know it's an AI?
Yes. Anser tells every caller they're speaking to an AI assistant and that the call may be recorded. It speaks naturally and knows your business, so callers still get a helpful answer.
Can I use it only after hours or when I'm busy?
Yes. You choose when calls go to Anser: all the time, after hours only, or only when you don't pick up.
Can it take bookings?
Yes. It can take new bookings, reschedules and cancellations straight into your Google Calendar, and sends you the details.
Sources
- National Careers Service, Receptionist job profile
- 411 Locals, Small business owners don't answer 62% of phone calls, January 2016
- UBC, Almost half of SMEs leave calls unanswered, citing TelePA research
- Invoca, How much missed sales calls cost home services businesses