AI Receptionist Cost: Complete 2025 Breakdown for Small Businesses

A traditional receptionist costs $30,000-$45,000/year fully loaded — salary, benefits, taxes, training, sick days and turnover. AI receptionist services start at $200-$500/month.

AI doesn't sleep, doesn't take lunch, doesn't quit, and handles unlimited concurrent calls. The capacity per dollar is in a different league entirely.

The right plan depends on call volume, integrations and required languages. Most small businesses are well-served by mid-tier plans that include CRM and calendar sync.

Most businesses see ROI inside 30 days. The break-even is usually a handful of recovered appointments per month — and the upside scales from there.