Most successful AI receptionist agencies charge $99-299/month using a tiered pricing model based on call volume or features. The sweet spot for most local businesses is $149-199/month—expensive enough to signal quality, cheap enough to be a no-brainer compared to human receptionists ($3,000+/month) or missed revenue from unanswered calls.
New agency owners often underprice out of fear. They think lower prices mean more customers. In reality, pricing too low signals low quality and attracts price-sensitive clients who churn quickly.
The anchor that matters: Your competition isn't other AI services—it's the cost of the alternative. A human receptionist is $3,000-4,000/month. A single missed call costs $200-500 in lost revenue. At $149/month, you're offering enterprise-grade coverage for less than the cost of one missed opportunity.
Charge based on monthly call volume. Simple to understand, scales naturally with client success.
Starter
$99/mo
Up to 50 calls
Growth
$179/mo
Up to 150 calls
Pro
$279/mo
Up to 300 calls
All tiers get unlimited calls, but higher tiers unlock advanced capabilities.
Essential
$129/mo
Answering + SMS alerts
Professional
$199/mo
+ Calendar booking
Enterprise
$299/mo
+ CRM integration
One price per vertical with features tailored to that industry. Simplifies sales conversations.
For Contractors
$179/mo
Job intake + scheduling
For Dentists
$229/mo
Appointment booking
For Lawyers
$299/mo
Intake + conflict check
Monthly recurring revenue is the foundation, but setup fees and add-ons can significantly boost your average revenue per client.
Basic onboarding
Many waive this to reduce friction
Custom AI training
For complex business rules
Website integration
Chat widget, click-to-call
CRM setup
Connect to their existing tools
Additional phone number
For multi-location businesses
Bilingual support
Spanish, French, etc.
After-hours only
Supplement existing staff
Priority support
Faster response times
Pro Tip: The "Waived Setup Fee" Close
Quote a $299 setup fee, then "waive it" if they sign up within 48 hours or commit to annual billing. This creates urgency and perceived value without actually reducing your revenue.
Offering annual plans improves cash flow, reduces churn, and increases customer lifetime value. The key is making the discount compelling without giving away too much margin.
Monthly Billing
Annual Billing (2 months free)
Why "2 months free" beats "17% off": Framing matters. "Get 2 months free" sounds like a gift. "17% discount" sounds like a negotiation. Same math, better psychology.
40-60%
of clients choose annual
when offered properly
3-5%
monthly churn rate
vs 20-30% annual churn
$1,790
cash upfront
vs $179/month trickle
You attract price-sensitive clients who churn at the first issue and leave negative reviews. Meanwhile, you can't afford to provide good service at $49/month.
✓ Fix: Compete on value and service, not price. Emphasize ROI: "$149/month to never miss a $500 job."
Prospects assume you're expensive or hiding something. You waste time on calls with unqualified leads who can't afford you.
✓ Fix: Display pricing clearly. Qualified leads self-select in; unqualified leads self-select out.
Your best clients subsidize your worst. Heavy users drain resources while light users feel overcharged.
✓ Fix: Create tiers that let light users pay less and heavy users pay more. Everyone feels they're getting fair value.
Trains clients to always ask for discounts. Signals your pricing isn't firm. Attracts negotiators.
✓ Fix: Hold the line on monthly price. Offer value-adds instead: "I can't discount, but I'll include the CRM integration free."
Your costs increase (platform fees, support time) but revenue stays flat. Margins erode over time.
✓ Fix: Raise prices 5-10% annually for new customers. Grandfather existing clients or give them smaller increases.
Different industries have different price sensitivities and value perceptions. Here's what the market typically bears:
| Industry | Typical Range | Sweet Spot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Services (HVAC, Plumbing) | $99-199 | $149 | High volume, price sensitive |
| Dental Practices | $149-279 | $199 | Value appointment booking |
| Law Firms | $199-399 | $279 | High value per lead, less price sensitive |
| Medical Practices | $179-329 | $229 | HIPAA considerations add value |
| Real Estate Agents | $99-179 | $129 | Individual agents are budget conscious |
| Auto Repair Shops | $99-179 | $149 | Appointment scheduling critical |
It depends on your positioning. Setup fees qualify serious buyers and add immediate revenue. But they also create friction. Many agencies quote a setup fee and then "waive" it as a closing incentive. Test both approaches and see what converts better for your market.
Reframe the conversation around ROI. "I understand $149/month feels like an expense. But you told me you miss about 15 calls a month. If even one of those was a $500 job, you're losing $500 to save $149. That's not a good trade." Always anchor to the cost of the alternative, not competitors.
Yes. Published pricing pre-qualifies leads, saves time, and builds trust. Hiding prices feels sketchy and attracts people who just want to "get a quote" without real intent to buy. The only exception is if you exclusively target enterprise clients with custom pricing.
Raise prices for new customers when you're closing more than 50% of proposals (you're too cheap), when you're at capacity and need to be selective, or annually to keep up with costs. Existing customers can be grandfathered or given smaller increases with advance notice.
Generally, avoid free tiers for AI receptionist services. Free attracts non-serious users who drain support resources and never convert. A free trial (14 days) is fine—it lets people test quality. But perpetually free users rarely become paying customers.
VoiceAI Connect lets you set any price you want—and keep 100% of what you charge.
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