What Does an AI Receptionist Cost vs. Hiring a Receptionist?
A full-time front desk runs $3,000–$4,500/month and works 40 hours a week. Here's an honest cost breakdown vs. a 24/7 AI receptionist.
If you're deciding how to stop missing calls, the real question is cost per booked job — not just the sticker price. Here's an honest comparison between hiring a receptionist and using a 24/7 AI receptionist.
The true cost of a human front desk
A full-time receptionist isn't just their wage:
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Base wages | $2,800–$3,800/mo |
| Payroll taxes + benefits | $400–$700/mo |
| Software, phone, desk, training | $100–$300/mo |
| All-in | ~$3,300–$4,800/mo |
And that buys you roughly 40 hours a week of coverage. Nights, weekends, holidays, lunch breaks, sick days, and the second simultaneous call? Uncovered — which is exactly when a lot of home-service emergencies happen.
What an AI receptionist costs
A 24/7 AI receptionist is a flat monthly subscription — a fraction of a single employee's wage — with no overtime, no benefits, and no gaps in coverage. It answers unlimited simultaneous calls, texts, and web chats, every hour of every day, and books appointments directly into your calendar.
For most home-service businesses, Launchline runs well under what a part-time hire would cost — while covering the 128 hours a week a 9-to-5 front desk never will.
The number that actually matters
Don't compare price tags — compare cost per booked job. A receptionist who's off at 6pm can't book the 8pm emergency. An AI receptionist that answers it turns that call into revenue for the cost of a few dollars.
Run your own numbers with the free Missed-Call Revenue Calculator — for most shops, recovering even one or two jobs a week more than covers the entire cost.
Ready to compare plans? See Launchline pricing.