Receptionist Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare the true cost of human, virtual, and AI receptionists. Find out which option saves your business the most money.
Why Accurate Cost Comparison Matters
Hidden Costs Add Up
Most businesses only consider base salary or monthly fees. We include super, payroll tax, leave, overtime, missed calls, and lost revenue for a complete picture.
Missed Calls = Lost Revenue
Each receptionist option has a different miss rate. We calculate the actual revenue impact of those missed calls based on your average job value.
Total Cost of Ownership
We calculate true TCO including direct costs and opportunity costs, so you can make an informed decision based on complete data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a human receptionist cost in Australia?
A full-time receptionist in Australia costs $55,000-65,000 in base salary, plus 11.5% superannuation, workers compensation, payroll tax, and overhead costs (desk, equipment, IT). The total cost is typically $70,000-85,000 per year, or around $38-46 per hour.
What do virtual receptionist services charge?
Virtual receptionist services in Australia typically charge $1.50-2.50 per minute of call time, plus monthly minimums of $100-300. For a business receiving 300 calls per month averaging 3 minutes each, expect to pay $400-900 monthly depending on the provider.
How much does an AI receptionist like CallMate cost?
CallMate costs $149-199 per month for unlimited calls, 24/7 coverage, and integration with your booking system. This works out to under $5 per day with no per-call charges, making it 80-90% cheaper than human or virtual alternatives for most businesses.
Which receptionist option is best for after-hours calls?
AI receptionists are the clear winner for after-hours coverage. Human receptionists require expensive overtime (1.5-2x normal rate), virtual services charge premium rates or may not offer 24/7 coverage, while AI receptionists handle calls at the same rate around the clock.
What's the missed call rate for each receptionist type?
Human receptionists typically miss 10-20% of calls during breaks, busy periods, or sick days. Virtual services miss 10-15% due to overflow and after-hours limits. AI receptionists miss under 5%, only during rare technical issues, since they can handle unlimited simultaneous calls 24/7.
Can an AI receptionist integrate with my booking software?
Yes, CallMate integrates with popular trade and booking software including ServiceM8, Tradify, SimPRO, Calendly, Google Calendar, and many others. It can book jobs directly into your calendar or send you SMS/email notifications for manual booking.
Ready to Cut Your Receptionist Costs?
CallMate answers every call 24/7 for less than $5 per day. No per-minute charges. No missed calls. Try it free for 14 days.
Try CallMate Free