AI receptionist

AI Receptionist for Small Business — Answer Every Call 24/7

An AI receptionist answers every call in your business name, captures the lead, and books the job — 24/7. Built for contractors, salons, clinics, auto repair, and restaurants that miss calls when the team is on a job. From $9.99/mo; self-serve setup in about 10 minutes.

What is an AI receptionist?

An AI receptionist is voice software that picks up your phone on the first ring, talks with the caller using natural language, answers questions from your business's private knowledge base, books appointments from Lite up, and (on Essentials and above) captures the lead. Unlike a voicemail tree, it does not force the caller to press 1, 2, 3 — it greets them, listens, and helps.

  • check_circlePicks up on the first ring, 24/7, in your business name
  • check_circleTrained on your services, pricing, hours, FAQs — never invents answers
  • check_circleSpeaks 70+ languages and auto-detects the caller's language mid-call
  • check_circleCaptures lead name, number, project, and one-line summary in under 10 seconds
  • check_circleBooks appointments live into Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCloud (Lite+)
  • check_circleTransfers to a human on demand with full context
  • check_circleTranscribes every call and emails the transcript with the lead alert

Hear it for yourself

Call the live demo line. The AI picks up on the first ring — hear what callers hear.

call+1 (873) 730-1928

How HandlerAI's AI receptionist works

Setup takes about 10 minutes with our simple UI, setup guide, and AI-assisted walkthrough. Build a private knowledge base from your website and a short interview, tune the voice, test a call, go live. Forward your number or use ours — nothing to install.

  • check_circleSign up and choose your plan (free trial: 60 min or 3 days (whichever first) · cancel before then to avoid charges)
  • check_circleAI-assisted walkthrough: website, services, pricing, hours, FAQs
  • check_circleApprove voice, booking rules, and escalation
  • check_circleTest call, then go live on your number or ours — about 10 minutes total
  • check_circleLater updates to pricing or services land in the knowledge base within minutes

What it costs (vs a live receptionist)

HandlerAI is priced for small business owners who cannot justify a $30K/yr receptionist but still need every call answered. Flat monthly plans with included minutes — clear per-minute overage, no per-call fees.

  • check_circleHandlerAI Lite: $9.99/mo (60 minutes, $0.50/min overage, 1 language, number + AI answering only, spam filter on every call)
  • check_circleHandlerAI Essentials: $49/mo (200 minutes, SMS or email alerts, lead tracking, call transcripts, 2 languages)
  • check_circleHandlerAI Starter: $149/mo (500 minutes, Custom Lead Portal, CRM)
  • check_circleHandlerAI Professional: $499/mo (1,500 minutes, quotes, custom voice, BYO number)
  • check_circleHandlerAI Business: $1,199/mo (3,500 minutes, multi-user, priority support)
  • check_circleHandlerAI Enterprise: custom (BYO CRM, BAA, dedicated account support)
  • check_circleCompare: Ruby Receptionist starts at $379/mo + $1.05/call; Smith.ai at $127/mo + usage

Who it's for

  • check_circleBeauty & self-care — salons, spas, barbers, nails, medspas (book while you work)
  • check_circleHealthcare & clinics — medical, dental, physio, veterinary (scheduling; non-PHI today, HIPAA roadmap)
  • check_circleTrades, home & auto — contractors, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, auto shops (24/7 emergency coverage)
  • check_circleRestaurants & dining — full-service, pizza, cafés, takeout (reservations and phone orders)
  • check_circleReal estate & property — agents, brokerages, property managers (showings and listing leads)
  • check_circleSmall business & other — law firms, consultants, coaches, agencies, and any business not listed above

Frequently asked questions

What is an AI receptionist?

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Software that answers your phone calls with a natural-sounding voice, captures the lead, and books the appointment — without a human in the loop. It uses large language models trained on your services and pricing so it only answers from information you provide.

How much does an AI receptionist cost?

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HandlerAI starts at $9.99/month (Lite, 60 min), then Essentials $49, Starter $149, Professional $499, Business $1,199 — Enterprise is custom. Live human receptionist services often run $300–$400+/month plus per-call fees; AI receptionists are typically far cheaper at the same volume.

Does an AI receptionist sound robotic?

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Modern AI receptionists (HandlerAI included) use natural-sounding voices that most callers cannot distinguish from a human. Call our public demo line at +1 (873) 730-1928 to hear one in action.

Can an AI receptionist transfer to a human?

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Yes. HandlerAI escalates to a human on demand (e.g., on the word "agent" or "representative") and passes the full call context — caller name, project, what was discussed — to whoever picks up.

What happens if the AI doesn't know the answer?

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It takes a detailed message, captures the lead, and notifies your team within 10 seconds via SMS and email. It never invents an answer or quotes a price you did not approve.

How long does setup take?

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Self-serve setup is about 10 minutes for most businesses: simple UI, setup guide, and AI-assisted walkthrough. You build the knowledge base from your website and answers, tune the voice, run a test call, then go live.

Can it book appointments?

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Yes — on Lite and above the AI reads your live calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCloud), respects your hours and "no booking" windows, and confirms the slot in real time. Calendar invite and SMS confirmation land within seconds. Essentials adds lead tracking and owner alerts; Starter unlocks the Custom Lead Portal.

Does it work after hours?

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Yes, 24/7 by default. After-hours calls are not a separate mode — every call goes through the same AI, every call gets answered on the first ring, every caller becomes a lead in your Custom Lead Portal.

Is it HIPAA-compliant?

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HIPAA with a BAA is on the 2026 Enterprise roadmap. Non-PHI use cases (general office bookings, dental front desk, retail) work today on all tiers.

Will the AI tell callers it is an AI?

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Yes, if asked directly. The opening also discloses the call is being recorded. We do not pretend to be human.

Get online now. Add the AI front desk when you need it.

Start free with branded pages, unlimited bookings, reservations, and orders, 100 inquiries, 1,000 contacts, and 50K AI credits for Autofill. No card required. Paid monthly plans include a 60-minute or 3-day free trial. Annual is 10% off with no trial.

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