Affordable Alternatives to Hiring a Receptionist (That Actually Work)

Looking to save money without missing calls or losing clients? Here are the most cost-effective receptionist alternatives for small businesses, ranked by reliability, professionalism, and ease of use.

You don’t need to hire a receptionist. You just need the job done right.

Why Businesses Are Rethinking Receptionists

Hiring a full-time receptionist costs thousands per month — and that’s just salary. Add recruitment, training, time off, and missed calls when they’re away, and the true cost adds up fast.

For small businesses, it’s just not sustainable.

That’s why more business owners are replacing receptionists with smarter, more scalable alternatives.

1. AI Receptionists (Best Overall Alternative)

✅ Best for: Small businesses, trades, clinics, real estate, solo founders
💰 Cost: From £299/month
📈 Why it works:

• Answers every call 24/7

• Books appointments, collects lead info

• Sounds human, never gets tired or rude

• No training, setup, or HR needed

• All calls recorded, transcribed, and summarised

📌 Eyon AI is one of the leading providers of plug-and-play AI receptionists. It replaces a human receptionist entirely — and performs better.

2. Virtual Receptionist Services

✅ Best for: Businesses wanting a real human but lower cost
💰 Cost: £1–£2 per call, or £300–£1,000/month
📉 Downsides:

• Can sound scripted or impersonal

• Limited hours unless you pay extra

• Not integrated with your business

These services are good for call handling but often lack follow-through and detailed knowledge about your company.

3. Call Answering Apps or Phone Bots

✅ Best for: Very low budgets or basic call routing
💰 Cost: £10–£50/month
📉 Downsides:

• Basic IVR trees or voicemail routing

• Poor user experience

• Doesn’t actually solve the missed call problem

These tools are more like voicemail upgrades. They don’t replace a receptionist — they just delay the problem.

4. Hiring a Part-Time Receptionist

✅ Best for: Businesses that need a physical presence occasionally
💰 Cost: £800–£1,500/month depending on hours
📉 Downsides:

• Still involves training, contracts, HR

• Only available during working hours

• Doesn’t scale

Hiring part-time can reduce cost, but it doesn’t eliminate the core issues.

Final Recommendation

If your business relies on phone calls, missed leads, or appointment bookings — a full-time AI receptionist is the most affordable, scalable, and consistent option available today.

Eyon AI offers:

• No setup

• Full customisation

• Call handling, booking, follow-ups

• Ethical, humanlike conversation

Hire your first AI receptionist today.