The math is simple: a human receptionist costs $30,000-$50,000/year. An AI receptionist costs $1,200-$5,000/year-and never calls in sick, takes lunch, or quits.
For most home service businesses, AI is 10-20x cheaper than hiring, with better availability.
What Drives the Price Up?
Several factors affect what you'll pay:
Call/Chat Volume
More conversations = higher tier or overages. If you're getting 500+ calls/month, expect $300+/month.
Channels Covered
Phone-only is cheapest. Add website chat, Facebook DMs, Instagram, and SMS-price goes up. But so does lead capture.
Integration Complexity
Connecting to Jobber, ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, or custom CRMs can add setup fees ($200-$1,000) or monthly charges.
Customization Level
Generic scripts are cheap. Custom conversation flows, industry-specific responses, and branded voices cost more upfront.
Support Level
Basic email support is included. Dedicated account managers, priority support, and done-for-you optimization add $50-$200/month.
What Should You Actually Pay?
Here's our recommendation based on business size:
Solo Operator (1-2 person crew)
- Budget: $100-$200/month
- What you need: Phone answering, basic booking, maybe website chat
- Skip: Social DM automation, advanced CRM integrations
Small Team (3-10 employees)
- Budget: $200-$400/month
- What you need: Phone + chat + social DMs, CRM integration, pre-qualification
- Skip: Enterprise features, unlimited everything
Growing Company (10+ employees, multiple crews)
- Budget: $400-$700/month
- What you need: Full multi-channel, advanced routing, reporting, dedicated support
- Skip: Nothing-you need the full stack
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Before you sign up, ask about:
- Setup fees - Can range from $0 to $2,000+
- Overage charges - What happens if you exceed your plan?
- Cancellation fees - Any long-term contracts?
- Integration fees - Connecting to your existing tools
- Number porting - Transferring your business number
- Per-user fees - Some charge per team member
Get these in writing before you commit.
How DAKISS Media Compares
We built our AI receptionist specifically for contractors and home service businesses. Here's what you get:
Starter - $197/mo + $999 setup
24/7 phone answering, website chat, 100 conversations/month, free CRM, free website
Growth - $297/mo + $999 setup
Everything above + all social DMs (Facebook, Instagram, Google), 300 conversations/month
Scale - $497/mo + $999 setup
Unlimited conversations, email/SMS campaigns, social media scheduler, review automation, priority support
What makes us different:
- 5-day setup (not weeks or months)
- Free CRM and website included ($2,500+ value)
- Integrates with Jobber, Housecall Pro, Google Calendar
- Performance guarantee - Book 5 jobs in 30 days or setup fee refunded
Is an AI Receptionist Worth It?
Let's do the math:
- Average missed call = lost lead
- Average project value for contractors = $2,000-$10,000
- If AI helps you capture just 2-3 extra jobs per month...
That's $4,000-$30,000 in revenue for a $200-$400/month investment.
ROI: 10x to 75x.
The question isn't whether you can afford an AI receptionist. It's whether you can afford to keep missing calls.
Next Steps
Ready to stop losing leads?
- Take our free 3-minute assessment - See how many calls you're missing
- View industry-specific pricing - Built for contractors, plumbers, HVAC, and more
- Book a free call - Get your questions answered in 15 minutes
Have questions about AI receptionist pricing? Contact us - we're happy to help you find the right fit, even if it's not us.