How Much Does a Telephone Answering Service Cost?

When considering the implementation of telephone answering services like Connect’s, one of the main concerns businesses have is the cost.

Below are listed the main factors that we believe determine the amount you’ll pay when using a telephone answering service and of course the value and benefits that they can bring to your business.

Price versus cost image

1) Factors That Influence the Cost

There are several factors that can influence the cost of a telephone answering service provider, including:

a) Payment Models:
Understanding Fixed Costs vs. Pay-Per-Call

Many telephone answering service providers offer different pricing structures, such as fixed monthly costs or pay-per-call models.

With Connect’s answering service, we provide a transparent pricing plan starting from just £14.99 per month. Unlike some competitors, we don’t charge by call, call length, sales calls, or wrong numbers, making it easier to budget for our services.

b) Level of Service:
Basic vs. Advanced Features

The level, or complexity, of service that you require operators to carry out can also affect the price of a call answering service as more time may be needed for training than standard accounts.

Basic services may include message-taking and call forwarding, while more advanced features can encompass appointment scheduling, order processing, and CRM integration.

Connect offer a range of service levels from “budget” all the way through to diary management and order processing to suit your business needs regardless of size. By having different levels of service, rather than a “one size fits all”, you only pay for the features your business actually needs.

c) Hours of Operation:
Standard Business Hours vs. Extended Support

The times of operation for a call answering service can also impact the amount you’ll pay. Some providers offer support during standard business hours, while others may extend their hours to accommodate various time zones or industries.

Connect provides live call answering from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, we have an automated service available 24/7 to ensure your customers can still access information and leave messages.

Call answering hours

2) Understanding the True Value of a Telephone Answering Service

a) Staffing and Training:
Skilled Operators vs. Generic Call Answering Services

The quality of the staff handling your calls can significantly affect the cost of telephone answering service providers.

Highly skilled and trained operators that answer your incoming calls will command higher fees, but they can provide a superior level of customer service that reflects well on your business.

Connect’s telephone service employs experienced and friendly operators, sometimes referred to as “virtual receptionist“, who understand the importance of delivering exceptional customer support.

b) Customisation:
Bespoke Services for Your Unique Business Needs

The level of customisation you require from your telephone answering service provider can also influence the overall price.

The more bespoke and thorough a service you require, then the likelihood is that it may well cost a little bit more than the most standard of call handling procedures. This is not unreasonable as more in-depth training for operators takes more time but ultimately it should provide a better customer experience.

Connect offers lots of different packages, both in terms of call volume and the level of complexity required, allowing you to find the best fit your business.

3) Cost vs.Value: The Benefits of a Call Answering Service

a) Improved Customer Satisfaction

A professional call answering service like Connect’s can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by providing prompt and efficient support, ensuring that your callers never feel ignored or undervalued.

Answering phone calls promptly and professionaly should be an absolute priority to any business wishing to give a good first impression.

b) Increased Productivity

By outsourcing your call handling to Connect’s telephone service, you can free up time and resources, allowing you and your team to focus on core business tasks and improve overall productivity rather than answering calls.

c) Enhanced Professional Image

A telephone answering service can help create a polished and professional image for your business, making a positive impression on potential clients and customers.

d) Potential Savings

Compared to hiring an additional receptionist, telephone answering services can be a far more economical solution by providing a high level of service without the expense and associated HR headaches that come with full-time employees.

Aisha thumbs up to professional telephone answering

In Conclusion:

So how much does a phone answering service cost?

We can only speak for our own pricing and our monthly tariffs start from as low as £14.99 per month. This is, however, our lowest entry rate and obviously cost’s increase depending on how many calls we answer in a month and the complexity of tasks required.

When quoting for new enquiries we find that many underestimate the volume of calls they are missing and so that’s why we always encourage clients to take up our offer a 30 day free trial so that they can firstly see how our answering service works but get a good indication of how much it’ll cost.

Our free trial really is just that, there’s no set up fee and your callers can be experiencing our professional service in under an hour.

We offer transparent pricing, which you can view here, and customisable solutions to suit your needs, providing an affordable way to enhance your customer support and improve overall business efficiency.

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