Missed calls & AI receptionist
The problem
Calls come in while your hands are full. Many callers won't leave a voicemail, and a badly set up AI receptionist can quote wrong prices or book outside your service area.
Sources
- r/smallbusiness thread on AI receptionists for home services
- Test-before-launch article (Lilach Bullock)
What to look for
- Works with the calendar or tools you already use
- Price you can predict (watch per-minute, per-call and SMS charges)
- A way to hand off to a human, or a person to review
- Test it on real scenarios before customers see it
This list is our editorial guidance, not vendor claims.
Guides
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Tools for this job (8)
Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
Instant online booking with pricing, scheduling, dispatch, recurring cleans, payments, referrals; Kelly AI phone receptionist add-on that quotes and books calls
Price: Free $0/mo (up to 3 users, 6.9% + 30¢ processing); Pro $299/mo (up to 8 users, 4.9% + 30¢); extra users $40/mo; Kelly AI Starter $99/mo (50 min, $1.99/min after) or Growth $499/mo (500 min, $0.99/min after); Enterprise custom
Price checked 2026-10-19 · AI: Yes (Kelly AI receptionist)
AI answers calls; booking from Pro plan
Price: Lite $29/mo (60 min, $0.48/min overage); Pro $99; Plus $199; Elite $349
Price checked 2026-09-27 (third party) · AI: Yes
AI agent billed by unique callers
Price: Starter $79/mo per agent, 100 unique callers, unlimited minutes price unverified
Price checked 2026-09 (third party) · AI: Yes
CRM, quotes, invoices; Kate-AI receptionist
Price: $49.95/mo or $45.95/mo annual; +$5/employee; most add-ons $10/mo; Kate-AI $1/call (per wrenchstack)
Price checked 2026-10-16 · AI: Yes (Kate-AI receptionist)
Texts missed callers back; AI gathers quote details; optional AI voice
Price: $15/mo + $0.03/SMS + $0.40/AI voice min; Inferno $249/mo
Price checked 2026-10-16 · AI: Yes
AI answers calls; booking and transfers on Scale
Price: Professional $49/mo (250 min); Scale $149/mo (1,000 min); Growth $299/mo (2,000 min); annual billing gives 2 months free
Price checked 2026-10-16 · AI: Yes
AI receptionist; human agents available
Price: AI free for 25 calls then $3/call; human plans from $300/mo price unverified
Price checked 2026-09 (third party) · AI: Yes
Online booking, scheduling and dispatch, estimates and invoices, card payments in the field, route planning, service reminders; Genius Answering AI receptionist answers calls, texts and email and books jobs
Price: Contact vendor (plan prices not published on its pricing page; page says annual billing saves $400+)
Price checked 2026-10-19 · AI: Yes (Genius Answering AI receptionist)
FAQ
Is an AI receptionist worth it for a cleaning business?
It can be, if you regularly miss calls while on jobs. Compare its monthly cost with the value of one or two extra booked clients, and test it on price questions and reschedules before going live.
What is missed-call text-back?
A tool that automatically texts callers you couldn't answer, so the lead doesn't go cold. PepperSend lists $15/mo plus per-SMS fees (as shown when we checked).
Not sure which tool fits?
Answer 3 quick questions and we’ll suggest 2 or 3 real tools, with prices from each vendor’s own page.