What an AI receptionist actually does
An AI receptionist is software that answers your phone with a natural voice and holds a real conversation. It isn’t a phone tree, and it isn’t voicemail. Callers ask questions in their own words and get answers in plain English, or in Spanish if that’s what they speak.
FrontDesk Talk learns your business from what you tell it: your hours, services, prices, service area, and the questions customers ask most. When the phone rings, it answers on the first ring, helps the caller, and then texts and emails you a Talk Note, the summary of the call. If a call is urgent, it transfers the caller to your cell.
It’s built for small businesses outside healthcare: home services, salons, law offices, auto shops, real estate teams, and anyone else whose phone is the front door. Setup takes about 10 minutes, and you keep the number you already have.
What it does on every call
Answers 24/7
Nights, weekends, and holidays get the same answer as Monday morning.
Answers your FAQs
Hours, prices, services, directions, and anything else you teach it.
Books appointments
On Real Talk and Big Talk, it books into Google or Outlook Calendar during the call.
Transfers urgent calls
You decide what counts as urgent. Those calls go straight to your cell.
Sends you Talk Notes
A short summary by text and email after every call, with who called and what they needed.
Handles many calls at once
No busy signals and no hold music, even when three people call together.
What it won’t do
A good AI receptionist knows its limits. Here is where a person still wins.
Greet walk-ins
It works on the phone and by text. If customers walk through your door, someone still needs to be there.
Make judgment calls for you
Negotiating a price or handling a delicate complaint is your job. It takes a clear message or transfers the call.
Pretend to be human
It tells callers it’s an AI assistant when asked. Most callers just want an answer.
Handle health information
FrontDesk Talk isn’t for medical practices. Healthcare teams should use FrontDesk Care.
AI receptionist pricing
Three flat monthly plans, each with a set number of minutes of Talk Time. Small Talk is $99 a month for 200 minutes, Real Talk is $199 for 450, and Big Talk is $399 for 1,000. Extra Talk Time is $0.45 a minute. Pay yearly and get 2 months free. No contracts.
Small Talk
Answers every call, 24/7.
Billed monthly
For owners who can’t always get to the phone.
- Answers every call, 24/7
- Talk Notes by text and email after every call
- Answers your FAQs, hours, and prices
- Transfers urgent calls to your cell
- Keep your current number
Real Talk
RecommendedAnswers, books appointments, and texts back.
Billed monthly
For businesses that run on appointments.
- Everything in Small Talk
- Books into Google or Outlook Calendar
- Talk Back texts every caller you missed
- Two-way texting with customers
- Call recordings and transcripts
Big Talk
Adds outbound calls and up to 3 lines.
Billed monthly
For teams ready to call customers back.
- Everything in Real Talk
- Outbound call campaigns
- Up to 3 numbers or locations
- Custom AI voice
- Priority support
Extra Talk Time is $0.45 a minute. We text you before you reach your limit, so there are no surprises on your bill.
Running a healthcare practice? FrontDesk Care adds HIPAA compliance, a signed BAA, and EHR connections. Visit FrontDesk Care
AI receptionist or a hired one?
A person at the desk is great for walk-ins, but covers about 40 hours a week. An AI receptionist covers all 168 for a flat monthly price. Plenty of businesses use both.
Built for businesses where the phone is the front door
Questions
What is an AI receptionist?
Software that answers your business phone with a natural voice, holds a real conversation, and takes care of the call: answering questions, booking appointments, taking messages, and transferring urgent calls.
Will callers know it’s an AI?
It uses natural, human-like voices and tells callers it’s an AI assistant when asked.
Do I need a new phone number?
No. Forward your existing number to FrontDesk Talk, or port it over. Either way, customers call the number they already know.
How long does setup take?
About 10 minutes. Create a free account, tell it about your business, and it calls your phone so you can hear it. You pay when you’re ready to go live.
Is there a free trial?
There’s no free trial, but you can set everything up and hear your receptionist on your own phone before you pay. Monthly plans have no contract.
Is it HIPAA compliant?
No. FrontDesk Talk is for non-healthcare businesses. Medical, dental, therapy, and other healthcare practices should use FrontDesk Care.
Keep reading
Stop paying for voicemail.
Setup takes about 10 minutes. Cancel anytime.