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: home services, salons, law offices, auto shops, real estate teams, and anyone else whose phone is the front door. Setup takes a few 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 up to 10 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.
Give medical advice
It can take health-related messages, but it doesn’t diagnose or give medical advice, and it isn’t a 911 service. Health information callers share is protected with HIPAA safeguards.
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 on Small Talk and Real Talk, 1 month free on Big Talk. No contracts.
Small Talk
Answers every call, 24/7.
First month $49, then 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
- A transcript of 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.
First month $99, then 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
Big Talk
More Talk Time and priority support. Outbound calls coming soon.
First month $249, then billed monthly
For busy phones that need the most minutes.
- Everything in Real Talk
- Priority support
- Outbound call campaigns (coming soon)
- Up to 3 numbers or locations (coming soon)
- Custom AI voice (coming soon)
Extra Talk Time is $0.45 a minute. We text you before you reach your limit, so there are no surprises on your bill.
Health information on your calls? Talk protects it with HIPAA safeguards and a BAA. Learn more. Need EHR connections and clinical tools? 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
AI receptionist guides by industry
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?
A few 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.
Can it handle health information?
Yes. FrontDesk Talk protects health information callers share with HIPAA safeguards, and we sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with covered entities. Practices that need EHR connections and clinical tools should use FrontDesk Care.
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