Replace these with the numbers on your bill. The starting values are only an example, not any real company’s prices.
What each minute past your included minutes costs.
The billed minutes on your invoice, rounding included.
Used to estimate how many calls your minutes cover.
Leave at 0 if your service does not charge per call.
Add up any extra line items on the bill.
A one-time fee, if you paid one.
How long you expect to keep the service.
What your answering service really costs a month
$375
That is $1.07 a minute and $2.68 a call, for about 140 calls. Over a year it comes to $4,500.
| Base fee | $150.00 |
|---|---|
| Overage (150 min × $1.50) | $225.00 |
| Per-call fees (140 calls × $0.00) | $0.00 |
| After-hours and holiday surcharges | $0.00 |
| Setup fee spread over 12 months | $0.00 |
| Effective monthly cost | $375.00 |
FrontDesk Talk figure: the cheapest plan for the same minutes, counting extra Talk Time at $0.45 a minute. It answers 24/7. Check which hours your current service covers before comparing.
Start with Small TalkThe rate on the quote is not the rate you pay
Answering service pricing can look simple on a sales page: a monthly fee and some included minutes. The bill tells a fuller story. Minutes past the plan cost extra, some services charge per call, after-hours and holiday surcharges show up, and a setup fee gets paid once and forgotten.
Divide everything you paid by the minutes and calls you actually got and you have your real cost. That is the number to compare with any alternative, including FrontDesk Talk.
How to use the answering service cost calculator
1
Grab a recent bill
Pick a normal month, not your quietest or busiest. Find the base fee, included minutes, overage rate, and minutes used.
2
Add the extras
Enter any per-call fees and surcharges for after hours or holidays, plus a setup fee if you paid one and the months to spread it over.
3
Read your real cost
See the effective monthly cost, cost per minute, and cost per call, next to what the same minutes cost on FrontDesk Talk.
How per-minute billing adds up
Some services round every call up to a billing increment, and some count time on hold, transfers, or writing up the message. If each call is rounded up to the next full minute, a 61 second call is billed as two minutes. Check the billing increment in your contract. The minutes used on your bill already include it, which is why they can run higher than you expect.
Why cost per call is the number to watch
A low per-minute rate can still mean an expensive call once fees and rounding are added. Dividing the whole bill by the calls handled shows what each answered call really cost. Compare that with what a booked job is worth to you.
How the math works
Minutes over your included minutes times the overage rate gives your overage. Add the base fee, per-call fees (fee times calls), surcharges, and the setup fee divided by the months you spread it over. Calls are your minutes divided by average call length. Divide the total by minutes, and by calls, for the two unit costs.
Comparing it fairly
The FrontDesk Talk figure uses the same minutes you entered and picks the cheapest plan, counting extra Talk Time at $0.45 a minute. Coverage matters too, so check which hours and days your current service covers and what it charges for holidays.
Or let FrontDesk Talk handle it
Pricing you can read in one line
FrontDesk Talk plans include a set number of minutes, with extra Talk Time at $0.45 a minute. It answers 24/7, takes several calls at once, and sends a Talk Note after every call. No contract.
Questions
Where do I find these numbers?
On your monthly invoice or in your account portal. Look for the plan fee, included minutes, minutes used, overage rate, and any line items for per-call fees or after-hours and holiday surcharges.
What if my service bills per call instead of per minute?
Set the base fee, included minutes, and overage rate to match your plan (0 if they do not apply), then enter your per-call fee. The calculator works out your cost per call and per minute the same way.
Why is my bill higher than the advertised rate?
Look for minutes past your plan, calls rounded up to the next billing increment, per-call fees, and surcharges for nights, weekends, or holidays. The breakdown shows which line costs you the most.
Are the starting numbers a real company’s prices?
No. They are only an example. Replace them with the numbers on your own bill.
What does FrontDesk Talk cost?
Plans start at $99 a month with 200 minutes of Talk Time, and extra minutes are $0.45 each. There is no contract, and setup takes a few minutes.
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