Free cost calculator
Receptionist cost calculator for service businesses.
Compare the cost of Yapper, a full-time receptionist, an answering service, and the hidden cost of missed calls.
Cost inputs
Monthly comparison
Calls / month
152
After hours
45
Lost opportunity
$4,384
Yapper
AI receptionist, call capture, emergency flags, summaries
$199
per month
Full-time receptionist
Estimated wage plus basic payroll overhead
$4,088
per month
Answering service
Estimated usage-based service cost
$250
per month
Voicemail / missed calls
Estimated lost booked-work opportunity
$4,384
per month
What this means
With these inputs, missed calls represent about $4,384 in monthly booked-work opportunity. If Yapper helps recover even part of that, the phone coverage can pay for itself quickly.
How to use it
Compare phone coverage by real business cost.
Start with your weekly call volume, missed calls, average job value, and what you would expect to pay a receptionist in your market.
The calculator estimates the monthly cost of each option and separates obvious payroll cost from the less obvious cost of missed jobs.
It is not meant to replace accounting advice. It is a quick way to see whether phone coverage is a small expense or a revenue protection decision.
Good fit
- Solo operators who miss calls while working
- Small crews that are not ready to hire office staff
- Businesses that get after-hours service calls
- Owners comparing voicemail, answering services, and AI receptionists
Comparison notes
Human receptionist
Best when you need full office coverage, scheduling, customer service, and admin help. Usually the highest fixed monthly cost.
Answering service
Useful for basic phone coverage, but pricing and quality can vary by call volume, script complexity, and after-hours needs.
Yapper
Useful when you need calls answered, job details captured, urgent calls flagged, and summaries sent without hiring full-time staff.
FAQ
How much does a receptionist cost for a small business?
A full-time receptionist usually costs more than their hourly wage once payroll overhead, taxes, benefits, coverage gaps, and management time are included. This calculator uses a simple wage-plus-overhead estimate.
Is an answering service cheaper than hiring a receptionist?
Usually, yes. An answering service can be cheaper than a full-time employee, but pricing often depends on call volume, minutes, scripts, transfers, and after-hours coverage.
Why include voicemail or missed calls as a cost?
Voicemail may look free, but missed calls can cost booked work if callers move to the next company that answers. The calculator estimates that lost opportunity separately.
Is Yapper a replacement for a full office team?
No. Yapper is built to answer calls, collect job details, flag urgent situations, and send summaries. It is best for small service businesses that need phone coverage without hiring full-time office staff.
Phone coverage
If missed calls cost more than coverage, fix the phone first.
Yapper answers calls 24/7, captures the job details, flags urgent situations, and sends you a clean summary.