Most AI receptionists for US small businesses are sold as a monthly subscription that includes a bundle of call minutes, with extra minutes billed per minute. The total you pay depends mainly on call volume, how many calendars and systems you connect, and whether you need features such as HIPAA compliance or multi-location routing. Compare total monthly cost at your real call volume, not the headline price.
The three pricing models
- Bundled minutes. A monthly fee includes a set number of call minutes. Extra minutes are billed per minute. This is the most common model and the one Agent Help uses.
- Per call. You pay a fee per answered call. Simple, but expensive if you get a lot of short calls.
- Per seat or per location. Common with enterprise tools. Predictable, but you may pay for capacity you do not use.
How to estimate your minutes
Most receptionist calls last about two minutes. Multiply your monthly inbound calls by two to estimate minutes. A business taking 10 calls a day, 22 working days a month, uses roughly 440 minutes. Add after-hours calls you currently miss, because the AI will now answer those too.
Costs people miss
- Setup fees. Some providers charge for onboarding. Agent Help does not.
- Integrations. Calendar and CRM connections are sometimes add-ons.
- Compliance. If you are a covered entity, confirm the provider will sign a BAA and whether it costs extra.
- Contracts. Annual commitments lower the monthly price but lock you in.
Compared with the alternatives
| Option | What you pay for |
|---|---|
| In-house receptionist | Salary, payroll taxes, benefits, training and cover for breaks and leave. Office hours only. |
| Answering service | Usually per minute or per call. A person takes a message; your team still has to call back. |
| AI receptionist | A monthly subscription. Answers 24/7, books the appointment on the call. |
What Agent Help costs
Agent Help has four month-to-month plans with 150, 400, 750 or 1,500 included minutes. Every plan includes live booking, text confirmations, call transfer, analytics and HIPAA compliance with a BAA. There are no setup fees. Current figures are on the pricing page.
Stop losing business to missed calls
A free 30-minute demo shows exactly how Agent Help would answer your calls. No setup fees, month-to-month, live in 48 hours.
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