Elavo Answer vs hiring a receptionist
The real monthly cost of a part-time or full-time receptionist versus an AI answering service, and what each covers after hours and on weekends.
A full-time receptionist costs roughly $3,000 to $4,000 a month in wages alone before taxes and benefits (approximate, based on US median receptionist pay), covers about 40 hours a week, and is off nights, weekends and holidays. Elavo Answer is $299/month to $999 a month, answers 24/7, and never takes a sick day. Many businesses keep both: a person in the office, the AI for everything else.
Pricing side by side
Figures for hiring a receptionist are approximate.
| Hiring a receptionist | Elavo Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | ≈ $3,000–$4,000 / month wages (approximate) | $299 / 1,200 min |
| Mid plans | plus payroll tax, benefits, cover for leave | $599 / 2,600 · $999 / 5,000 min |
| Overage | nights, weekends and holidays are uncovered | none — one 300-minute block for $75 |
| Books appointments on the call | Yes, during office hours | Yes, 24/7, against your live calendar |
| Urgent-call escalation | During office hours | Urgency phrases → on-call → backup → owner |
| Hours | Office hours | 24/7 |
What Hiring a receptionist does well
- Handles walk-ins, paperwork and the hundred small office tasks
- Knows regular customers by voice
- Judgement on the unusual call
What Elavo Answer does differently
- Answers at 2am, on Sunday, and during the lunch rush when two calls land at once
- Costs a tenth of a salary and scales to multiple lines without a second hire
- Takes the same structured message every time and escalates urgent calls by your rules
- Complements an in-office receptionist as overflow and after-hours coverage
Verdict
If you need a person at a desk, hire one and let the AI cover the hours and overflow they cannot. If you only need the phone answered, the AI is the whole job at a fraction of the cost.
Elavo Answer plans
Essentials
One crew, after-hours and overflow coverage.
1,200 minutes included every month
Choose EssentialsGrowth · Most popular
Growing shop, every call all day and night.
2,600 minutes included every month
Choose GrowthBilled at checkout — no free trial. Included minutes reset each month; purchased blocks never expire. Transferred minutes, spam and calls under 10 seconds are never billed. Cancel anytime.
Common questions
Can the AI work alongside my receptionist?
Yes. Forward calls only when busy or unanswered during office hours and forward every call after hours. Your receptionist takes the calls they can; the AI takes the rest.
Stop paying by the minute to miss calls.
Elavo Answer plans from $299/month with 1,200 minutes included and one 300-minute block for $75 when you need more. Live today, cancel anytime.