Companies like ours claim to save small businesses like yours money with virtual receptionist services. But how much, exactly? I’ve created this guide so you can crunch the numbers and calculate the true ROI of a virtual receptionist for your small business.
A Virtual Receptionist Is Cheaper Than a ‘Regular’ Receptionist
The average receptionist in the United States earns around $31,000 a year. That’s about $2,854 a month, give or take a few cents.
Now consider the cost of a virtual receptionist. For a fixed monthly cost, you can get access to a receptionist whenever you need one. There’s no need to hire a full-time member of staff. You can save a significant amount of money.
Alternatively, if you already have an in-office receptionist, there are major benefits to hiring a virtual receptionist. In-office receptionists wear many hats and are always doing multiple things, virtual receptionists allow for an affordable and professional “assistant”. Lastly, your in-office receptionist will get sick or go on vacation at some point and you do not want to be left without a receptionist.
You Don’t Have to Pay a Virtual Receptionist Any Benefits
That $30,000 a year figure? That’s just the base salary of the average receptionist, of course. A receptionist could earn significantly more than this amount once you account for healthcare insurance and other benefits. In 2019, the average cost of insurance per employee for family coverage totaled $20,576.
Now think about a virtual receptionist. You won’t be responsible for health insurance, dental insurance, flex time, paid time off, or any other benefit. You just pay a fixed monthly cost, and that’s it. There’s another perk. Virtual receptionists handle their taxes, so there’s no payroll. That means less paperwork.
Less Time on the Phone = Make More Money Elsewhere
More than half of all senior managers in the U.S. spend more than three hours a day on the phone. That’s 15 hours a week. Or 780 hours a year. Now imagine spending that time on other tasks. How many new opportunities would you have to grow your business? It’s an old cliche, but time really is money.
A virtual receptionist frees up time by answering all those calls that come into your office:
- Orders
- Appointments
- Inquiries
- Complaints
When you add up all the hours you spend on the phone every week, you’ll almost certainly generate an ROI when you hire a virtual receptionist. Sixty-nine percent of senior managers think their workday would be more efficient if someone answered their calls for them.
Improve Operations & Customer Service
Perhaps you don’t spend hours on the phone every day. Customers order products online. Clients schedule appointments via email. So you wonder whether hiring a virtual receptionist provides any value at all.
Here’s why it will:
The telephone is still the No.1 communication method for many customers and clients. That’s because callers get an immediate response to an inquiry or problem. There’s no waiting for the other person to reply to a text or email. Also, phone communication is a better option for handling complex inquiries.
When you hire a virtual receptionist, you provide customers and clients with an alternative communication method for placing orders, making inquiries, scheduling appointments, and executing other tasks. As a result, you can improve operations and customer service across your organization.
A Risk-Averse Investment
Measuring the value of a virtual receptionist before you even hire one can be tricky. However, it’s an investment that will almost certainly pay off.
- A virtual receptionist is cheaper than a receptionist.
- A virtual receptionist is a great assistant to existing in-office receptionists.
- You don’t have to pay taxes or benefits.
- You can free up time and resources.
- You can improve operations and customer service in your organization.
It seems like an obvious decision, but we will let you make the call. Check out our virtual receptionists for small businesses for information on services, pricing plans, and frequently asked questions!
