Answering service vs hiring a receptionist: true costs
A full-time receptionist costs considerably more than the salary once employer National Insurance, pension, holiday and cover are counted. A human answering service costs a monthly retainer plus per-call charges that rise with your volume. An AI receptionist runs from around £230 to £700 a year including usage — and answers 24/7. Here is the honest comparison.
Side by side
| Employed receptionist | Human answering service | AI receptionist (Odette) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | Salary + NI, pension, holiday and cover | Retainer + per-call charges | ~£230–£700 incl. usage |
| Hours | 40/week, one person | Business hours; 24/7 extra | 24/7, every day |
| Simultaneous calls | One | Depends on staffing | Unlimited |
| Sick days / holidays | Yours to cover | Theirs to cover | None |
| Greets visitors in person | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
The realistic answer
If you need someone at a physical front desk, hire for that — and still let an AI own the phones so the desk is never the bottleneck. If the job is purely telephone reception, paying a salary for it no longer makes sense. Costs in detail: answering service costs.
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Start free trialFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a receptionist in the UK?
Take the salary you would actually advertise, then add the parts people forget: employer National Insurance, pension contributions, holiday pay and cover for sickness and annual leave. The true cost of the role lands well above the headline salary. And one person can still only answer one call at a time, during the hours they work.
Is an answering service cheaper than a receptionist?
Almost always, but do the comparison properly: set the outsourced monthly fee against the salary you would advertise plus employer National Insurance, pension, holiday and cover for absence — not against the salary alone. An AI receptionist starts at around £19/month plus at-cost usage, which is a fraction of the fully-loaded cost of employing someone.
Can an AI receptionist really replace a front-desk person?
For the phone side — answering, questions, messages, transfers — yes, 24/7 and to every caller at once. What it does not do is greet physical visitors or make the tea. Many businesses keep a leaner front desk and let AI own the phones.