Smith.ai

Hey everyone! If you applied to this role and didn't get it a couple of months ago, you can reapply, as the English portion is a little shorter, and some testing criteria were slightly adjusted 😄 # Quick Overview * Remote virtual receptionist role * $15/hr (English) or $16/hr (Spanish bilingual) * W2 employee position * 25–40 hours per week * Set weekly schedule within company hours (Mon–Sun, 5am–4pm PT) * Must have your own computer, internet, and USB headset # Apply Here Careers page: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Direct application (tracks Reddit applicants): [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit) # Want to Check Legitimacy? Totally understandable. * [https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams](https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams) * [https://www.youtube.com/smithai](https://www.youtube.com/smithai) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ) * [https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm) * [https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai) * [https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all](https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all) # Location Notes Open across most U.S. states, except: CA, NY, NJ, CT, WA, HI, Portland Metro (OR), Chicago (IL) For English-only roles, AZ, ME, RI, and CO are restricted (bilingual applicants are still eligible there).

solo home-services operator here, will keep the exact trade vague because the post isn't really about the trade. spent the last \~60 days testing AI phone agents because i was losing maybe 25-30% of inbound calls while my hands were physically on a job. a human answering service had quoted me $240-400/mo which is brutal on the margins of a one-person shop. ranked from "uninstalled fastest" to "still using": **Dialpad AI Voice.** enterprise phone system with AI features bolted on. not really built for "solo owner gets a call while drilling into a wall." overkill, and the AI part felt like an afterthought. [**Smith.ai**](http://smith.ai/) **(their AI add-on).** voice is the most natural of the four. but their product is built around their human agents, so the AI-only setup felt half-finished and the pricing assumed i'd also want the humans. fine if you want both, weird if you don't. **a fourth one i won't name (demo was actively buggy).** voice was rough, mishears constant, uninstalled after 3 days. wasted a week. **PollyReach.** what i'm still using after 6 weeks. it picks up, talks to the caller, books on my Google calendar, texts me a summary. honest stuff that bugs me: • voice has a mild AI tell. roughly 1 in 10 older callers ask "is this a person?" which i don't love. • mishears proper nouns about 15% of the time. had a "2018 Escalade" come through as "2018 Escape" in the booking note. i fix it from the calendar entry before the appointment. • doesn't negotiate price. if a caller wants to haggle the AI gives up too fast and just asks them to call back. some of you will see that as a bug; for me it's actually fine. • pricing was the cheapest of the four, fwiw. stuff i specifically stress-tested across all four: • noisy background on caller side: all 4 handled it. • caller asking off-script questions ("do you do mobile?"): only Smith and PollyReach handled OK, Dialpad sometimes looped. • the handoff to me when the AI couldn't resolve something: only one of them sent a useful summary i could act on. the others dumped a raw transcript or just pinged me "missed call." what i wish all of them did better: • learn my actual pricing rules from past emails instead of me typing them into a form • handle 2 concurrent calls without sounding overlapped on the recording • voice that sounds less "saas demo" and more "shop." older clients pick up on the tell fast. anyone here trialed others i missed? specifically curious if anything handles in-person estimate workflows well. most of my higher-ticket bookings need a site visit first, and none of the four really nailed "collect address + good callback window" as a separate flow.

I’m a cofounder of Smith.ai and left last year. I’m not a lawyer, but in the past year, I’ve built essentially a naive first year “paralegal” to help me and the amazing lawyer I do use to deal with a unpleasant remodel situation. It keeps track of timelines, conversations, claims, all of our communications, and most of all it sort of functions as a system I can ask questions to and get accurate answers on as things proceed. There may be other tools on the market for this, but I didn’t know about them and as the AI pilled customer, I just tried to close the gap for myself. By the way I’m not pitching this here. I’m just saying how it can be used. Maybe someday this could be productive, but I don’t really think about it that way. For example, yesterday we determined that the contractor irreparably damaged our exterior lights. So I tell the system about that and it is recording them as damage claimed, ask me for a bunch of supporting evidence, dates, things like that. Not hawking this solution because I built it for myself. If anyone has any questions I’ll try to help.

Your $80K math is the part most owners skip — and once it's on paper, "better voicemail greeting" and "call back within the hour" both fall apart pretty fast. The framing in your last line is the one that hit me too: these aren't cold leads, they're warm leads with a 60-second shelf life. What I've seen work for solo and small-crew cleaners: replace voicemail with something that actually answers in the moment. Ours is an AI receptionist (I work on it — Lumobot, full disclosure) that picks up, captures contact + job details, and books the slot. The cleaning-business catch is access info — rooms, pets, parking — we have it ask before the slot is confirmed, otherwise you burn crew time on undersized quotes. [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) or Ruby if you want human-staffed instead. Per-minute pricing eats margin fast on a $200 clean though. Curious what your "different route" turned out to be — sounds like you cracked it.

[Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) hires front office receptionists from home within the US. $15 or $16/hr depending on whether you only handle calls in English, or English+ Spanish. [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) They're called [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) because there's a separate AI receptionist product, but this is for human receptionists.

Background. UK B2B service business, around £8M revenue. Roughly 30% of pipeline comes from inbound calls. We were measuring 22% of inbound calls going to voicemail (peaks during meetings, after-hours, lunch). Most never called back. The cost-per-lost-lead got too painful to ignore. In Q1 2026 we replaced first-touch SDR coverage on inbound calls with an AI voice agent. The tool we settled on was MyAutobot.ai. Here is the breakdown. # What an AI voice agent does on inbound Picks up in 2 rings. Identifies caller and intent. Filters spam. Answers FAQ-tier questions from a trained knowledge base. Runs a discovery script for qualified callers. Books meetings directly into the SDR diary with the qualification data attached. Escalates to a human via call transfer or notification when the conversation needs it. Generates a transcript and summary post-call. That is the unit of work. Anything an SDR was doing in the first 90 seconds of a call is now automated. # The 90-day numbers * Calls handled: 312 * Booked meetings: 47 (15.1% conversion vs SDR baseline of 12.8%) * Voicemails escalated to a human: 28 * Spam calls filtered: 89 * After-hours bookings: 19 (40% of total) * Average handle time: 2m 14s * All-in cost: £180/mo ROI breakeven: month 2. The interesting metric is not the booked meetings, it is the after-hours captures. Our SDR team is 9 to 5 GMT. 40% of qualified bookings happened outside that window. Pipeline that did not exist before. # Why we chose [MyAutobot.ai](http://MyAutobot.ai) over alternatives We piloted three: Smith.ai, Dialzara, and MyAutobot.ai. Smith.ai has the strongest human escalation tier but cost-per-call breaks above \~80 calls/month. Dialzara is cheap ($29/mo) but the voice gives it away within 20 seconds, fine for after-hours overflow, not for first-touch SDR replacement. MyAutobot.ai won on three things: UK-native voice quality (our market is British, our callers expect British), the qualification logic (it is an AI sales agent, not just an answering service), and clean HubSpot hand-off with full transcript attached. # What surprised us 1. Conversion went up, not down. We assumed a human SDR would convert better. The AI does not get tired, does not have a bad Tuesday, runs the discovery script every single time. 12.8% to 15.1%. 2. Spam filtering recovered \~7 hours of SDR time per quarter. 89 spam calls in 90 days never reached a human. 3. The transcript is a coaching artefact. Every booked meeting comes with a full transcript. We are now using them to train SDR call openers. # When AI voice agents make sense for sales/marketing Inbound-led GTM. 50+ inbound calls per month. Average deal size at least 5x your monthly SDR cost. After-hours pipeline you are losing. If you are outbound-only this is irrelevant. If you are SMB-volume but consumer-priced the math does not work. # TLDR AI voice agents are not replacing SDRs. They are absorbing the calls SDRs were never going to answer. For inbound-led B2B, the after-hours capture alone usually pays for it. We use MyAutobot.ai. The category includes Smith.ai, Dialzara, NextPhone, Trillet and Goodcall depending on your specific need.

Lost a £4k job last December because a customer rang while I was on site and went to voicemail. They booked the next firm on Google. That stung enough that I went deep on AI receptionists this year. Tried 6, ran each one for at least 3 weeks with real callers. Here's how they shook out. **1.** [**MyAutobot.ai**](http://MyAutobot.ai) British team, did exactly what it said on the tin. 24/7 call handling, calendar integration with Google and Microsoft worked first time, spam detection actually filtered out the PPI-style nonsense without me babysitting it. The AI sales agent function was the bit that surprised me, it qualifies leads on inbound and books straight into my diary. Two callers genuinely thought it was my office manager. Setup was about 25 minutes. **2. NextPhone** Best voice of the bunch I tried. 20+ languages, the mobile app is good. Around $199/mo unlimited isn't cheap but the quality justifies it. Reason it's not #1: setup took longer than promised, and the spam filtering let through a few I'd previously flagged. **3. Trillet** Solid budget pick at $49/mo with 150 minutes. Auto-callback and multi-channel are useful. Voice quality is decent. The dashboard feels early-stage and I had two missed sync events with my Google Calendar in the trial. **4.** [**Smith.ai**](http://Smith.ai) The AI plus human backup hybrid is a clever idea. The execution costs you. Their AI-only plan starts around $97 and the full hybrid tier is $255+. If you actually pick up most of your own calls and just want safety net cover, the price-to-use ratio is rough. **5. Dialzara** Cheapest entry point at $29/mo and the 15-minute setup is real. Voice quality was the weak link. Callers asked twice if it was a person more than I was comfortable with. Decent placeholder, not a long-term answer. **6. Goodcall** Customisation is genuinely deep, but that's the problem. I spent more time fiddling with branching logic than I spent answering calls myself. If you're a developer-leaning solo op who likes flowcharts, fine. For most service businesses it's overkill. Things to flag: pricing isn't on the homepage so you have to ask, and the integrations list is shorter than NextPhone's. But for what I needed (calendar, CRM hand-off, voicemail summaries) it covered every base. **TLDR:** Cheap and ropey, Dialzara. Voice quality if budget isn't tight, NextPhone. Actually works like a real receptionist on day one, MyAutobot. Happy to answer questions in the comments.

Most "best AI receptionist" articles on Google are SEO-bait written by people who never placed a real test call. They list 15 tools, paraphrase the pricing pages, and call it a guide. If you run a trade business that doesn't help you. You need to know which one will actually book a job at 9pm on a Saturday when your tech is on a roof in the rain.  So I spent 60 days running real test calls against the AI receptionists that come up most often when you search "AI receptionist for plumbers" or "best AI for HVAC dispatch." The 10 below were the ones with a live trial path, a real product page, and at least one verifiable trade-business customer.  Pricing is current as of May 2026. Verify on each vendor's page before pulling out a card. Tiers shift.  **The methodology.**  For each of the 10 tools, I did the following:  Placed 30 to 50 test calls per tool over a 14-day trial. Mix was roughly 40% urgent (burst pipe, no heat, sparking outlet, gas smell), 40% routine (annual maintenance, quotes, scheduling), and 20% edge cases (bad audio, accents, job-site background noise).  Measured four things per call. Voice latency in the first three seconds. Urgency triage accuracy (did the AI route a "burst pipe" call differently from a "what do you charge" call). Calendar integration with ServiceTitan, Jobber, or Housecall Pro. Live-handoff quality (when the AI escalated, did it hand off cleanly with context, dump to voicemail, or hang up).  Checked the bill at day 14. Per-minute overages catch most owners. The headline price and the actual bill diverge sharply on most platforms.  Read the trade-vertical pages against what the tool actually does in practice. Marketing copy and behavior diverge often, which is why you place 30 to 50 calls.  A real limitation. 14 days is a short window. Tools that struggled in week one often improve with prompt tuning by month two. Treat this as a buying-decision aid, not a long-term performance review.  **The 10.**  **1.** [Zenlify](https://zenlify.ai/)  Trade-specific. Built for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, plus a few adjacent verticals. Three tiers as of May 2026: Solo Trader $49/month for 100 calls, Growing Business $99/month unlimited (most popular), Multi-Trade custom for multi-location. 14-day free trial, no card, ROI money-back guarantee on month one.  What worked. The trade-vertical training is real. A "burst pipe" test call got triaged differently from a "schedule a maintenance visit" call without writing a custom flow. Voice latency was under a second on most calls. Google Calendar integration on the Growing tier handled booking cleanly. Multi-Trade tier adds ServiceTitan, Jobber, and Housecall Pro for shops running those. Live handoff sent the call to my number with a one-sentence context summary, which is the format that works.  What didn't. ServiceTitan, Jobber, and Housecall Pro integration is gated to the Multi-Trade tier (custom pricing, sales call required). If you run one of those on the Growing $99 tier you get Google Calendar plus a workaround. Reporting dashboard is thinner than [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) or CallRail for call analytics. \[ANCHOR\_FACT\_NEEDED: a real Zenlify customer call-capture or booking-rate stat would replace this composite framing.\]  Verdict. Best fit for solo to 5-person trade crews who want a working AI by end of day, especially at the $99 unlimited Growing tier. Not the right tool if you run ServiceTitan and don't want a custom-tier sales call.  **2.** [Sameday](https://www.gosameday.com)  Home services focused. Native ServiceTitan integration. $449/month for 500 minutes as of May 2026, flat-rate. 14-day free trial.  What worked. The ServiceTitan integration is the deepest in the category. Two-way sync, jobs flow into the dispatch board automatically with the right tags, technician availability is checked against the AI's booking attempt in real time. If you already run ServiceTitan, this matters more than anything else.  What didn't. The price floor is high. $449 a month with 500 minutes works if you're a 5+ truck shop. For a solo plumber doing 30 calls a week, it's overkill. Also, voice quality on bad-audio test calls (background generator noise, thick accents) was middle-of-the-pack. Not bad, not great.  Verdict. Best fit for ServiceTitan-running trade shops with 5 to 20 trucks. The native integration alone is worth the premium if you're at that scale.  **3.** [Goodcall](https://www.goodcall.com) Workflow-first. Per-customer pricing rather than per-minute. Starter at $59/month for up to 100 unique callers, Growth at $99/month, as of May 2026. Three-tier plan structure.  What worked. The workflow builder is the most customizable in the category. If you want to dictate how the AI handles "a customer asking about whether we service a particular zip code," you can build that branch yourself without writing code. Pricing model rewards repeat-customer businesses since you don't pay extra when the same customer calls 5 times.  What didn't. Trade-vertical tuning is shallower than Zenlify, Sameday, or CallBird. You'll need to do the workflow configuration yourself. ServiceTitan integration is via Zapier, not native, which means it works but doesn't do real-time technician availability. For solo or 2-person shops, the configuration overhead may not pay off.  Verdict. Best fit for trade businesses with technical operators who want deep control over call flows and have time to configure them. Not the easiest out-of-the-box option.  **4.** [Rosie](https://heyrosie.com) Tiered minute-based plans. $49/month for 250 minutes (no booking), $149/month for 1000 minutes (booking unlocked here), $299/month for 2000 minutes. As of May 2026. 7-day free trial.  What worked. Cheapest verified entry point in the category if you only need a message-taker. Voice quality is solid for a $49 product. Trade-vertical pages on the site reflect actual product behavior.  What didn't. Appointment booking is locked behind the $149 tier. The $49 plan is functionally a transcription-and-message service, not a full AI receptionist. By the time you upgrade to get booking, you're at competitor pricing without competitor depth on integrations.  Verdict. Best fit for solo trade operators who need 24/7 message capture but aren't ready for full AI dispatch yet. Treat the $49 tier as a stepping stone, not a destination.  **5.** [NextPhone](https://www.getnextphone.com)  Contractor-focused. Unlimited usage at $199/month, no setup fee, no contracts, no per-minute overages. As of May 2026. Emergency keyword routing, CRM integration, spam filtering, callback tracking. 20+ languages on every plan.  What worked. The unlimited model is rare in the category and removes the bill-shock-on-day-14 risk that traps owners on per-minute plans. Emergency keyword detection (burst pipe, no heat, sparking outlet, gas leak) is built in without configuration. The languages thing matters more than people expect for trade businesses in metro areas.  What didn't. Voice quality lagged Zenlify and Sameday on the test calls. Not bad, but the cadence had a slight latency on routine questions that some customers will pick up. Trade-vertical depth is real but less specific than Zenlify or CallBird (it works for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing without standout customization for any one of them).  Verdict. Best fit for high-call-volume trade shops who want predictable monthly billing more than they want bleeding-edge voice quality. The unlimited price beats per-minute pricing decisively past 500 calls a month.  **6.** [CallBird](https://www.callbirdai.com/)  Tiered contractor-focused plans. Starter (50 calls), Professional (300 calls), Enterprise. $99 to $499/month range as of May 2026. 10-minute setup. Native ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro integration. No setup fee.  What worked. Emergency triage is sharp. The system distinguished a "burst pipe" call from a "leaking faucet" call on the test calls more reliably than most. Auto-upgrade between tiers when you hit a call cap (no overage charges) is a clean billing model. Setup is genuinely fast, which matches the marketing.  What didn't. The tier structure is friendly until you outgrow Professional. Enterprise pricing required a sales call, which slows down the buying process. Customer support response times in the trial period were slower than Zenlify or Smith.ai.  Verdict. Best fit for contractors who want trade-specific tuning out of the box, who run ServiceTitan or Housecall Pro, and who have steady call volume in the 50 to 300 a month range.  **7.** [**Smith.ai**](http://Smith.ai) Hybrid AI plus human. AI-only at $97.50/month with $2.40 per call over 50, live-receptionist tier at $292.50/month for 30 calls with $11/call over quota. As of May 2026. $95 setup fee for new clients.  What worked. The hybrid model is genuine. When the AI gets stuck, a real person picks up rather than dumping to voicemail. For trade businesses with one specific use case (high-stakes commercial-customer onboarding), a human ear can save the relationship. Reporting dashboard is the most analytics-rich in the category.  What didn't. Trade-vertical tuning is generic. The AI doesn't have built-in urgency recognition specific to trades. Pricing scales fast with call volume. At 100 calls a month on the AI plan, you're at roughly $215, and the math gets ugly past 200 calls.  Verdict. Best fit for trade businesses where a small percentage of calls are extremely high-stakes (commercial accounts, large project bids) and human escalation is worth the cost. Not the right tool for high-volume residential plumbing, HVAC, or electrical.  **8.** [Numa](https://www.numa.com/) Important caveat. Numa pivoted to auto dealerships as their primary vertical over the past 18 months. The marketing pages and product roadmap now lead with dealership use cases. They still serve some trade-business customers but the product is no longer purpose-built for trades.  What worked, historically. The SMS-first call flow handles a specific trade-business need well: a customer who calls, gets a text follow-up if they hang up, and converts via text rather than voicemail. That's a genuine pattern.  What didn't. Trade-vertical training is now stale relative to where the category moved in 2025. ServiceTitan integration exists but is shallower than Sameday or CallBird. Pricing is opaque (request-a-demo flow), with industry sources pegging it at $200-$400/month.  Verdict. Skip if you're starting from scratch in 2026. Worth keeping if you're already a customer and the SMS-first flow fits your funnel. Worth a look if you also run an automotive shop.  **9.** [Synthflow](https://synthflow.ai)  Developer platform. Pay-as-you-go per-minute pricing, $0.13 to $0.24 all-in per minute depending on LLM and telephony choice. As of May 2026. Build and test for free, charges only on production deployment.  What worked. If you have a technical operator (or a contractor who can build voice flows for you), the cost ceiling is lower than any turnkey product at low call volumes. Failed calls are not charged, which is unique in the category.  What didn't. This is not a turnkey AI receptionist. It's a platform you build one on. For a trade-business owner who wants to forward their phone and have the AI working by tomorrow, this is the wrong category. The realistic all-in monthly spend including a CRM, booking tool, and middleware lands at $200 to $400 anyway, which is comparable to turnkey options without the configuration time.  Verdict. Skip unless you have technical resources or are paying a contractor to build the flow. Solid platform; wrong shape for most trade-business buyers.  **10.** [Bland AI](https://www.bland.ai/) Developer platform. Build plan at $299/month plus $0.09 to $0.14 per minute as of May 2026. Volume discounts at 10,000+ minutes. Latency advantages at scale.  What worked. Voice latency at scale is genuinely class-leading. If you're routing 5,000+ calls a month, the per-call economics are the best in the category. Volume discounts make 10,000+ minute months noticeably cheaper than turnkey alternatives.  What didn't. Same problem as Synthflow plus a $299/month base fee. For a 50-call-a-month shop, you're paying $359+ for a platform you configure yourself, and the latency edge doesn't translate at low volume.  Verdict. Skip unless you're a regional trade chain doing 5,000+ calls a month and have technical resources. At that scale, this is the platform to build on. Otherwise, wrong tool.  **How to actually pick one.**  No single AI receptionist is "best for trades" in 2026. The right tool depends on three things: how many trucks you run, how spiky your call volume is, and which field-service software you already use.  **Solo trade operator, under 30 calls a week, no field-service software yet.** Zenlify Solo at $49 (100 calls) or Rosie at $49 (250 minutes, message-only). Skip the dev platforms.  **2 to 5 truck crew, 30 to 150 calls a week, some emergency volume.** Zenlify Growing at $99 unlimited is the price-leader on unlimited billing if Google Calendar covers your stack. NextPhone at $199 unlimited if you want broader CRM integration without a custom-tier sales call. CallBird if call-cap auto-upgrades fit your billing.  **5 to 20 truck shop, 150+ calls a week, running ServiceTitan.** Sameday for the deepest native integration. Zenlify Multi-Trade or CallBird as alternatives if you want to compare quotes.  **Trade business with high-stakes commercial accounts.** [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) for the hybrid AI-plus-human escalation. Pair with a turnkey AI for the residential calls.  **Regional chain, 5,000+ calls a month, technical operator on staff.** Bland AI or Synthflow on the platform side, paired with a CRM and booking tool.  **Existing Numa customer running a trade business.** Stay if the SMS-first flow works for your funnel. Switch if urgency triage is degrading from the dealership pivot.  **A side note on the missed-call statistic.**  You'll see a lot of vendor pages quote "62% of small business calls go unanswered" sourced to BIA/Kelsey. The stat is real but old (originally surfaced around 2014-2016 and re-quoted everywhere since). It's probably still directionally correct for trades since the structural problem (technicians can't answer with their hands in a sink trap) hasn't changed.  The fresher angle: 85% of callers whose call goes unanswered don't call back, and most of them call a competitor instead. The cost of a missed call is not one missed call. It's one missed customer plus a referral handed to whoever you're competing with.  What's the AI receptionist you're using right now, and what's the one thing it does badly that you've stopped expecting to see fixed? 

Couldn't find this compiled anywhere useful so I just called or demoed everything myself. I run an insurance agency so some of these are industry specific but most serve any small business. Here's the actual pricing landscape. Sonant: flat monthly, custom pricing based on size (requires demo). This one's built specifically for insurance agencies so probably not relevant for everyone here, but native integrations with our industry software and pretrained on the terminology which saved a lot of config time. No human backup though. Ruby: $235 to $1,399/month, per minute at $3.39 to $4.90/min. Live US based humans, very professional. Busy months spike with no cap. Good if you want quality human reception and don't mind the variable cost. Smith ai: from $95/month for ai receptionist. Per call pricing. Hybrid ai plus human backup which is a real advantage for complex or emotional callers. Native crm integrations plus 7,000+ via zapier. Strong general tool if you're ok configuring intake logic yourself. Answerconnect: starts around $325/month, per minute overages. Forbes best answering service 2026. Similar to ruby in quality, generalists across industries. Variable billing. Gail (meetgail): $425/month for ai agent tier. Transparent pricing. Originally insurance focused but broadened to financial services mid 2025. Self service setup where you script call flows yourself. Webhooks and zapier for system connections. How much does a virtual receptionist cost is really two questions. What's the sticker price, and what's the total cost including labor for manual data entry if the service doesn't connect to your existing systems, unpredictable billing during busy months if you're on a per minute model, and staff time configuring intake logic if you're using a general tool that isn't trained on your industry. Different businesses will weigh these differently depending on what matters most.

the math is directionally right and the gap between live-answer conversion and callback conversion is real -- the published Lead Response Management research (Harvard, oldfield, kellogg etc.) keeps replicating around that 5-7x conversion delta when contact happens within 5 minutes vs an hour later. a few patterns from service business founders i've talked to who've worked this exact problem: 1. the missed-call number is bigger than people realize because it includes the calls that ring once and hang up (caller ID shows a missed call but no voicemail). most owners look at voicemail count and think they're missing 1-2 calls/day. the actual count is usually 3-5x that. cheap fix: pull a phone log report from your carrier for a month. eye-opening. 2. the three approaches you listed all work but they fail differently. dedicated receptionist: great until vacation, sick days, lunch breaks -- you're paying $50k for ~70% coverage. answering services: cheap but the script-reading often loses the lead anyway because the caller can tell they're not talking to the business. AI/automated intake: works for routing but loses warmth on the high-value calls (the $5000+ jobs where the caller wants to feel heard). 3. the hybrid that actually works for most service businesses: AI captures + qualifies + books for routine inquiries, AI routes urgent/high-value calls to a real human within 5 min. the trick is the routing logic, not the AI. caller says 'plumbing emergency' -> immediate forward to owner's cell. caller says 'estimate for kitchen remodel' -> bot books the estimate slot. caller is angry/confused -> human callback within 15 min. routing > automation. 4. the stack that's emerging in 2026 for sub-$10M service businesses: a CallRail or similar for call tracking + a low-friction AI receptionist (Smith.ai, Setmore, or a custom n8n/voiceflow setup) + a CRM that captures lead source. the missing piece in most stacks is the followup cadence -- 60% of captured leads still don't convert because nobody calls them back at day 2 with a quote. so the call automation is necessary but not sufficient. 5. on the conversion gap specifically -- the unspoken half is response speed within the live-answer bucket. live-answer in 30 seconds vs live-answer in 4 minutes is a 30-40% conversion delta on its own. so a receptionist who picks up after 6 rings is still leaking conversion compared to a 1-ring pickup. the AI advantage isn't replacing humans -- it's that AI picks up in 0 seconds while human capacity scales linearly. 6. the ROI framing that lands hardest with skeptical owners: don't quote $156k/year as the headline. quote 1 extra job per week. 'this captures one job/week you would've lost = $26k/yr added at zero marginal cost.' owners don't believe the $150k number but they believe the 1-job/week number. closing rate on the proposal goes up materially. 7. on the AI-receptionist quality concerns from the comment above -- they're legitimate. the bad ones (and most of them are bad) over-script and under-listen. the good ones do less: capture caller intent, confirm appointment slot, send confirmation text, route urgent calls to a human. anything beyond that and the conversion rate drops because the caller experience is worse than a voicemail. building something tangentially related at ALTER for the followup-cadence piece (after the call is captured, the conversion lives or dies in the next 72 hours). early and rough, but the missed-call -> captured-lead -> booked-job pipeline is one of the most under-optimized in service businesses and the math you laid out is a real wedge for getting owners to take it seriously.

most of the "agentic AI" stuff from enterprise CMS platforms is still pretty thin honestly. its mostly AI assist features with a fancy label. the real value right now comes from stitching together a few focused tools rather than waiting for your CMS to figure it out. heres what's been working for us as a small team: * Google Search Console - find what to write based on real query data * Ahrefs/Semrush - see what competitors rank for that you don't * [DeepSmith.ai](http://DeepSmith.ai) \- full content pipeline from research to publish-ready drafts * Claude - one-off tasks like migrations, bulk rewrites, reformatting * Your CMS - just publish and schedule, nothing else the "agentic" part isn't one tool doing everything. its having each tool handle what its actually good at and keeping the handoffs simple. the teams I've seen try to do it all inside one enterprise platform usually end up fighting the platform more than doing actual content work.

I use and like Smith.ai. They provide the advantage of having a live person answer the phone. The key to success with [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) is to keep your answering script simple. They will have different employees answer the phone at different times, so you have to provide them with a simple enough script / decision tree to respond to calls. Any time I hear an attorney complain about Smith it's usually because they thought they were hiring an employee for a few hundred bucks a month, and they expect the answering service to somehow know all about their law firm or start making advanced decisions. That ain't how it works, it's just a good answering service! Give them a script, questions to ask, next steps, and it works great. They can accept payments, input data into your CRM or practice management program, schedule appointments, etc. Works great for me.

[Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) hires people from 5am-4pm PT any day, you can choose to work weekends but you don't have to. You can do split shifts, have different schedules every day (but on a recurring weekly basis), for example 5am-12pm on Monday, 7am-10am & 11am-3pm on Tuesday, 10am-2pm on Wednesday, etc and you can pick up open shifts easily if you want to work a little more on some weeks. It's for US based agents, and it's a call handling role with a high call volume. You can apply through [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist)

yep, been exactly where you are. tried a few things: for pure voip + manual texting: openphone and grasshopper both have sms features but you still have to send the text yourself, which defeats the point if you're on a job. what actually solved it was an ai that picks up when you can't answer, gets the caller's name/number/what they need, then texts you within 30 seconds — so you can call back while the lead is still hot. I ended up building one for this problem (callhush.com, full disclosure I'm the founder). free tier if you want to test it. alternatives worth looking at: smith.ai (human receptionists, ~$300+/mo), goodcall (ai, similar concept), openphone (voip only, you handle follow-up). for a maintenance business where you're on jobs all day the ai pickup + immediate text is the highest roi move.

from someone who's run a service business and knows a lot of PW owners: 1. hot water unit eventually — the difference on organics, grease, and mold is massive. cold water limits your job types 2. commercial liability insurance on day one — one cracked window or damaged stain job will explain why 3. proper surface cleaner, not just the wand — your back will thank you and results are more consistent on driveways/patios 4. scheduling software early, even jobber's free tier — beats spreadsheets once you hit 5+ jobs/week 5. make sure every inbound call actually gets answered — when you're running loud equipment you miss calls constantly and that's lost revenue. I built a tool for this (callhush.com, full disclosure I'm the founder) — ai picks up when you can't, gets the caller's info, texts you within 30s. smith.ai does human answering if you'd prefer that. sounds boring but it's one of the highest-roi things you can do early on when every new customer counts.

Handshake is more targeted to college students or recent graduates, so that can be a good source. [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) is entry level btw. I just made a post here [https://www.reddit.com/r/forhire/comments/1srsskn/hiring\_remote\_phone\_agents\_join\_a\_virtual\_front/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/forhire/comments/1srsskn/hiring_remote_phone_agents_join_a_virtual_front/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

***Eligible Locations:*** We’re open to candidates in all U.S. states except California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Rhode Island, Colorado, Oregon, Hawaii, Maine and Arizona. **If this isn't appealing to you, feel free to block my profile so you don't see future posts.** **Who you are:** You’re friendly, patient, and organized when talking on the phone. You’re comfortable answering calls, scheduling appointments, and taking payments over the phone. You’re tech‑savvy enough to use a computer, headset, and scheduling tools. **Who we are:** We’re the team behind [Smith.ai](http://smith.ai/), an AI‑powered virtual receptionist platform that helps businesses answer calls 24/7. Our agents are the human side of that experience: the warm, professional voice that turns callers into happy clients. **Role: Remote Phone Receptionist** Work from home on your own computer and USB headset. Flexible scheduling. You set your availability within our core hours (ideally clustered around 10am–4pm PT, Mon–Fri). Minimum 25 hours/week (up to 40), with at least 5 hours every Monday. Split shifts are welcome (great if you’ve got school drop‑offs, workouts, or side gigs). $15/hr for English only. $16/hr for English+Spanish. **What you’ll do:** Answer incoming calls and transfer them to the right person or department. Schedule appointments. Help take payments. Provide clear, friendly support with a smile in your voice. **You’ll love this if you:** Want real human connection behind a phone, not a robotic script. Want flexible hours that fit your life, not the other way around. Like feeling part of a supportive, remote team that values professionalism and kindness. Want to work from home. **What you’ll need:** Legal permission to work in the **U.S.** and pass a background check. A computer (No Chromebooks) with 8GB RAM or higher + USB headset with mic. Reliable internet and power (no spotty coworking‑space Wi‑Fi). A quiet, distraction‑free workspace during your shifts. **A growth mindset:** you’re open to feedback, learning new tools, and improving your phone presence. Confidence presenting professionalism as a representative for the business. **Bonus points if you have:** Previous experience in customer service, call centers, or receptionist roles. Experience with scheduling tools (Calendly, Outlook, Google Calendar, etc.). Comfort with basic payment talking points (card on file, secure links, etc.). **How to apply:** If this sounds like you, please apply here: [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit) or the [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) website. **Pay & benefits:** Flexible, long‑term hours rather than gig‑style chaos. Supportive team and clear paths to grow in the company. Healthcare and retirement benefits start at 30+ hours. Feel free to ask any questions!

I’ve been playing around with some ai web developers and someone had suggested pagesmith.ai as it apparently does seo/geo. Has anyone here used it? I can’t find any reviews online about it and I don’t want to take the leap and pay for it if it’s not legit. I did play around with it and it seems okay enough but since I’m new to ai website builders I thought I would ask. I’m pretty tech savvy and created my current site on Wordpress, but I’m hoping to migrate my partner’s site from Go Daddy somewhere else. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Sure, you can apply directly on the careers website: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) and you need your own computer, headset and internet. You will handle inbound calls for different businesses and will follow some instructions on your screen to know what the business wants you to do with that type of caller. You can work as little as 25 hours, and up to 40, and you provide your availability within 5am-4pm PT, so a recurring schedule can be assigned every week.

Hey! Experience is definitely helpful, but our hiring process is assessment-based, so everyone has to pass those regardless of background. We actually see people succeed in the role even without direct experience. There are a lot of factors that go into each stage. Things like typing speed, English proficiency, and overall skill alignment can all play a role too. I can take a look at your assessments if you email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), but we don't typically give specific feedback.

Hi everyone! Smithai is hiring phone receptionists. This is a full time or part time W2 remote role (within the US). **Tasks:** Answer incoming calls with a USB headset on the call server: Take messages, transfer calls, take payments, and schedule appointments. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. $15/hrs for English-only, and $16/hr for English/Spanish calls. You can apply directly on the website [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Feel free to ask questions!

You’re basically describing exactly the use case these tools are starting to solve. Not being able to answer calls during the day is super common, especially if you’re actually doing the work yourself. The newer AI receptionist stuff is way closer to that ChatGPT voice feel than the old phone menus. It can answer, have a normal conversation, ask what the caller wants, take their details, and then either text/email you a summary or pass the call on if needed. It’s not perfect though but it can be great for handling new enquiries and simple stuff, but if someone asks something very specific or a bit unusual it can stumble when it comes to edge cases or even assessing urgency I guess depending on the use case. Most people use it to catch and qualify calls rather than fully replace themselves or to do simple repetitive tasks (like order tracking etc). There are a few options out there. [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) is more of a hybrid with humans involved so it’s pricier. Some of the newer ones are fully AI and cheaper, and you can customise how they answer and what they ask. OnCallClerk is one of those, more focused on small businesses just trying to stop missing calls and capture leads. If you’re already missing potential clients, even just having something answer and take a proper message instead of going to voicemail can make a noticeable difference pretty quickly.

The agencies that function fine with minimal automation are more common than the tech vendors want to admit. We have a ten person shop. Our stack is basically the rating platform, DocuSign, and a shared calendar. That is it. And we are profitable and growing. Not every workflow needs automation. Sometimes the answer is a better process, not a new tool. That said, the phone handling category is interesting. We lose so much time to voicemail tag and manual call logs. If something like Sonant or Gail actually works without being a nightmare to set up, I would look at it. Curious if anyone here has deployed Smith AI with the human backup feature. Does it actually save time or just add another layer to manage?

Conference presentations and real deployments are very different in insurtech. Here's what I've confirmed running at agencies day to day. Rating/quoting: ezlynx, qqcatalyst. Mature, basically universal. Client engagement: insuredmine and agencyzoom for automated campaigns, cross-sell workflows, engagement tracking. Both solid with real adoption. Phone handling + post-call documentation: sonant for ai phone intake and post-call intelligence. Gail for inbound/outbound with transparent pricing. Smith ai for agencies that want human backup. This category is the newest and most active. E-signatures: docusign. Universal. Workflow glue: zapier, make, n8n. Scheduling: calendly, cal.com The insurance agency automation tools that survive past pilot tend to solve one problem well and integrate natively with the agency's ams. The all-in-one platforms are the ones that get cancelled because nobody fully adopts them. Worth noting that the "right" tool stack varies significantly by agency size and ams platform. A 5 person shop on hawksoft has different needs than a 25 person multi-location on applied epic. And some agencies genuinely function fine with minimal automation beyond their rating platform, not every workflow problem needs a technology solution.

“Best" depends entirely on your operation. The insurance voice ai space fragmented by customer type and most comparisons don't account for that. Build-it-yourself: bland ai, vapi ai, retell ai. Cheapest per-minute. Maximum customization. You build intake logic, guardrails, integrations from scratch. Best if you have a developer and want total control. Worst if you want something working in days not months. Cross-industry ai receptionists: smith ai. Hybrid ai plus human from $95/month. Strong general quality, native crm integrations plus 7,000+ more via zapier. The human backup for complex callers is a genuine competitive advantage. Not insurance-specific but configurable for any industry. Broader insurance/financial ai: gail at $425/month. Transparent pricing, self-service configuration. Originally insurance focused, broadened to financial services mid 2025. Webhooks and zapier for integrations. Liberate ai, $72m funded, targets top carriers and large agencies with enterprise onboarding. Independent p&c agency specific: sonant. Pretrained on insurance conversations, native ams integrations (applied epic, ezlynx, ams360, hawksoft, momentum amp, qqcatalyst). E&o guardrails, soc2 type 2. Post-call intelligence product for human-handled calls. No human backup, custom pricing. Best ai voice agents for insurance by priority: human backup → smith ai. Transparent pricing + diy control → gail. Native ams + pretrained p&c → sonant. Build custom → bland/vapi. Carrier scale → liberate. Every option has genuine strengths and tradeoffs.

I know there's a lot of scams that get passed along, but I have a couple of side jobs I do in the evening and weekends and make a couple of hundred bucks monthly. 1. Smith.ai: we take receptionist style calls and chat messages. 2. Support Ninja: this is a flexible wh company that doesn't require regular hours 3. Appen by CrowdGen: these are little tasks that contribute to Al training. 4. Remotasks: another LLM company that also contributes to Al training 5. MicroWorkers: another company like MTurk but way better.

Yep, this exists. You’ve basically got three paths: 1) Live answering services that book on your calendar \- Smith.ai, Ruby, Nexa, Schedule Engine/Slingshot (built for trades). They’ll actually pick up, follow your rules, and book straight onto your Google/Outlook or into Jobber/ServiceTitan/Housecall Pro. Not “AI,” but they solve the problem and are reliable. Cost is higher than AI, but cheaper than losing burst-pipe calls. 2) AI voice receptionist that can see your calendar and book \- I’ve been using OnCallClerk for my service business. It answers the phone, checks my Google Calendar, books the job, and texts confirmations. I set rules etc. It’ll escalate to me via text if someone says “actively flooding” or if it can’t find a slot. Way better than “we’ll take a message.” 3) Missed-call text-back + self-book \- As a safety net, set up missed-call text-back with a booking link (Calendly online booking). Numa/Podium can do this. It catches the folks who hang up fast. Things that helped for plumbing specifically: \- Block two emergency slots per day and after-hours if you want them \- Require address and zip upfront; auto-reject outside your area \- Add 30–45 min travel buffers between jobs so AI doesn’t stack you too tight \- Define what counts as “emergency” vs “routine” and how to route each \- If no-shows are a problem, have it take a card hold or small deposit on booking \- Forward your line after 3–4 rings or based on your calendar “busy” status If you want human reliability today, go [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) or Schedule Engine. Either way, don’t settle for “we’ll email you their number”, you can absolutely have it pick up and put jobs on your calendar in real time.

the pattern you're describing -- starting ideas, hitting a wall, pivoting -- isn't a motivation problem. it's a validation problem. you're spending months building before finding out if anyone will pay. the missed-call AI product you're on now is actually a real market (smith.ai, ruby, dozens of others doing $10M+). but the test isn't whether the tech works. it's whether a local plumber will pay $200/mo for it when they're already ignoring their missed calls on purpose. before you build anything else: call 20 local businesses that miss calls (dentists, plumbers, HVAC), tell them what you'd build, and ask if they'd pay. if 5+ say yes and give you a deposit or verbal commit, build it. if zero do, you just saved yourself 3 months.

It's called CallPark. We didn't expect it to do very well. There's ginormous titans in the industry like [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) and Ruby. But what the heck? We both work full time. It's gritty. But I think one thing that we stand apart in is that we can give full attention to our people. Build them full Zapier integrations. Build out their scheduling system within our Ai receptionist. Are we ginormous? Nope. haha. But we do take pride in our customers and I think that's what's working! What else do you think is important to penetrate in this space?

Four receptionists quit in two years so I finally modeled the alternatives properly. Full-time hire in 2026: $32k to $42k salary, add 25 to 35% for taxes and benefits, plus months of training. Loaded: $45k to $60k/year for one person, business hours only, one call at a time, calls in sick, takes vacation, quits. Ruby: $235 to $1,399/month. Per-minute billing. 24/7, professional live humans. Quality is excellent, costs are variable. Great option if human touch matters to you. sonant: flat monthly, custom pricing. Insurance specific. Native ams integration, pretrained. No human backup. Answerconnect: $325/month starting, per-minute. Similar quality to ruby. forbes best answering service 2026. Smith ai: from $95/month for ai. Hybrid with human backup. Predictable per-call pricing. Strong for any business type. Gail: $425/month. Insurance/financial services. Transparent pricing. How much is a virtual receptionist really ranges from under $100/month to $1,400+ depending on whether you want human, ai, or hybrid, and whether you need industry specialization. All are a fraction of a full-time hire with more coverage hours. The right choice depends on your priorities not just price. We went with an insurance-specific option because the ams integration mattered for our workflow but a different agency might rationally choose smith ai for the human backup or ruby for the premium human experience and be completely right about it.

# Quick Overview * Remote virtual receptionist role * $15/hr (English) or $16/hr (Spanish bilingual) * W2 employee position * 25–40 hours per week * Set weekly schedule within company hours (Mon–Sun, 5am–4pm PT) * Must have your own computer, internet, and USB headset # Apply Here Careers page: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Direct application (tracks Reddit applicants): [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit) # Want to Check Legitimacy? Totally understandable. * [https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams](https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams) * [https://www.youtube.com/smithai](https://www.youtube.com/smithai) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ) * [https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm) * [https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai) * [https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all](https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all) # Location Notes Open across most U.S. states, except: CA, NY, NJ, CT, WA, HI, Portland Metro (OR), Chicago (IL) For English-only roles, AZ, ME, RI, and CO are restricted (bilingual applicants are still eligible there).

Independent agent, spent time researching this so here's what's available right now for 24/7 coverage. Live answering services: ruby, answerconnect, etc. Real humans, professional but generic. Per minute billing that spikes during busy months (storm season will wreck your budget). No insurance knowledge, notes require manual ams entry. General ai receptionists: smith ai (hybrid ai plus human, per call pricing), various others. Flat monthly pricing solves the unpredictable billing problem. Work 24/7, handle faqs and scheduling. But no ams integration and no insurance specific training. Insurance specific ai: sonant, liberate ai, gail. Built for insurance agencies, native ams integrations, pretrained on insurance conversations, e&o compliant. 24/7 with flat pricing. Quote data captured during calls populates your management system automatically so producers have actionable leads with context every morning. The key question for independent agents isn't just who answers the phone at 2am, it's what happens with that information by 8am. If it's just a message notification someone has to act on manually you still have a bottleneck. Solutions that put structured data directly into your ams so a producer can call back with everything loaded are the ones that actually convert after hours leads into business.

i work with service businesses like yours pretty regularly and the missed calls problem alone is probably costing you more than you realize. every unanswered call during business hours is roughly 150 to 500 dollars in lost lifetime value depending on your average ticket. twenty missed calls in five days could easily be 3k to 10k walking out the door. for the call handling, look at something like Smith.ai or even a simpler Google Voice setup paired with an AI answering service. there are options in your budget range that will pick up, qualify the lead, grab their info, and text you a summary you can review between jobs. i remember the first week i helped a landscaping company set this up, the owner called me kind of stunned because he had no idea how many calls he was actually losing. he thought it was maybe two or three a week. it was closer to fifteen. for the quote follow up, the simplest fix is a form that auto triggers an immediate response. not a chatbot, just an automated email or text that says something like "got your request, reviewing now, will have a quote to you by end of day." that alone cuts your lead loss by probably 60 percent because the person knows you received it and are not ignoring them. you can set this up for free with most form builders. the content piece is actually the long game winner though. those before and after photos sitting in your camera roll are gold. even posting two a week to your Google Business Profile with a short description of the job helps your local SEO significantly. you do not need a blog right now. just start with the photos you already have.

For immigration specifically, Spanish fluency matters a lot so the after-hours coverage question becomes: is this someone who genuinely speaks it or someone who technically has Spanish speakers available and routes you there inconsistently? AnsweringLegal has always-available Spanish speakers and is a solid starting point given the free trial. Smith.ai is the other one that comes up consistently in legal circles and actually does the calendar booking piece well, which sounds like your core ask. They integrate with most scheduling tools so an attorney's calendar gets a real appointment, not just a callback note. Legal Answer Edge is newer but has been getting mentions specifically from PI firms. They sell themselves on actually signing cases by phone, which may or may not be relevant for immigration since retainers work differently. The thing I would evaluate carefully regardless of who you pick: how they handle the qualification flowchart. Most services are fine at collecting name and number but fall apart when a caller describes a situation that does not fit cleanly into your intake categories. Immigration cases especially. Worth asking each vendor for a recorded call example from a legal client before you commit.

Good starting point is to figure out which tasks eat the most time and are repetitive — those are the ones AI handles best. For me the biggest win was content repurposing. I make longer videos and used to spend hours manually cutting clips for Shorts and Reels. Now I just run everything through ClipSmith AI and it pulls the best moments automatically. Saved me probably 4-5 hours a week just on that one task. For lead gen and research, n8n or Make with a Claude integration is solid. You can build a workflow that scrapes, summarizes, and drafts outreach in one run. Start small — automate one thing fully before moving to the next. The temptation is to build something massive right away and it usually falls apart.

No worries, I sent again. And, just in case… alignedhq.ai alignerr.com appen.com axiom.ai babel.audio belaysolutions.com clickworker.com cloudfactory.com cloudresearch.com crowdgen.com cxg.com dataannotation.tech dataforce.recruitee.com datavio.ai fancyhands.com ferpection.com gethybrid.io himalayas.app imerit.net jobs.telusdigital.com joinhandshake.com join.liveops.com joinstellar.ai juji.io jumptask.io lxt.ai labelbox.com lionbridge.com manthano.ai mercor.com micro1.ai mindrift.ai mturk.com neevo.ai oneforma.com opentrain.ai opencv.ai outlier.ai pareto.io picoworkers.org pocketfm.com populii.ai preply.com prolific.com rws.com remotasks.com rev.com sama.com sigma.ai smith.ai snorkel.ai superannotate.com surge.ai taskverse.com testbirds.com testlio.com teemwork.ai theaudiobee.com tp.com transcribeme.com trymata.com userbrain.com userfeel.com userlytics.com usertesting.com utest.com workana.com x.ai yourpersonalai.net

Hi Reddit, I post this role here occasionally because we've actually hired several great agents who originally found the job through Reddit, so it’s been a good place to reach people. This post is long because I try to answer the most common questions upfront. # TL;DR * Remote receptionist job * **$15/hr (English)** or **$16/hr (Spanish bilingual)** * **W2 position** * **25–40 hours/week** * Set weekly schedule within company hours (M-Sun 5am-4pm PT) * Must have your **own computer (8GB RAM), internet, and USB headset** # What the Job Is You’ll work as a **virtual receptionist** answering calls for different businesses. Typical tasks include: * Answering incoming calls * Taking messages * Scheduling appointments * Processing payments * Transferring calls * Following instructions for each business Think front desk work, but remote. # Pay * **$15/hr** – English calls * **$16/hr** – Spanish + English calls This is a **W2 employee role**. Benefits begin at **30+ hours/week**. The company also promotes from within, and raises are possible through performance reviews. # Schedule You set a consistent weekly availability within these windows: Mon–Fri: 12pm–5pm PT Sat: 7am–8pm PT Sun: 10am–8pm PT Other details: * Minimum 25 hours/week * Maximum 40 hours/week (some weeks you can do overtime) * At least 5 hours on Mondays required * Usually 2 days off Schedules can be structured in different ways: * 4 longer days * 6 shorter days * Split shifts are allowed You can also pick up extra hours anytime without changing your set schedule. # Equipment Required You must use your own equipment: * Computer with 8GB RAM minimum * Reliable internet * USB headset Chromebooks are not compatible. # Requirements * 35 WPM min typing speed * Ability to listen to callers while reading instructions * Authorized to work in the United States * Must pass a background check Helpful but not required: * Customer service experience * Call center or receptionist experience Soft skills that matter most: * Active listening * Critical thinking * Friendly phone presence Basically: be the kind of person you’d want answering the phone when you call a business. # AI Question (because people always ask) [Smith.ai](http://Smith.ai) also has an AI receptionist product. The goal is not replacing human receptionists, but helping handle certain types of calls and overflow. Humans still handle calls. More info: [https://smith.ai/ai-receptionist](https://smith.ai/ai-receptionist) # Hiring Process Everything is online: 1. Assessments (3 stages) 2. Short recorded video interview (\~10 minutes) 3. Live Zoom interview (\~30–45 minutes) We receive a lot of applications, which is why the assessment stages exist. Not passing an early stage doesn’t mean the company is a scam, it just means the role wasn’t the best fit. # Apply Careers page: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Apply here (this link just tracks Reddit applicants): [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-5BXPEMKCY/landing?source=Reddit) # Want to Verify the Company? Totally fair, job scams are everywhere. * [https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams](https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams) * [https://www.youtube.com/smithai](https://www.youtube.com/smithai) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ) * [https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm) * [https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai) * [https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all](https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all) # Location Restrictions Available in all U.S. states **except**: CA, NY, NJ, CT, WA, HI, Portland/Metro Area (OR), Chicago (IL) Restricted for English-only: AZ, ME, RI, CO (you can still apply if bilingual) Feel free to ask questions in the comments. And please don't DM me offering your AI receptionist product, we already have one.

Hey Reddit community, We’ve been seeing more conversations lately about **AI virtual receptionists** and how they fit into growing SMB setups. Since this topic keeps coming up, we wanted to share a practical comparison based on what teams are actually using in 2026. AI receptionists are becoming part of modern business phone systems. Not because companies want to replace people, but because they want to **answer every call, qualify leads faster, and reduce missed opportunities without constantly adding headcount**. For growing teams, the real question is which AI phone receptionist is genuinely useful, easy to integrate, and scalable as call volume increases. Below is a practical overview of how AI virtual receptionists work and the platforms SMBs are considering this year. # How We Put This Comparison Together To keep this practical and transparent, this overview is based on publicly available product information, feature documentation, SMB positioning, and user feedback from platforms like G2 and similar review sites. We focused specifically on tools that: * Are actively used by small and mid-sized businesses * Offer AI-based inbound call handling * Provide CRM integrations and workflow automation * Have consistent user feedback around reliability and usability  We’re sharing this to make it easier for teams to compare approaches and decide what fits their setup. # AI Virtual Receptionist Platforms Worth Considering in 2026 **1. CloudTalk – AI Reception Inside a Full Business Phone System** CloudTalk is an AI-powered business calling platform used by 4,000+ SMBs worldwide. Its AI Voice Agent operates within a full cloud phone system, meaning AI reception, routing, analytics, and global number coverage are unified in one environment rather than spread across multiple tools. **Key capabilities:** * Smart call routing based on CRM data and predefined workflows * AI Voice Agent that answers inquiries and books appointments 24/7 * Automatic transcripts and structured call summaries * 100+ native CRM integrations, including HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive * Access to virtual numbers in 160+ countries **Best fit for:** Growing SMBs that want AI reception embedded into a scalable phone system with strong reporting and global coverage. **G2 rating:** [\~4.4/5](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cloudtalk) from 1,600+ verified reviews on G2 (based on real user feedback) **2.** **Smith.ai** **– Hybrid AI and Human Reception** Smith.ai combines AI tools with live receptionist services and focuses primarily on inbound answering and lead qualification. **Key capabilities:** * AI-assisted call handling * Live receptionist support * Appointment scheduling * Website chat integration **Best fit for:** Small businesses that prefer outsourced reception support rather than managing telephony and automation internally. **G2 rating:** [\~4.9/5](https://www.g2.com/products/smith-ai-virtual-receptionists/reviews) based on 73 verified reviews **3. RingCentral AI Receptionist – Unified Communications Ecosystem** RingCentral integrates AI receptionist functionality within its broader communications platform. **Key capabilities:** * AI-driven call routing * Voice assistant functionality * Enterprise-grade infrastructure **Best fit for:** Teams already operating inside the RingCentral ecosystem. **G2 rating:** RingCentral Contact Center product scores [\~4.1/5](https://www.g2.com/products/ringcentral-contact-center/reviews) on G2 (based on reviews) **4. Dialpad AI Receptionist – AI Within an All-in-One VoIP Platform** Dialpad incorporates AI call handling into its cloud communications system. **Key capabilities:** * AI-powered call answering * Real-time transcription * Built-in analytics * VoIP-based calling environment **Best fit for:** Teams looking for AI functionality bundled inside a unified communications suite. **G2 data:** Dialpad Connect also rates [\~4.4/5](https://www.g2.com/products/dialpad-connect/reviews) on G2  **5. Abby Connect – Fully Managed Human Reception** Abby Connect focuses primarily on live receptionist services supported by structured workflows. **Key capabilities:** * Dedicated live receptionists * Call screening and routing * Custom scripts **Best fit for:** Businesses that prioritize human-managed reception over AI-led automation. **G2 rating:**[ \~4.5/5](https://www.g2.com/products/abby-connect/reviews) from 11 verified reviews on G2 # How Growing Teams Should Evaluate AI Phone Receptionists When comparing options, growing SMBs should look beyond feature lists and ask: * Does this reduce missed opportunities? * Will it integrate cleanly with our CRM? * Can it scale as inbound volume increases? * Does it provide visibility into call performance? * Is the handoff between AI and human agents smooth? An AI receptionist should simplify operations, not create another system to manage. # Final Thoughts The most useful AI virtual receptionist for 2026 depends on operational fit. For growing teams, the right solution balances automation, CRM integration, reporting visibility, and scalability. If you are exploring a setup that combines AI call handling, global virtual number coverage in 160+ countries, and native CRM integrations, you can review how [**CloudTalk’s AI virtual receptionist**](https://www.cloudtalk.io/ai-receptionist/) works in more detail on our AI receptionist page. For SMBs experiencing increasing inbound volume, the right AI receptionist can ensure no call goes unanswered while keeping workflows structured and measurable. Are you currently using an AI phone receptionist, or still relying on traditional IVR or manual call handling?

u/tosind I see this happening a lot with missed calls, especially for business owners that have to commute from one client location to the next (construction, plumbing, landscaping). What is the name of your tool? I know of a couple of options out there that do similar things. My colleague is working on Pencil'd which is an AI-powered voice receptionist that turns inbound calls into booked appointments. [https://pencild.com/](https://pencild.com/) Smith AI is a 24/7 receptionist that merges human support with AI capabilities. [https://smith.ai/](https://smith.ai/) There's also Slang AI which specializes in companies like restaurants that want a fast reservation booking system. [https://www.slang.ai/](https://www.slang.ai/)

Hola a todos! [Smith.ai](http://smith.ai/)  is hiring remote receptionists to handle calls in Spanish and English from the comfort of their own home. **Why are we hiring continuously?** We support thousands of businesses and onboard new ones constantly, so we need more agents. People also move on for normal life reasons, which opens spots. **Not available in:** Washington, New York, Connecticut, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. # About the Job **Work-from-home virtual receptionist (W-2)** You’ll handle inbound and outbound calls for different businesses: * Answer questions * Take messages * Schedule appointments * Process payments * Transfer calls We *do* have an AI receptionist product, but it’s meant to support humans, not replace them. We need **real people talking to real people**. # Pay & Growth * **$16/hr** * Performance-based raises * Strong promote-from-within culture # Schedule (Very Flexible) * Set your availability: * Mon–Fri: 5am–6pm PT (biggest need 12pm–3pm PT) * Sat: 5am–5pm PT * **25–40 hrs/week** * **5 hrs required on Mondays** * Split shifts OK * Pick up extra hours anytime * Overnight shifts may open later * Benefits at **30+ hrs/week** # Requirements * 34 WPM typing * Can listen + read at the same time * Authorized to work in the U.S. * Pass background check * Computer w/ **8GB RAM** (no Chromebooks) * Customer service/call experience is a plus * Good phone voice + critical thinking * Solid attitude & growth mindset # How to Apply Info: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Apply here (Reddit tracking link): [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-WY71FMIV8/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-WY71FMIV8/landing?source=Reddit) **Process:** 3 assessments → short video interview (\~10 min) → live Zoom (partly in Spanish) (20–45 min) If you’re disqualified early, it doesn’t mean it’s a scam, it just means it wasn’t the right fit at that stage. # References * [https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams](https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ) * [https://www.youtube.com/smithai](https://www.youtube.com/smithai) * [https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm) * [https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai) * [https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all](https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all) 🚫 Please don’t DM me about selling AI receptionists, we’re good Happy to answer questions here!

Hola a todos! [Smith.ai](http://smith.ai/) is hiring remote receptionists to handle calls in Spanish and English from the comfort of their own home. **Why are we hiring continuously?** We support thousands of businesses and onboard new ones constantly, so we need more agents. People also move on for normal life reasons, which opens spots. **Not available in:** Washington, New York, Connecticut, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. # About the Job **Work-from-home virtual receptionist (W-2)** You’ll handle inbound and outbound calls for different businesses: * Answer questions * Take messages * Schedule appointments * Process payments * Transfer calls We *do* have an AI receptionist product, but it’s meant to support humans, not replace them. We need **real people talking to real people**. # Pay & Growth * **$16/hr** * Performance-based raises * Strong promote-from-within culture # Schedule (Very Flexible) * Set your availability: * Mon–Fri: 5am–6pm PT (biggest need 12pm–3pm PT) * Sat: 5am–5pm PT * **25–40 hrs/week** * **5 hrs required on Mondays** * Split shifts OK * Pick up extra hours anytime * Overnight shifts may open later * Benefits at **30+ hrs/week** # Requirements * 34 WPM typing * Can listen + read at the same time * Authorized to work in the U.S. * Pass background check * Computer w/ **8GB RAM** (no Chromebooks) * Customer service/call experience is a plus * Good phone voice + critical thinking * Solid attitude & growth mindset # How to Apply Info: [https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist](https://smith.ai/careers/virtual-receptionist) Apply here (Reddit tracking link): [https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-WY71FMIV8/landing?source=Reddit](https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-WY71FMIV8/landing?source=Reddit) **Process:** 3 assessments → short video interview (\~10 min) → live Zoom (partly in Spanish) (20–45 min) If you’re disqualified early, it doesn’t mean it’s a scam, it just means it wasn’t the right fit at that stage. # References * [https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams](https://smith.ai/blog/beware-online-job-scams) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99qc199Y9vQ) * [https://www.youtube.com/smithai](https://www.youtube.com/smithai) * [https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm](https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Smith-ai-Reviews-E1997017.htm) * [https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Smith.ai) * [https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all](https://www.linkedin.com/company/smith-ai/posts/?feedView=all) 🚫 Please don’t DM me about selling AI receptionists, we’re good Happy to answer questions here!

For quoting jobs, you can use Field Quote (https://getfieldquote.com). It lets you generate a quote just by talking, and it spits out a ready-to-send PDF in a couple minutes, which is a game changer for cutting down back-and-forth with customers. For scheduling and chasing invoices, tools like Jobber or Housecall Pro are pretty popular too. For calls and texts, check out Smith.ai or even Google Voice with some automation if you want something basic. It’s a lot of piecing stuff together, but it does save hours.

For jobs in legal it’s rare to start as a paralegal. You don’t need any kind of special training to get your foot in the door. The six month programs aren’t for certification they are for a certificate (which can be meaningless). There are 2 main national certifications, but it’s a good idea to go for them when you have years of experience under your belt. You could start at smith.ai or something like that so you can be totally remote.

This is the single biggest revenue leak in service businesses and almost nobody tracks it. I work with a lot of small service businesses -- plumbing, HVAC, electrical, general contractors -- and the pattern is almost always the same. Owner is on a job from 8am to 4pm. Phone rings, can't pick up. Caller doesn't leave a voicemail (almost nobody does anymore). Caller calls the next guy on Google. Job gone in 90 seconds. The part that kills me is when I ask them how many calls they miss per day, they always say "maybe one or two." Then we actually look at the call logs and it's 8-12 missed calls on a busy day. They had no idea because the callers just... disappeared. What's actually worked from what I've seen: **Auto text-back on missed calls.** When someone calls and you can't answer, they get an instant text saying something like "Hey, I'm on a job right now but I saw you called. What can I help with?" This one thing alone recovers 30-40% of those lost leads because it keeps the conversation alive. The caller stops shopping and waits for you to follow up. **Dedicated business line with tracking.** OpenPhone ($15/mo) or similar. Separates business calls from personal, logs everything, and gives you a timeline of who called, when, and whether you responded. Can't fix what you can't see. **Virtual receptionist as a backup, not a default.** Smith.ai or Ruby are solid but they run $200-400/mo. Good if your average ticket is high enough to justify it. For most small operators, the auto text-back gets you 80% of the way there at a fraction of the cost. The AI phone answering tools are getting interesting but they're still hit or miss for trades. Works fine for simple scheduling. Falls apart when someone calls with a complex issue and wants to talk to a human who understands their problem. I'd test one alongside a text-back system rather than replacing your phone entirely. The real answer though: before you spend a dollar on marketing or ads, fix the calls you're already getting. Most service businesses are bleeding leads they already paid for.

u/Small_Dragonfly_9568 I agree that it's definitely more than just a trend. There's an industry-wide movement toward using AI tools as part of customer service. It looks like Callsi can handle both inbound and outbound calls which is awesome. That could help with cold calling potential customer leads too. I've seen a couple of tools out there on the market that do similar functions: Smith AI is a 24/7 receptionist that merges human support with AI capabilities. [https://smith.ai/](https://smith.ai/) There's also Slang AI which specializes in companies like restaurants that want a fast reservation booking system. [https://www.slang.ai/](https://www.slang.ai/) My colleague is working on Pencil'd which is an AI-powered voice receptionist that turns inbound calls into booked appointments. [https://pencild.com/](https://pencild.com/)