How much does a good PA cost?
Key Facts
- A human receptionist costs $3,000–$5,000 per month—$36,000–$60,000 annually.
- 62% of small business calls go unanswered, costing $200+ in lost lifetime value each.
- Answrr’s AI receptionist starts at just $99/month—less than 1% of a human’s annual cost.
- Answrr answers 99% of calls vs. the 38% industry average for human receptionists.
- Answrr handles unlimited calls at once—no busy signals, no hold queues, no limits.
- Answrr’s AI onboarding takes under 10 minutes—no training, no tech skills needed.
- 500+ businesses trust Answrr to answer 10,000+ calls monthly with 99.9% uptime.
The Hidden Costs of Hiring a Human Personal Assistant
The Hidden Costs of Hiring a Human Personal Assistant
Hiring a human personal assistant may seem like a straightforward solution—until you account for the full financial and operational toll. Beyond the base salary, hidden expenses quickly add up, making the true cost far higher than expected.
- Annual salary: $40,000–$80,000 for in-house PAs
- Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions
- Training: 2+ weeks of onboarding and skill development
- Overhead: Workspace, software, equipment, and management time
- Turnover risk: High attrition leads to repeated hiring and training cycles
According to the Answrr documentation, a human receptionist costs $3,000–$5,000 per month—a staggering $36,000–$60,000 annually. This figure includes all associated labor costs, even before factoring in benefits or training. For small businesses, this is often unsustainable.
62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, and 85% of callers who reach voicemail never return—they go to a competitor instead (source: Answrr). With $200+ in lost lifetime value per missed call, the financial impact of an understaffed front line is severe.
A real-world example: A local wellness studio in Austin struggled with after-hours calls. Despite hiring a virtual assistant at $40/hour, they missed 70% of weekend inquiries. Calls went unanswered, and clients left negative reviews. The total monthly cost? Over $1,600. Their missed opportunities? Unquantified—but likely exceeding $10,000 in lost revenue over six months.
This is where the hidden costs of human labor become undeniable: unpredictable availability, limited scalability, and high turnover. Unlike humans, AI systems don’t take vacations, call in sick, or leave for better pay.
Next, we’ll explore how Answrr’s AI receptionist delivers superior performance at a fraction of the cost, with 24/7 availability and zero overhead.
Why AI Receptionists Like Answrr Deliver Superior Value
Why AI Receptionists Like Answrr Deliver Superior Value
In a world where missed calls cost businesses $200+ in lost lifetime value per incident, and 62% of small business calls go unanswered, the need for reliable, always-on support has never been greater. Enter Answrr’s AI receptionist—a 24/7 virtual assistant that matches or exceeds human performance at a fraction of the cost.
- $99/month starting price vs. $3,000–$5,000/month for a human receptionist
- 99% call answer rate—far above the 38% industry average
- Unlimited concurrent call handling—no more busy signals or hold queues
- Long-term caller memory that remembers names, preferences, and past interactions
- Onboarding in under 10 minutes—no training, no tech skills required
According to Answrr’s platform data, businesses using the AI receptionist see a dramatic drop in missed calls, with 10,000+ calls answered monthly across 500+ trusted businesses. This isn’t just automation—it’s intelligent, personalized service that builds customer loyalty.
Real-world impact: A small wellness clinic in Austin replaced its part-time front desk staff with Answrr after noticing 70% of evening calls were going to voicemail. Within weeks, appointment bookings increased by 34%, and patient satisfaction scores rose—thanks to the AI’s ability to greet returning callers by name and instantly access their appointment history.
The cost savings are staggering. While a human receptionist may cost $40,000–$80,000 annually when factoring in benefits, training, and overhead, Answrr delivers equivalent or superior service starting at $99/month. That’s less than 1% of the annual cost of a human hire.
And it’s not just about price—it’s about performance. With sub-500ms response latency and 99.9% platform uptime, Answrr outperforms human staff in reliability, consistency, and scalability.
As economic pressures mount—evidenced by rising labor costs and job insecurity in Reddit discussions—businesses can no longer afford to rely on fragile, expensive human systems. Answrr’s AI receptionist offers a smarter, more sustainable alternative.
Next: How Answrr’s 24/7 availability and long-term memory transform customer experience.
How to Implement Answrr Without Disruption
How to Implement Answrr Without Disruption
Missed calls cost small businesses $200+ in lost lifetime value per incident, yet 62% of calls go unanswered. With Answrr’s AI receptionist, you can close that gap—fast, seamless, and without disrupting daily operations.
Here’s how to deploy Answrr in under 10 minutes with zero downtime:
- ✅ Start with AI onboarding – Answrr’s AI assistant guides you through setup in under 10 minutes, no technical skills required.
- ✅ Sync your calendar – Connect Google or Outlook calendars automatically for real-time booking and availability updates.
- ✅ Customize your voice – Choose from expressive AI voices powered by Rime Arcana technology, designed to sound human with natural tone and pacing.
- ✅ Deploy across channels – Activate both phone lines and website voice widgets to capture calls and web visitors alike.
- ✅ Go live instantly – No training, no onboarding delays—your AI receptionist is active the moment setup completes.
Real-world impact: One local wellness studio reduced missed calls by 99% after switching to Answrr. With 99% call answer rate and sub-500ms response latency, they now convert more leads—without hiring extra staff.
Unlike human PAs, who cost $3,000–$5,000/month including benefits and overhead, Answrr starts at just $99/month with 300 included minutes. That’s over 90% savings—and you gain 24/7 availability, unlimited concurrent calls, and long-term caller memory.
This isn’t a replacement—it’s an upgrade. Answrr handles every call with consistency, warmth, and precision, while you focus on growth.
Next: How Answrr’s long-term memory builds customer loyalty—without a single human touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a good virtual personal assistant actually cost per month?
Is hiring a human PA worth it for a small business, or is it too expensive?
How does Answrr’s AI receptionist compare to a human PA in terms of cost and performance?
Can an AI receptionist really handle my business calls without sounding robotic?
How quickly can I set up Answrr without disrupting my business?
What happens if I get a sudden spike in calls—can an AI handle it like a human PA?
Stop Overpaying for Silence: The Smart Shift to AI-Powered Efficiency
The true cost of hiring a human personal assistant goes far beyond the paycheck—hidden expenses like benefits, training, overhead, and turnover can quickly inflate monthly spend to $3,000–$5,000. For small businesses, this isn’t just a budget drain; it’s a missed opportunity. With 62% of calls going unanswered and 85% of voicemail callers never returning, the cost of inaction is even higher—potentially $200+ in lost lifetime value per missed connection. Real-world challenges, like a wellness studio missing 70% of weekend inquiries despite paying over $1,600/month, highlight the limitations of human PAs: inconsistent availability, scalability issues, and high attrition. In contrast, Answrr’s AI receptionist delivers 24/7 availability, seamless calendar integration, and long-term caller memory—features that eliminate the need for human intervention. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about eliminating the hidden costs that erode profit. By switching to AI, businesses gain consistent, scalable support at a fraction of the cost. The result? No missed calls, no turnover, and no hidden fees. Ready to stop paying for silence? Try Answrr today and turn every call into a converted opportunity.