According to Consumer Affairs, virtual receptionists are continuing to grow increasingly popular because they can handle a high call volume and answer phones 24/7. They cost substantially less than hiring someone to do the same job, as we explored in How Businesses Can Save $30k By Hiring A Virtual Receptionist.

Many types of businesses of all sizes benefit from the customer service solutions that virtual receptionists can provide, including prompt call answering, scheduling appointments, and taking orders or reservations.

The trick to finding the best virtual receptionist service for your business, however, lies in the combination of quality and cost. The virtual receptionists at a live answering service should be professionally trained to offer customized communications per client but at a reasonable cost.

Most virtual receptionist services have set one-size-fits-all packages and pricing that includes hidden fees for ala-carte services like changing the after-hours schedule or on-call person to contact. These costs can change every month and add up fast.

Answering services that employ virtual receptionists use one of four methods of billing:

• Flat rate—same amount each month, no matter how many calls you have.
• Pay as you go—base rate plus per minute charge for the amount of time spent on calls.
• Pay per call—base bundled package plus an extra charge for calls over that amount.
• Pay per minute—based on the total time spent on your calls.

You shouldn’t be charged for when your callers are on hold waiting to speak with a receptionist, but that may be the case with some services that charge per minute or as you go. And even if a service charges a flat rate, some of them may increase prices too frequently or charge additional fees for changing your schedule or on-call person.

Ideally, you want to partner with an answering service that will charge a per minute plan each month, with no hidden fees. This allows for flexibility with fluctuations in call volume, ensuring that your calls are covered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you’d like to learn more about how the virtual receptionists at a live answering service can help you save time and money, contact Voice Link of Columbus, Inc. We offer month-to-month service agreements, with no hidden fees, to meet the needs of any business regardless of size.

Customized communication solutions, appointment scheduling, and secure HIPAA/HiTech messaging saves you time and money while improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. With state-of-the-art facilities in Columbus and LaGrange, Georgia, our excellent reputation, expert virtual receptionists, and state-of-the-art technology will exceed your expectations. Request information online or call us at (800) 262-2799 for a free consultation.