Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers about setup, bookings, call flow, and what your callers experience.

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How quickly can we go live?

Most businesses are live within 72 hours. We configure your call flow, booking details, and business rules with you, then test before launch.

Do we need a new phone number?

No. You keep your current number. We help you set up simple call forwarding so your callers continue using the number they already know.

How do I forward calls when I don’t answer?

Most mobile carriers support conditional call forwarding, which sends missed calls to another number (like your receptionist). No PBX or special phone system required—just your regular business line. The setup depends on your carrier.

  • Verizon: Dial *71 + number to enable. Disable with *73.
  • AT&T / Cricket: Dial *92 + number to enable. Disable with *93.
  • T-Mobile / Mint: Dial **61*1number# to enable. Disable with ##61#.
  • Google Fi: Open the Google Fi app → Phone settings → Call forwarding (dial codes may not work reliably).

How it works: Your phone rings normally. If you don’t answer (or you’re on another call), the carrier automatically forwards the call.

Tip: After enabling, test it by calling your number and letting it ring out to confirm forwarding is active.

What happens when someone calls after hours?

The Receptionist App answers, handles common questions, captures caller details, and books appointments based on your availability rules.

Can my team review bookings and caller details?

Yes. You can review appointment details, caller information, and call outcomes so your team can follow up quickly and stay organized.

Is there a contract?

No long-term contract. You pay a $10/month base fee plus an agreed per-booking fee when your AI receptionist places a confirmed appointment on your calendar. Your per-booking rate is set during onboarding. You can cancel anytime; see our Terms for how billing applies when you cancel.

How do you know what to charge me per booking?

During onboarding, we'll discuss your Your average job value and agree on a per-booking fee that makes sense for your business. Most home service businesses pay $25 per booking. Health and wellness practices typically pay $50. The fee doesn't change unless you ask us to adjust it.

What counts as a “booking”?

A booking is a confirmed appointment that your AI receptionist places directly on your calendar. If someone calls and just asks a question but doesn't schedule — that's free. You only pay when a real appointment appears on your calendar.

What if the customer no-shows?

You still pay the booking fee because we delivered a confirmed appointment. No-shows are a normal part of any service business — but our system confirms appointments and sends reminders to minimize them.

What if I have a slow month?

You pay less. If your receptionist books zero appointments, you pay $10 for the month. That's it. Our incentive is to book you as many jobs as possible.

Can I limit how many bookings I get per month?

Yes — and this is one of the most common things businesses ask about before signing up. If you tell us you can only handle, say, 8 new jobs a month, we set a hard ceiling. Your receptionist stops booking new appointments once you hit it. You always know the maximum you’ll ever pay: $10 + (your ceiling × your booking fee). No surprises.

The ceiling is agreed during onboarding and can be raised anytime. There’s a trade-off though: once you hit your limit, any calls that come in after that are jobs that go unanswered until next month — so you’ll want to set it at whatever you can actually handle, not just what feels safe. Try the revenue estimator on the pricing page to see exactly what your ceiling would cost.

How is this different from Thumbtack or Angi leads?

Lead services send the same lead to 3–5 competitors. You're bidding against other businesses for the same customer. Our receptionist answers your phone, has a conversation with your caller, and books them into your calendar. Every booking is exclusive to you.

Can I use this during the day too, not just after hours?

Yes. You can set it up to handle overflow calls when you're busy or on another call. Same deal — pay per booking. Many of our clients start after-hours and expand to daytime overflow within a few months.

Do I need to change my phone number?

No. You keep your existing business number. We use call forwarding — when you don't answer, it forwards to your AI receptionist. Takes about two minutes to set up, and we walk you through it. (See also How do I forward calls when I don't answer?)

Still have questions?

Call us and we will walk you through setup, pricing, and your exact call flow.

Call (951) 502-1174 →