What an AI Receptionist Actually Costs
Two flat monthly plans — Starter at $350 and Pro/Growth at $500 AUD/month — not a per-minute call-centre bill, and not a $70k+ salary. Here's how they compare, and how to pick yours.
Doing nothing vs. hiring vs. EchoFoyer
| Criteria | Do Nothing | Hire a Receptionist | EchoFoyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $0 upfront, full cost in lost bookings | $70,000–$85,000/yr + super & leave | Flat $350 or $500 AUD/month, no per-minute charges |
| Coverage | Business hours, one call at a time | Business hours, one call at a time | 24/7, multiple calls at once |
| Sick days / turnover | N/A | Yes — a real risk to plan for | None |
| Books appointments live? | No — voicemail only | Yes, while at their desk | Yes, on every call |
| Setup time | None | Weeks of hiring & training | Built and tested before going live |
Want to see what "do nothing" is costing your business specifically? Run the numbers here.
Choosing between Starter and Pro/Growth
Call volume
Starter ($350/month) includes up to 250 inbound calls a month, with after-hours and lunchtime coverage. Go over and calls are never cut off or charged extra — we move you to Pro/Growth from the next billing cycle. Busier businesses usually suit Pro/Growth ($500/month): full peak-hour and after-hours coverage with unlimited inbound calls (fair use).
Complexity
Complex, multi-question calls — insurance, pricing and booking in one conversation — plus custom emergency escalation and off-script handling are what Pro/Growth is built for.
Integrations
2-way Google & Outlook calendar sync and instant SMS & email lead alerts are included in both plans. Practice management & CRM sync (Cliniko, ServiceM8, Xero, M365) comes with Pro/Growth.
Term
Month-to-month is more flexible; locking in a longer term is worth asking about if you want rate certainty.
No lock-in contracts required, no per-call surprise billing without it being agreed upfront, no offshore call-centre markup.
One flat monthly retainer — $350 or $500 AUD — confirmed before you commit to anything.
Common pricing questions
Two flat monthly retainers: Starter at $350 AUD/month and Pro/Growth at $500 AUD/month. Both include 24/7 call coverage with no per-minute or per-call charges. On your free 15-minute live audit we'll recommend the plan that fits your call volume and workflow.
We'll confirm exactly what's involved — free discovery call, build, and testing — on your consult, before you commit to anything.
Your calls are never cut off, and there are no per-minute, per-call or overage charges. Pro/Growth includes unlimited inbound calls (fair use). Starter includes up to 250 inbound calls a month as a soft cap: if you go over, we review your volume with you and move you to the Pro/Growth retainer ($500 AUD/month) from your next billing cycle — never a surprise bill for the month you're in.
If you're not currently paying for anything (just absorbing missed calls), start with the calculator on this page to see what that's actually costing you. If you're comparing against a human receptionist or an answering service, see the comparison table above. EchoFoyer is a flat $350 or $500 AUD/month either way.
15 minutes to find the right plan
Tell us your call volume and what you need handled — we'll recommend Starter or Pro/Growth for your business.
See available times
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