How much do virtual receptionist services cost?

How much does a virtual receptionist solution cost? Answering this is quite tricky because call centers not only charge different rates, but have unique pricing structures, plans, and billing models. 

Virtual receptionists can range anywhere from $25 to over $3,000 per month. Hidden fees and upcharges for different service levels may turn an affordable solution into a money pit. 

On top of the payment structure, each solution offers its own mix of features. Not all of which may be included in advertised rates. There’s also the possibility of additional fees, which some providers bury within their fine print.

Defining Virtual Receptionist

When reduced to its most basic description, a Virtual Receptionist is the individual who answers your calls. From the onset, it may appear that the breadth of work performed by a Virtual Receptionist is restricted to phone answering and general administration. In reality, good communication is a skill that is often disregarded in the business world.

Every incoming or outgoing call has the potential to be significant to the company’s success. Communication is the channel through which opportunities are brought to fruition. Companies restrict the amount of time a person can be kept on the phone since each incoming call has the potential to be the most important call in the company’s history.

A Virtual Receptionist, often known as a VR, is capable of much more than simply answering phone calls. Historically, VRs were entrusted with performing basic secretarial duties. When a VR is not getting phone calls, he or she can create letters, plan work schedules, and schedule appointments. A VR can also perform personal assistant services, such as making dinner reservations, making travel plans, and checking on the availability of the Chief Executive Officer’s dry laundry.

A VR, as the name implies, is a device that operates in a virtual environment. He or she is a person who has been engaged to perform a specific scope of work from a remote location. When it comes down to it, a VR is a freelance agent or a person who does not supply his or her services entirely to clients. A virtual receptionist specialist can work for a variety of clients, not just your organization, unless otherwise stipulated in his or her contract. Nonetheless, the term “freelance” suggests that the VR is an independent contractor.

But why do corporations hire virtual receptionist specialists rather than typical office workers who are capable of performing the same tasks?

Nutshell Benefit of a Virtual Receptionist

A virtual receptionist will be the initial interaction all callers will have with your system. The professional manners they supply will make your business look professional. You could be a tiny firm, solo contractor or freelancer but with a virtual receptionist, your business would look credible to the caller.

They also ensure that you or your team members don’t get interrupted by ordinary calls from consumers or clients. Those disruptions can be costly as they make it harder to regain focus. But now you may focus on revenue-generating duties while the virtual receptionist receives calls relating to orders or appointments.

A virtual receptionist is also the traditional solution to the missed calls problem. You might have a good reason not to take a call but it could affect your business. The outsourced receptionist won’t miss any calls and guarantee that you get the relevant details.

They’re also indisputably cost-effective. They are a cheaper choice when you consider the costs of seeking, hiring, and providing benefits to a full-time receptionist.

What Makes a Great Virtual Receptionist?

Requirements for Virtual Assistants may vary relies on the employer or customer demands, although there are some common qualities that all excellent VAs should have:

Good Communication Skills

Communication skills are vital for VAs. They need to let the clients know how the job is progressing and when to update the client at the beginning of each new task.

Good Organizational Skills

VAs should have the capacity to stay focused on multiple activities, and know how to develop and keep deadlines. They should keep track what they need to complete and when.

Time Management Skills

There can be numerous initiatives going on, they should learn how to prioritize their labor.

Adaptability

Good VAs should be adaptable and have the capacity to adjust to changing work conditions. They should know how to develop a solution and be able to come up with a plan when there is a problem.

Trustworthy

Trust comes when you understand customer’s demands, respect them and deliver suitable services. VAs need to be honest, consistent and reliable about their work.

What are the virtual receptionist pricing Magellan Solutions offer?

In this article, Magellan Solutions breaks down our pricing package so you can understand what you’re paying for and avoid hidden fees.

Pay by the minute

Many virtual receptionist services charge by the minute. The longer your average call lasts, the higher your bill.

Monthly fees

In addition to the per-minute charges, many services charge a monthly service or subscription fee. Some calling minutes may be included in the plan, so be sure to audit the bill to avoid unnecessary overages.

Tiered pricing

Answering services can be a glorified voice mailbox or a fully staffed receptionist service. Many providers offer several tiers of service with pricing to match.

Avoid additional and hidden fees

Many providers charge multiple fees on top of their base per minute or per-call rates. They often market themselves as low-cost “answering services” and saddle customers with separate costs for basic capabilities such as call transfers. 

Think of an answering service as a motel that charges for every amenity. On the other hand, virtual receptionist services is an all-inclusive hotel.

Additional and hidden fees that many providers charge include, but are not limited to:

1. Setup or activation fees
2. Holiday fees
3. Service fees:

• 24/7 answering
• Call transfers
• Multiple transfer destinations
• Complex call routing
• Bilingual service
• Scheduling and conflict checks
• Lead capture and intake
• Local and toll-free numbers
• Voicemail service
• Porting numbers to/from the provider
• CRM integrations
• Mobile app access
• Caller ID selection for calls and/or texts

BPO companies offer the best virtual receptionist pricing

People often recommend Upwork and Fiverr. But the truth is the quality of these platforms vary widely.

The problem is that, although convenient, the bidding process frequently becomes a race to the bottom. The cheapest option is often presented as the best deal and instead of competing on quality, buyers begin to compete on price. This cheats both the most qualified candidates and the businesses who hired them because both sides have compromised their value.

With Magellan Solutions, we can consolidate and streamline the headaches of hiring and training various candidates so that you can focus on what matters most – whether that’s increasing sales, expanding your reach, or envisioning your future.

Furthermore, we provide you the services needed to effectively manage your business, including client and prospect outreach, customer-relation management, social media management, recruitment and training, sales consulting, and more. 

It is our mission to standardize your workflow to help boost your productivity – and your bottom line – exponentially.

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