Basic $29 + account setup and education
- 0 minutes included on your basic plan
- $1.25 minute rate over included minutes
- One-time account setup and education $75 fee
Standard $169 + account setup and education
- 125 minutes included on your basic plan
- $1.20 minute rate over included minutes
- One-time account setup and education $75 fee
Premium $229 + account setup and education
- 250 minutes included on your basic plan
- $1.18 minute rate over included minutes
- One-time account setup and education $75 fee
Elite $549 + account setup and education
- 500 minutes included on your basic plan
- $1.15 minute rate over included minutes
- One-time account setup and education $75 fee
How to calculate the cost of answering services for your business?
No two businesses are exactly the same, and calculating the cost of answering services for your business involves several key factors. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand and estimate these costs:
UNDERSTAND YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS
- Call volume: Estimate the number of calls your business receives on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
- Call duration: Determine the average length of each call.
- Services required: Identify the type of services you need (e.g., message taking, appointment scheduling, customer support).
UNDERSTAND THE PRICING MODEL
At Pittsburgh Telephone Answering Service, we offer monthly answering service plans: Flat-rate plans offer a set amount of minutes or calls per month. If you exceed the allotted amount, you will be charged an additional per-minute rate. A monthly answering service plan offers the benefit of predictable costs, allowing businesses like yours to budget more effectively, as it includes a set amount of minutes or calls. Our monthly plan simplifies billing and includes our comprehensive feature set as part of the package.
CHOOSE YOUR PLAN AND CALCULATE TOTAL COST
Consider your call volume and average call duration when selecting a plan. For instance, if you typically receive 100 calls per month with an average call duration of 3 minutes, your total minutes per month will be approximately 300. Using the table below, you could choose the $299/month plan with 250 minutes included, or, if you expect your call volume to grow, the $549/month plan with 500 minutes included. With the $299/month plan, your cost for 300 minutes per month would be: $299 + (300-250 minutes) *$1.18 = $350.18
REVIEW ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME AND MONTHLY FEES
At Pittsburgh Telephone Answering Service, we charge a one-time account setup and education fee of $75.00. Other answering services may follow a different pricing structure or rates. Always review your entire agreement to understand the fee schedule and to estimate what your total costs will be on a monthly basis.
Why choose an affordable answering service
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COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION
Hiring a full-time receptionist costs an average of $39,470 per year and can reach $50,000 plus benefits. Access a more affordable alternative without any additional expenses.
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INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
Free up your receptionists' time, allowing them to focus on specialized and high-value tasks, leading to improved productivity and smoother business operations.
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ENHANCED CUSTOMER SERVICE
Ensure high levels of customer service, making your in-house staff more efficient by handling routine calls professionally and promptly.
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STREAMLINED OPERATIONS
By utilizing an answering service, your business can maintain high customer service standards while optimizing the efficiency of your in-house team.
Answering service cost glossary
SETUP FEE: A one-time setup and education fee. This fee covers the initial setup of your account, the integration of our systems with your processes, and the training of our staff to accurately represent your brand and handle your calls effectively. MONTHLY FEES: Some providers have a base monthly fee in addition to per-minute or per-call charges. OVERAGE CHARGES: If you exceed the included minutes or calls in a plan, overage fees will apply. SPECIAL SERVICES: Additional fees may apply for optimal servics that are not included with your base packages.
