How much does an AI receptionist cost for a small business?
Most small businesses spend $25–$160 per month on an AI receptionist in 2026. The typical service business — a contractor, salon, dental practice, or small law firm — handles 30–300 inbound calls per month. At Aira's per-call pricing, that's the Starter plan ($24.95/mo for 30 calls) for very low volume, Premium ($59.95/mo for 90 calls) for typical solo and 2–3 person businesses, and Pro ($159.95/mo for 300 calls) for growing teams or high-volume practices. Compared to hiring a part-time receptionist ($1,500–$2,500/mo) or a per-minute live answering service ($235–$400+/mo), the AI option lands at 5–15% of the cost. The break-even is fast: a single new customer captured from a call that would have hit voicemail typically pays for several months of service. See AI receptionist sizing for small businesses.
Sizing AI receptionist cost to typical SMB call volume
Use this table to size an AI receptionist plan to your actual monthly inbound call volume. Aira plans are per-call, so going slightly over plan is overage at the same per-call rate — there are no surprise per-minute charges.
| Business profile | Typical monthly inbound calls | Aira plan that fits | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo contractor / consultant | 10–30 calls | Starter (30 calls) | $24.95/mo |
| Salon / spa, 1–3 chairs | 30–80 calls | Starter or Premium (90 calls) | $24.95–$59.95/mo |
| Small law firm (1–2 attorneys) | 40–120 calls | Premium (90 calls) | $59.95/mo |
| Dental / medical practice (1–3 providers) | 100–250 calls | Premium or Pro (300 calls) | $59.95–$159.95/mo |
| Multi-location service business | 200–500+ calls | Pro or Enterprise | $159.95+/mo |
Pick the plan that covers your typical month with headroom for seasonal spikes. Going under plan is fine — unused calls don't roll over but you don't pay overage. Going over plan bills additional calls at the same per-call rate.
Why AI receptionist cost works for small businesses specifically
Small businesses typically can't justify the $1,500–$2,500/mo cost of a part-time receptionist for the volume of calls they actually receive — most service businesses handle fewer than 200 calls per month. A human receptionist sized to that volume sits idle most of the day. An AI receptionist scales by call rather than by hour, so the cost matches the actual load.
The per-call pricing model is particularly important for small businesses because monthly call volume is variable. A salon's busy season is December; a contractor's is July. Per-minute pricing creates a billing surprise every busy month. Per-call pricing scales linearly with no per-minute volatility — you know exactly what 90 calls or 300 calls will cost, regardless of how long any individual call runs.
Related questions
- How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?AI receptionists cost $24.95 to $300+ per month in 2026, depending on call volume and pricing model. Here's the realistic monthly range and what drives it.
- What is the ROI of an AI receptionist?An AI receptionist pays back inside 30 days for most service businesses. Here's the actual ROI math: cost-of-missed-call vs monthly plan fee.
- Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring a receptionist?An AI receptionist costs 5–15% of a human receptionist for typical call volumes. Here's the cost comparison and when each makes sense.