An AI receptionist has two kinds of cost: a one-time cost to design, build and test it, and an ongoing cost for the phone number, call minutes, text messages and AI model usage it consumes. The setup cost depends on how much the agent has to do. The running cost depends mostly on how many calls and texts you get, so the most useful thing you can do before comparing quotes is measure your own call volume.
Estimate your call volumeSee AI receptionist setupMost confusion about AI receptionist pricing comes from mixing up two separate costs.
The first is the setup: deciding what the agent should say and do, writing its approved information, connecting it to your phone line and tools, and testing it on real calls. You pay this once, either with your own time or to someone who builds it for you.
The second is usage: the phone number, the minutes callers spend talking to it, any text messages it sends or receives, and the AI model that does the listening and replying. These are charged by the providers, usually per unit, and they grow with your call volume.
When a quote gives you one monthly number, ask which parts are fixed and which depend on volume. When a quote gives you only a setup price, ask what the running cost will be and who you'll pay it to.
Rates change and differ between providers, so this table shows what each item depends on rather than a dollar figure. Check current pricing with each provider before you commit.
| Component | One-time or ongoing | What makes it go up or down | Who you usually pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and build | One-time | How many call types it handles, how many tools it connects to, how much testing it needs. | You (DIY) or the person who builds it |
| Phone number | Ongoing | Local or toll-free, how many numbers, whether you port or forward an existing one. | Phone or voice provider |
| Call minutes | Ongoing | Number of calls and how long each one lasts. Inbound and outbound may be priced differently. | Phone or voice provider |
| SMS | Ongoing | Messages sent and received, plus any registration or compliance fees the provider applies. | Phone or messaging provider |
| AI model usage | Ongoing | Length and number of conversations, and which model and voice features you use. | AI or voice platform |
| Platform subscription | Ongoing, if any | Some tools charge a monthly plan on top of usage. Others are usage only. | Software vendor |
| Support and changes | Ongoing or as needed | How often your hours, services or prices change and who updates the agent. | You, or a support plan |
There are platforms that let you sign up, pick a voice, paste in some business information and get a working number. The setup cost is low in dollars, but you pay in time: writing good instructions, testing what happens when callers go off script, and fixing it when it says something wrong. If you have a simple business, a clear list of questions and an afternoon to test, this can be a sensible start.
You pay more up front for someone to work out your call types, write the approved answers, set the handoff rules, connect your tools and test edge cases before customers hear it. This tends to make sense when calls carry real money, when mistakes would be embarrassing, or when the agent needs to pass details into another system such as a spreadsheet or CRM. The guide to AI phone and text agents covers what that build usually involves, and lead follow-up automation covers what happens to an enquiry after the call.
Either way, ask whether the accounts and phone number will be in your name. If they are, you can see the running cost directly and you're not locked in.
Usage cost is roughly your number of calls multiplied by their average length and the per-minute rates, plus texts. You can get the first two numbers from records you already have.
AIVIQ sets up phone intake as an Operations Starter package at CAD $1,995 one-time, after you agree a written scope. That covers one complete phone or text intake workflow for one business, up to two supported tool connections, testing, documentation, one handover session and 30 days of fixes within the agreed scope. Payment is 50% when you approve the scope and 50% on acceptance.
Optional System Care is CAD $249 per month: scheduled checks, fault triage and up to two support hours a month, with no rollover and no 24/7 cover.
Phone numbers, call minutes, SMS, AI model usage, provider subscriptions, hosting and tax are separate and paid to the providers. They're listed in the scope so you know the running cost before you commit. You can hear how this kind of agent sounds by calling Ivy, AIVIQ's own AI receptionist, at 778-900-9944, or read more about AI receptionist setup in Vancouver. To weigh setup cost against your own time, try the AI automation cost calculator. It gives an estimate, not a promise.
The monthly cost is mostly provider usage: the phone number, call minutes, SMS and AI model usage. It rises and falls with your call and text volume, and provider rates vary, so check each provider's current pricing. Ongoing support is a separate, optional cost. AIVIQ's System Care is CAD $249 per month.
They are different things. A staff member costs a fixed amount whether the phone rings or not and can use judgement. An AI receptionist has a setup cost and a usage cost that follows your volume, and it only handles what you've approved. Compare them on the calls you actually get, not on the headline price.
Some do. If a phone or AI provider bills in US dollars, your real cost moves with the exchange rate and any foreign transaction fees on your card. Check the billing currency before you sign up.
Not always. An agent can answer a dedicated number, an after-hours or overflow line, or calls forwarded from your existing number, depending on what your phone provider supports.
Provider subscriptions, hosting, phone numbers, call minutes, SMS, AI model usage and tax are extra. They are listed in the written scope before you pay anything.
Tell us how calls reach you now and what callers usually want. We'll reply by email with what the agent would handle and what the providers would charge for. No compulsory sales call.
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