Deskie AI Reception
Reception service costs in Australia
Reception services use four main cost models. An in-house receptionist is an employee cost. Outsourced live answering commonly charges by time, call or message. A virtual receptionist often combines a monthly retainer with usage. An AI receptionist usually includes a set number of calls or minutes each month.
Last updated 17 September 2026
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If you don't answer customer calls, your competitors will.
What missed calls actually cost
Miss 5 calls a week. Win 1 in 3 of them. Average booking $450. That is around $3,200 a month going to someone else.
What Deskie costs per unit
Deskie's Core plan is $149/month for 60 answered calls, about $4.90 a day or $2.48 per answered call when all included calls are used. Larger plans are available if you need more calls. Start with 14 free answered calls. No credit card required. No setup fee. No lock-in contract.
How do reception service charging models differ?
An in-house receptionist is paid for rostered time whether the phone is busy or quiet, with employment costs and leave cover considered separately. Live answering services may charge by call duration, each call answered, each message sent, or a bundled plan. Virtual receptionist services can combine a base retainer with per-call or per-minute usage. AI receptionist plans commonly include a set number of calls or minutes, then use top-ups or overage charges.
Answered calls versus minutes, messages and per-call fees
Included answered calls count each genuine completed call, not how long it runs. Included minutes are consumed for as long as conversations run. Per-message pricing can add a charge when a summary or message is delivered, while per-call pricing may charge for every answered interaction regardless of length. Ask how spam, wrong numbers, short hang-ups, transfers and repeat calls are treated before comparing included usage. With Deskie, they never count and any dud is credited back.
What does Deskie Core include?
Deskie Core, the base of Deskie's four plans, is $149/month and includes 60 answered calls. Start with 14 free answered calls. No credit card required. It answers missed or forwarded calls 24/7, captures caller and enquiry details, sends the owner an SMS summary, sends the caller a confirmation SMS, and can book appointments or transfer calls when those capabilities are configured. There is no setup fee, no lock-in contract, and top-ups are available when more calls are needed. Deskie never hides that it is AI. See the canonical Deskie pricing details, with 2 months free on yearly plans.
Which reception option suits which business?
An in-house receptionist can suit a larger team with steady front-desk work beyond the phone. Live answering can suit a business that wants human operators for defined call scripts. A virtual receptionist can suit a team that wants remote administrative support as well as call handling. An AI receptionist can suit a plumber, electrician, cleaner, landscaper, roofer, HVAC business, locksmith, removalist or mechanic that needs calls answered consistently without adding a rostered employee. If missed calls are the main problem, first compare a free missed-call auto-reply SMS with an AI receptionist.If you need a human on every call, a receptionist on your desk or a full answering team is the right spend, and the per-call maths above shows what that costs. But if the real problem is the calls you miss while working, Deskie is the stronger choice for an Australian small business: you only ever pay for genuine enquiries. Deskie has four plans, from $149 to $999 a month. Every missed call becomes an SMS with the caller's details instead of a lost booking.Compare AI reception with a human answering service, or review the complete Deskie pricing details, with 2 months free on yearly plans.
What should an Australian small business check before choosing?
Check the charging unit, included calls or minutes, opening hours, overage rules, setup fee, contract terms, number handling, summary format, spam policy, booking capability and transfer rules. Then compare those details with your real call pattern. A quiet business with long calls may value minutes differently from a busy service business with many short enquiries.
Reception service cost models compared
| Option | Price and coverage |
|---|---|
| Voicemail | Free. Does not answer, does not capture, does not screen. |
| Missed-call auto-reply SMS | Free. Does not answer. Asks the caller to type out what they need themselves. |
| Deskie AI receptionist | $149 to $999/month. Includes 60 to 700 answered calls, no setup fee and no lock-in contract. |
| Human answering service | Typically $200 to $500 a month, message-taking only, operator does not know the business. |
| Part-time receptionist | Employment cost, superannuation, leave, and they still go home at 5pm. |
Some AI receptionists in this market sit around $400 a month. Deskie ranges from $149 to $999 a month for 60 to 700 answered calls.
The detailed table below compares how the options are structured and what each model includes.
| Feature | In-house receptionist | Outsourced live answering | Virtual receptionist | AI receptionist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical charging model | Employee wage plus employment costs | Monthly plan plus per-minute, per-call or per-message usage | Retainer, hourly block or usage-based plan | Monthly plan with included calls or minutes |
| Coverage | Rostered working hours | Provider hours or paid extended cover | Agreed remote service hours | Often 24/7, depending on provider |
| Calls answered or voicemail | Answered while the employee is available | Answered within the service scope | Answered within the service scope | Answered within configured forwarding rules |
| Message capture | Entered into the business's process | Message or call note | Message plus agreed admin follow-up | Structured summary or transcript, depending on provider |
| Appointment booking | Yes, using business systems | Sometimes, often plan-dependent | Often available as an agreed task | Available when supported and configured |
| After-hours availability | Requires a roster or another service | Available from some providers, sometimes at extra cost | Depends on the agreed service | Often included as 24/7 coverage |
| Likely additional charges | Super, leave, payroll and cover | Overages, transfers, messages, holidays or setup | Extra hours, tasks, systems or after-hours work | Overages, top-ups, integrations or premium features |
Don't take our word for it. Call and hear Deskie now: 0485 017 007.
FAQ
How much does a reception service cost in Australia?
There is no single reception service price. The cost depends on whether you employ someone, use live operators, hire a remote virtual receptionist, or use AI. Compare the charging unit, included usage, coverage and extra fees before comparing headline prices.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
AI receptionist pricing can be measured by calls, minutes or a monthly subscription. Deskie has four plans, from $149 a month for 60 calls to $999 a month for 700. Start with 14 free answered calls. No credit card required. No setup fee. No lock-in contract.
What is included in Deskie Core?
Deskie Core is $149/month and includes 60 answered calls. Start with 14 free answered calls. No credit card required. No setup fee. No lock-in contract. It includes AI call answering, configured caller questions, owner SMS summaries and caller confirmation SMS messages. Appointment booking and call transfer can be added when configured. Growth, Pro and Scale add larger monthly call allowances for $249 to $999 a month.
Are included answered calls the same as included minutes?
No. Included answered calls count each genuine completed call, not how long it runs. With Deskie, a call only counts when there is a real enquiry: a name, a number, and what the caller wants. Spam, hang-ups, wrong numbers and time-wasters never count, and any dud that slips through is credited back.
Is a live answering service better than an AI receptionist?
It depends on the business. Live operators may suit businesses that specifically want human handling. AI receptionists can suit Australian small businesses that want consistent 24/7 answering, structured summaries and predictable setup without adding a staff roster.
Can reception services book appointments?
Some can. An in-house receptionist can use the business's booking system, and some live, virtual and AI services support appointment booking. Confirm the supported calendar, rules and approval process before relying on it. Deskie can book appointments when configured.
Hear Deskie answer a real call. Call 0485 017 007 for a 30-second live demo, or ask Deskie to call you. No email, signup or credit card.
Call 0485 017 007Prefer Deskie to call you? Enter your mobile and Deskie rings you back.
No credit card. No sales pitch.
By participating you confirm this is your number and consent to Deskie AI receptionist service demonstration and communications.
If you don't answer customer calls, your competitors will.