- Years answering calls
- 30+
- Live agents, every call
- 24/7/365
- English & Spanish agents
- EN · ES
- Plans start at
- $33
Virtual receptionist
A virtual receptionist service with a real person on the line
A virtual receptionist service gives your business a professional front desk without hiring one. Southern Voices receptionists greet every caller in your company’s name, transfer calls to the right person, book appointments, answer common questions and take detailed messages, from our office instead of yours.
Our virtual receptionists are live people, not AI. They work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and Spanish, and follow the script you approve. Use them all day, only when your own receptionist is busy or away, or after hours.
What your virtual receptionist does
Everything a front desk does on the phone
Choose the tasks you want covered. We build your script around them.
Greets every caller
A warm, professional welcome in your company’s name.
Transfers calls
Callers are connected to the right person, or a message is taken if they’re unavailable.
Books appointments
Scheduling, confirmations and changes handled by your rules.
Screens new callers
Your questions asked and new prospects qualified before they reach you.
Answers common questions
Hours, directions, services and pricing basics, from the information you give us.
Takes detailed messages
Delivered right away by secure text, email or the client portal.
Takes orders
Orders and service requests captured accurately.
Speaks Spanish
Live bilingual receptionists, not a “press 2” option.
Compare your options
Virtual receptionist vs. an in-house hire vs. an AI receptionist
Each option has a place. Here is how they compare for a small business.
In-house receptionist
Knows your business well, but works set hours, takes breaks and vacations, and adds salary, benefits and training to your costs.
AI receptionist
Always on and inexpensive, but struggles with noisy lines, accents, upset callers and anything off-script.
Southern Voices virtual receptionist
Live, trained people on every call, 24/7/365, in English and Spanish, following your script, with plans starting at $33.
Read more about virtual receptionist benefits for small businesses.
Coverage
Full-time, part-time or backup receptionist
Some businesses use a virtual receptionist as their only front desk. Others use us when their receptionist is at lunch, on another call or out for the day, and after the office closes. Either way, callers hear a consistent, professional voice.
Where it makes sense, our receptionists can work directly inside your scheduling or practice management system when you give them access, so appointments land on your real calendar.
- Your receptionist: 9 AM–5 PM
- Southern Voices: nights, weekends, holidays
- Southern Voices: lunch hour
- Overflow backup whenever your lines are busy
Example schedule. You choose exactly which hours we cover.
How calls are handled
What your virtual receptionist does with each call
A live receptionist answers in your company’s name and handles the call the way you’ve asked.
- Booking Appointment booked Booked, confirmed or changed on your calendar
- New lead Lead captured and sent to you Screened with your questions and sent to you right away
- Question Question answered Hours, directions, services and other common questions
- Urgent The right person on your team, reached now Live transfer or secure text, by your rules
Who it’s for
Virtual receptionists for busy professionals
Law firms
New client calls answered and screened while attorneys are in court or with clients.
Real estate
Showing requests and buyer calls answered while agents are out with clients.
Contractors
Job inquiries captured and scheduled while the crew is on site.
Also serving medical practices, dental offices and many more industries.
Getting started
How it works
- Tell us about your front deskWho takes which calls, how you book appointments and what callers usually ask.
- Approve your scriptYour greeting, transfer rules and answers to common questions, in English and Spanish.
- Forward your callsAll day, when your receptionist is busy or away, or after hours.
- Adjust any timeChange transfer contacts, schedules and instructions whenever you need to.
Pricing
What a virtual receptionist service costs
A virtual receptionist costs a fraction of a full-time hire, with no payroll, benefits or training to manage. Plans start at $33, pricing follows your call volume and how much each call involves, and larger organizations get volume discounts.
See answering service pricing for what goes into a quote, or ask us for one.
Plans start at
$33
Your plan is built around your call volume, and larger organizations get volume discounts.
Questions
Virtual receptionist FAQs
Don’t see your question? Call and ask a live agent, any time.
What is a virtual receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is a live, trained person who answers your business calls from a remote location. They greet callers in your company’s name, transfer calls, book appointments, answer questions and take messages, just like an in-house receptionist.
Is your virtual receptionist a person or AI?
A person. Every call is answered by a live receptionist. We don’t use AI voice bots to answer your callers.
Can a virtual receptionist transfer calls to me?
Yes. The receptionist can connect callers to you or your team live, or take a message and send it right away if you’re unavailable.
Can you book appointments in our system?
Yes. Our receptionists can schedule appointments by your rules, and can work directly inside your scheduling or practice management system when you give them access.
Do you offer Spanish-speaking receptionists?
Yes. Live bilingual receptionists answer in English and Spanish, 24/7/365.
How much does a virtual receptionist service cost?
Plans start at $33 and scale with call volume and complexity, with volume discounts for larger organizations. See our pricing page.
Keep reading
Virtual receptionist guides
Virtual receptionist benefits for small businesses
What a virtual receptionist does and how small businesses use one.
24/7 doesn’t mean automated
Why live human receptionists still win customer trust.
Your next customer is calling
Why the first voice a caller hears matters.
More answering services: after hours and 24/7 answering, outsourced switchboard, overflow and all answering services. For full-time teams, see call center services.