What Your Virtual Receptionist Handles
Every call is answered professionally. Every lead is captured. Every question gets a real answer.
Live in 10 Minutes
Setting up your virtual receptionist takes less time than brewing a pot of coffee.
Create your AI phone agent
Sign up, name your agent, and choose from a range of natural-sounding voices. No coding or technical skills needed.
Add your business information
Tell the agent about your services, hours, pricing, FAQs, and how you want different types of calls handled. Paste from your website or type it in.
Get your phone number
Choose a local or toll-free number, or forward your existing business number to your new AI receptionist.
Start taking calls
Your virtual receptionist is live. Every call is answered, every lead is captured, and you get full transcripts of every conversation.
AI Virtual Receptionist vs. the Alternatives
| OnCallClerk | Human Answering Service | In-House Receptionist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From $30 | $250 - $1,200+ | $3,500 - $5,000+ |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | Business hours (nights extra) | 40 hrs/week |
| Simultaneous calls | Unlimited | 1-2 operators | 1 person |
| Setup time | 10 minutes | 1-2 weeks | 2-4 weeks (hiring) |
| Hold time for callers | Zero | 30 sec - 5 min | Varies |
| Call transcripts | Every call, automatic | Rarely included | Manual notes |
| Knowledge of your business | Deep (you configure it) | Surface-level scripts | Strong (with training) |
| Contracts | Month-to-month | Often 6-12 months | Employment agreement |
Calculate your exact savings with our AI receptionist savings calculator →
Built for Businesses That Can't Afford to Miss Calls
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a virtual receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is a service that answers your business phone calls remotely, without someone physically sitting at your front desk. With OnCallClerk, that service is powered by AI phone agents that hold natural conversations, answer caller questions, book appointments, and capture lead details, all without human involvement.
How does an AI virtual receptionist differ from a traditional one?
Traditional virtual receptionists are human operators working from a call centre, handling calls for multiple businesses at once. They follow scripts and charge per call or per minute. An AI virtual receptionist uses language models to understand callers naturally, responds instantly with zero hold time, handles unlimited simultaneous calls, and costs a fraction of the price. Plans start from $30/month.
Can the AI virtual receptionist book appointments?
Yes. OnCallClerk phone agents can check availability, suggest appointment times, and confirm bookings during the call. Appointments sync to your calendar or scheduling system, and the caller receives confirmation automatically.
Will callers know they are speaking to an AI?
Modern AI voice agents sound remarkably natural. The voice quality, conversational flow, and response timing are designed to mirror a real phone conversation. Most callers engage with the agent the same way they would with a human receptionist.
What happens if the AI cannot answer a question?
If a caller asks something outside the knowledge base, the AI can gracefully transfer the call to a specific team member, take a detailed message, or let the caller know someone will call them back shortly. You control the fallback behaviour.
How much does a virtual receptionist from OnCallClerk cost?
Plans start from $30 per month, which includes a dedicated phone number, 24/7 coverage, call transcripts, and email or SMS notifications. There are no long-term contracts. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time.
How quickly can I set up a virtual receptionist?
Most businesses go live within 10 minutes. You sign up, provide your business information and frequently asked questions, choose a phone number, and your AI receptionist is ready to take calls. No technical skills required.
Can I keep my existing business phone number?
Yes. You can forward your existing number to your OnCallClerk AI agent, so callers continue dialling the same number they always have. Alternatively, you can use a new dedicated number provided by the platform.
Learn More About AI Phone Answering
How to Hire an AI Receptionist
A practical guide to evaluating, choosing, and deploying an AI receptionist that works for your business.
The Real Cost Savings of AI Receptionists
A detailed financial breakdown with actual numbers comparing AI vs human receptionists and answering services.
How to Start an AI Call Center
Step-by-step guide to building an AI-powered call center business from scratch.
Compare AI Phone Services
See how OnCallClerk compares to Vapi, Retell AI, Bland AI, Air AI, and other platforms.
AI Receptionist Savings Calculator
Enter your numbers and see exactly how much you'd save switching from a human receptionist to AI.
See how AI virtual receptionists work for dental practices, law firms, plumbing companies, salons, and property management businesses.