Hiring front desk staff or a full-time receptionist can be a gamble. Sure, you could end up with someone great. Or you might enlist the aid of someone who spends more time scrolling on their phone than answering yours. Or maybe they quit a month in to pursue a career in stage acrobatics. Either way, you’re left footing the bill. And hiring, onboarding, salary, benefits, and the endless list of what-ifs are not cheap. That’s where the cost-saving benefits of using an answering service come into play. And where Focus Answering Service truly shines.
The High Cost of “In-House” Help
Hiring an in-house receptionist isn’t simply about salary. (Though that’s nothing to sneeze at.) Brace yourself: a full-time receptionist in the U.S. earns anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 annually. But that’s just the beginning. You also must factor in:
- Payroll taxes
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement benefits
- Training and onboarding
- Office space and equipment
Before you know it, one receptionist is costing your business upwards of $60,000+ a year. That’s assuming they even stay long enough to make the investment worthwhile. And if they jump ship? Well, you’re back to square one.
Answering Services Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners
So, what are the cost-saving benefits of using an answering service instead? Let’s take a look:
- You only pay for what you use. When you hire Focus Answering Service, you’re billed for the actual time spent answering your phones. No downtime, no wasted hours.
- No overhead. Because answering services like Focus work remotely, there is no need for you to free up extra office space, equipment, or benefits packages. We come fully equipped and ready to get the job done.
- Scalable support. Whether you need help answering 20 calls per week or 200, Focus flexes to fit your business needs. So long, enlisting extra staff to bear the brunt of your busy season.
The Hidden Cost of Bad Customer Service
If you think the occasional missed call isn’t a big deal, think again.
U.S. businesses lose approximately $75 billion annually due to frustrated customers who bluster at long hold times and unreturned calls. Each of these missed opportunities is a missed sale, not to mention a blow to your reputation. An answering service prevents that by:
- Responding quickly and professionally to every caller.
- Keeping your business running smoothly after hours or when your team is unavailable.
- Creating a polished, consistent first impression that builds trust and loyalty.
Reliability Without the Risk
When you use Focus as your answering service, you’re getting the power of a person, without the unpredictability. Forget those worries about vacation days, sick time, attitude problems, or someone calling it quits after lunch. We’re here for your business, day or night, and we only get paid when we’re actively working for you. That’s what we call in business a win-win: professional, reliable customer support without any HR headaches.
So, what are the cost-saving benefits of using an answering service? Time. Trust. A till that isn’t empty at the end of the day. If you’re looking for a smarter, more efficient way to handle your calls, Focus Answering Service is ready to help.