AI receptionist vs answering service vs hiring: cost in Adelaide
By Antonio Sawlwin, Red Dog AdvisoryPublished 4 November 20268 min read
If you're missing calls, there are three ways to fix it: pay a live answering service, hire someone, or use an AI receptionist. They cost very different amounts and do different jobs. Here is how they compare, using published rates and the award wage.
Compare the three options at your call volume
Move the sliders. The numbers use published rates, listed in the sources below.
Monthly estimates, ex GST for the answering service. The staff figure uses the Clerks Award minimum for a casual at Level 2, year 1, and is a floor. Many receptionists are paid more, and a different award may apply to your business.
The options side by side
| Option | Typical cost | Cover | Books jobs? | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voicemail only | $0 | None | No | Most of those calls are lost. |
| Live answering service | From about $25 a month plus about $2.50 a call, ex GST. About $150 at 50 calls, $275 at 100. | Varies by plan | Message taking. Booking often costs extra. | Per-call charges and after-hours surcharges. |
| AI receptionist (ours) | From $79 a month | 24/7 | Yes, into your calendar | Very high call volumes are quoted separately. |
| Cheaper self-serve AI products | Published from about $19 to $79 a month (Oct 2026) | 24/7 | Varies | You set it up and tune it yourself. |
| Casual staff, 20 hrs a week | About $3,570 a month with super | 20 of 168 hours | Yes | Sick days, leave, training, equipment. |
| Full-time staff | About $5,400 a month with super | 38 of 168 hours | Yes | Cover when they are away. |
Answering service and AI product prices are published provider rates compared by Vereo and Giday in October 2026. Both sell AI answering, so treat them as indicative. Staff figures are Clerks Award minimums plus 12% super.
The wage maths
From 1 July 2026 the Clerks Private Sector Award minimum for a casual at Level 2, year 1 is $36.81 an hour. For 20 hours a week that is about $736 a week, or $3,190 a month, before super. Super at 12% takes it to about $3,570. A full-time permanent employee at the same level has a minimum weekly rate of $1,119.10, which is about $4,850 a month, or about $5,430 with super.
Those are minimums. Many receptionists are paid more, and a receptionist in a trade business can fall under an industry award rather than the Clerks Award. Check with your accountant or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Leave, workers compensation, training and equipment come on top.
When each one makes sense
- Answering service: low call volume, you want a human voice and only need messages.
- AI receptionist: calls arrive across the day and night, you want jobs booked and missed calls texted back, and you want a flat price. It can't do everything. Complex quotes, upset customers and emergencies should go to you, and you set when it hands over.
- Hiring: the phone is a job in itself, or you also need dispatch, quoting and invoicing done.
- A mix is common: AI for after hours and overflow, a person for the day.
Five questions to ask any provider
- Is it month to month, and what does a typical month cost at my call volume?
- What happens after hours and on weekends?
- Does it book into my calendar, or only take a message?
- Can I hear it handle a real call before I commit? You can hear ours on the AI Receptionist page.
- Where are the call recordings and details stored, and can I see them?
Not sure how many calls you miss? Start with what a missed call costs a tradie.
Sources and notes
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Clerks Private Sector Award pay guide MA000002 (published 24 June 2026). Casual $36.81 an hour and $1,119.10 weekly, Level 2 year 1, from 1 July 2026
- Vereo: Phone answering service Australia, AI vs live (28 Oct 2026). Virtual HQ message-taking from $25 plus GST a month and $2.50 a call
- Giday: Phone answering service Australia (checked 26 Oct 2026). Live service per-call range and AI plan prices from $19
- Red Dog Advisory: AI Receptionist. From $79 a month
Want a second opinion on your numbers?
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