Guide · Nov 2026
Stop missing calls and enquiries while you work.
A 5-page, no-code guide to building your own AI receptionist in an afternoon, starting on free plans.
The three builds
Three AI receptionist builds you'll set up in an afternoon
Each one works on its own. Start with whichever hurts most.
Inbox & calendar executive assistant
About 60–90 min
ChatGPT or Claude plus Zapier, Make or n8n.
- Sorts your email
- Drafts replies for your approval
- Sends a 7am brief of the day
Website chat receptionist
About 60 min
A chat widget that knows your business.
- Answers FAQs only from your own information
- Captures leads after hours
- Sends visitors to your Cal.com or Calendly booking link
Phone answering & booking line
About 90–120 min
A voice agent on Retell AI, Vapi or Bland with a real phone number.
- Picks up 24/7
- Books into your calendar
- Transfers to a human when it should
What's inside
Everything in the 5-page PDF guide
- Numbered steps for each build Inbox assistant, website chat, phone line
- Three copy-paste prompts Executive assistant, FAQ receptionist, phone call script
- Monthly cost table
- Worked cost-per-minute example Based on 600 minutes a month
- Launch checklist
- 10 test scripts
- Common mistakes
- 12-tool price comparison
- Compliance page AI disclosure, call-recording consent in Australia and the US, Privacy Act basics, FCC rules on AI voicesGeneral information, not legal advice
Running costs
What an AI receptionist costs to run each month
You can test all three builds on free plans and credits. Typical paid costs, from the guide:
- Inbox assistant
- ~US$40/mo
- Website chat
- US$13–40/mo
- Phone number For the phone line
- ~US$1–3/mo
- Phone usage on Retell AI Per minute, roughly
- US$0.07–0.31/min
- Phone usage on Bland Per minute
- US$0.14/min
From vendor pricing pages, November 2026. Prices change often.
Fit
Who this AI receptionist guide is for, and who it isn't
For
Solo operators and small teams who miss calls while working.
- Trades, salons, clinic front desks, studios
- Consultants, coaches, agencies
- Non-developers
- Australia and US examples
Not for
- Emergency lines
- Medical triage
- Cold-calling campaigns
FAQ
Questions about the AI receptionist guide
Do I need to code?
No. It's point-and-click plus copy-paste prompts. The only technical step is pasting an embed snippet.
Does it work outside the US?
Yes. It uses Australian and US examples, and the tools work worldwide.
Is this legal advice?
No. The compliance page is general information.
Was it written by AI?
Researched and written with AI assistance and published by Luke Main. Every price was checked against the vendor's own pricing page in November 2026; sources are listed in the PDF.
Affiliate links?
None. The guide is vendor-neutral.
What do I get?
A 5-page PDF, instant download via Gumroad.
Get the AI receptionist guide for US$3.70
