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What It Costs to Answer Every Call: $250 to $2,100 a Month for a Live Service, $29 to $349 for AI
Live answering services list at $250 to $2,100 a month and AI plans at $29 to $349. See what each costs in jobs per month (Oct. 2026 prices).
Call Data
Research articles on how customers call local service businesses, with every figure traced to its source.
Only 33% Are Comfortable With AI on a Phone Call. So Why Do 52% Say After-Hours AI Is Better?
Vonage found 33% are comfortable with AI on voice calls. CallRail found 52% see after-hours AI as superior service. Why both hold, plus a setup checklist.
Do Callers Leave Voicemails? One Study Says 42%. Another Says 6%.
CallRail found 42% of U.S. consumers leave a voicemail. A U.K. YouGov survey found 6%. Why they differ, and why most missed callers leave nothing.
Do Callers Leave Voicemails? One Study Says 42%. Another Says 6%. Read More »
Small Business AI Use Jumped From 39% to 55% in One Year
Thryv found small business AI use rose from 39% to 55% in a year. No primary survey yet measures how many use AI to answer the phone.
Small Business AI Use Jumped From 39% to 55% in One Year Read More »
Half of Consumers Would Book an Appointment Through an AI Assistant
CallRail found 50% of U.S. consumers would use AI to book an appointment and 66% to check hours. See which calls to hand AI first.
Half of Consumers Would Book an Appointment Through an AI Assistant Read More »
77% of Customers Accept AI as Long as a Human Is Still Available
Invoca found 77% of buyers are more willing to use AI when they can easily reach a person. When AI fails, 68% hold the business responsible.
77% of Customers Accept AI as Long as a Human Is Still Available Read More »
9 in 10 Google Searches That Turn Up a Plumber Don’t Use the Plumber’s Name
BrightLocal found 90% of searches that surface a plumbing or HVAC Google listing are for a service. Only 10% use the name. What it means for calls.
9 in 10 Google Searches That Turn Up a Plumber Don’t Use the Plumber’s Name Read More »
44% of Buyers Now Prefer to Call a Business for Help, Up From 32% in 2022
Invoca found 44% of buyers prefer calling a business for help, up from 32% in 2022. What every verified phone-preference study says, side by side.
44% of Buyers Now Prefer to Call a Business for Help, Up From 32% in 2022 Read More »
Home Services Phone Leads Convert at 45% During the Call. Only 52% of Callers Reach a Person.
Invoca’s 2026 data: 45% of home services phone leads convert on the call, but only 52% of callers reach a person. Benchmarks for 10 industries.
56% of Customers Expect a Reply Within an Hour. Only 20% of Home Service Pros Reply That Fast.
Owners say 56% of customers expect a reply within an hour, but only 20% of home service pros reply that fast. See the one-hour gap in 2026 survey data.