Why Cost Matters for UK Small Businesses
For small businesses in this economic climate, every pound counts. Whether you’re a salon, clinic, tradesperson, or estate agent, a missed call could mean losing hundreds or even thousands in revenue.
But the question most owners ask is: “What does an AI call answering service actually cost?” And more importantly, “Do I need an AI voice agent? is it even worth it?”
Traditional Options vs AI Call Answering Costs
Hiring a Receptionist
Average UK receptionist salary: £22,000–£25,000/year.
Add pension, holiday pay, NI contributions, training → £25k–£30k+ total.
Still limited to office hours only.
Call Centres & Virtual Receptionists
Many UK call centres charge £300–£500/month.
Quality varies… some feel impersonal, clueless, or overly scripted.
Limited ability to filter spam or handle FAQs efficiently.
AI Call Answering with Aria
Starts from just £59/month (Essential Plan).
No extra or surprise costs — no sick days, training, or overtime.
Covers 100% of calls, 24/7 — including evenings and weekends.
👉 AI call answering gives small businesses receptionist-level support at a fraction of the price.
Why Cost Is Only Half the Story
Focusing only on the subscription cost misses the bigger picture. The real question is: “What is the cost of a missed call?”
80% of missed callers never ring back - that's a fact.
If your average treatment, job, or service is £200–£400, even 3–5 missed calls per week = £1,000+ lost revenue.
One new client captured by Aria can pay for months of service.
Features Included in Aria’s AI Call Answering Cost
When you compare services, remember that Aria covers more than just simple call pick-up:
✅ 24/7 coverage — evenings, weekends, holidays.
✅ Professional British voice — consistent, human-like caller experience.
✅ Spam filtering — cuts out sales calls and time-wasters.
✅ FAQ handling — opening hours, location, services.
✅ Instant summaries — call details sent by email.
✅ Unlimited scalability — handles multiple calls at once.
Real Example: The £350 Missed Booking
A wellness clinic had a new client call at 8:30pm call and ask about dermal fillers. The call went to voicemail, and the client booked elsewhere. That’s £350 lost in one missed enquiry.
With Aria, that enquiry would have been captured, details sent instantly, and the clinic could follow up the next morning. We've helped countless small businesses avoid similar problems, and plug the silent revenue leak that stems from missing client phone calls.
How to Decide If AI Call Answering Is Worth It for You
Ask yourself:
How many calls do we miss each week?
What’s the average value of those calls?
How much would one extra client a month be worth?
For most small businesses, the maths is simple: the cost of one lost call > the cost of Aria’s monthly plan.
Affordable, Scalable, Essential
The cost of AI call answering is low; but the cost of missed calls is high.
Aria offers UK small businesses:
Plans from £59/month
24/7 coverage
Peace of mind knowing every client enquiry is captured
Trusted by 150 + businesses worldwide
Speak to Aria Today!
Your AI receptionist is ready. Never miss a client — try our live demo line now.
