24/7 live answering service for small businesses

With Responsive’s live answering service, you’ll never miss a valuable call again.

As a small business, you juggle a variety of responsibilities. So when it comes to answering phones, you might find it challenging to handle the volume of incoming calls efficiently.

What is a live answering service?

A live answering service is a third-party service provider that employs trained operators to answer phone calls on behalf of your business.

Our operators can answer phones, take messages, screen and transfer calls, and even schedule appointments on your behalf.

The best part is that our service sounds just like your business, and callers can’t tell the difference between speaking with our operators and your on-site staff, ensuring a consistent and professional customer experience.

Benefits of a 24/7 live answering service for small businesses

Cost-effective

With plans starting at just $29/month, our live answering service can be more affordable than hiring a full-time receptionist or call center staff.

Professional image

It gives your small business a professional and well-established appearance.

24/7 Availability

An answering service can operate around the clock, ensuring that you never miss important calls.

Scalability

You can adjust the level of service based on your business's needs, whether that's seasonal fluctuations, a surge in call volume, or year-round coverage.

Flexibility

You can choose to use a live answering service just during lunch, after hours, and on weekends when your in-house personnel are not available to take calls.

How we help small businesses grow

Whether it’s answering calls or qualifying leads, our agents bring their expertise, professionalism, and dependability to every interaction, ensuring a consistently professional service.

Medical Answering Services

HIPAA-compliant support for clinics and healthcare professionals.

Legal Answering Services

Confidential call handling for attorneys and law firms.

Property
Management

Government

HVAC

Plumbing

Financial

Construction &
contractors

Funeral home

Dental offices

Pediatrician

Surgeons

Accountant

Charity &
Non-Profit

Leisure &
travel

Franchise

Real Estate

Insurance

Landscaping

Roofer

Cleaning &
janitorial

Emergency
restoration

Irrigation

Electrician

Energy & utilities

Transportation

Automotive

Railroads

Our live answering services can be especially beneficial for small businesses without dedicated staff to handle phone calls around the clock. By outsourcing these functions to a live answering service, you can provide a high level of customer service and professionalism.

Lead generation for small businesses

Our virtual receptionists do more than just answer phones; they can handle a wide range of tasks to support your inbound sales efforts.

When a call comes in, our agents can assist with lead intake, prioritizing promising leads, and making sure you don’t waste your valuable time on solicitations or other non-essential calls. Here’s how this process works:

Priority call handling

When a call comes in, our system identifies and categorizes priority calls based on criteria defined by you: calls from key clients, urgent inquiries, or specific service requests.

Solicitation and non-lead screening

Our virtual receptionists are trained to identify solicitation and non-lead calls by following the screening criteria you provide.

Focus on lead generation and customer service

By efficiently screening out solicitations and non-leads, we free up more of your team's time and energy to concentrate on lead generation and providing exceptional customer service.

10+

years of
experience

50

states
served

100%

HIPAA
Compliant

500+

businesses
supported

Discover how our answering service makes a difference

Since implementation, return calls have been faster, and after-hours accessibility ratings have reached 98%. We’re extremely pleased with the service and its impact on customer satisfaction.

Their representative met with our clinical team, listened closely to our needs, and returned with a customized system for after-hours calls. It delivers timely text messages to on-call staff, improving response time and ensuring no missed calls.

Jennifer Ashner

Compliance and quality director at Chartwell Home Infusion and Specialty Pharmacy

The whole service has ran so smoothly and we are no longer missing calls from potential clients. Absolutely recommend them!

Tony Junkin

Executive Administrator at My Integrity Counseling

FAQs about our live answering service for small businesses

What services are included in your answering service for small businesses?

Core features cover call answering, message taking, appointment booking, lead qualification, order processing, and custom scripts, with real-time updates sent via app, email, or CRM integration tailored to your needs.

How are agents in your answering service trained for my business or industry?

We train our agents using your branding, scripts, FAQs, and guidelines so calls align with your voice and industry-specific needs. . Our professional answering agents also receive ongoing training in best practices and industry terminology.

What types of small businesses use your answering service?

Our small business customers include real estate agents, plumbers, law firms, consultants, automotive repair shops, medical practices and more.

Do I need to keep the answering service on 24/7?

The hours for which you choose coverage are up to you. Many of our customers choose the 24/7 option, but you can also activate the service only when needed.

Do you have bilingual answering agents?

Yes, our agents are fluent in English and Spanish, which makes them especially valuable for small businesses. They can answer calls in whichever language your callers prefer, making your business accessible to a diverse population. There is no extra charge for our bilingual answering service; it’s available to our customers at any time.

Request a free consultation

Our answering services prioritize your needs and are always ready to help. Whether you have questions, require support, or want to share feedback, our dedicated team is here for you.