How the cost of a 24/7 AI phone agent stacks up against hiring and retaining a human receptionist or SDR.

A full-time receptionist or SDR often costs $35,000–$55,000 a year when you include salary, benefits, training, and turnover. One person can answer one call at a time. They get sick, take vacation, and leave for other jobs. They can't work at 2 AM or handle ten calls at once. An AI phone system answers every call, 24/7, and scales with your volume. Monthly cost is a fraction of one hire — often in the low hundreds per month.

The best setup is usually both: the AI handles first contact, after-hours, and overflow. Your team steps in for complex conversations and in-person work. You get higher answer rates, faster follow-up, and a clear record of every call. Recall Touch is built for that hybrid model. You keep control of the script and the rules; the system handles execution. When you compare total cost and coverage, the math favors the AI layer for most small and mid-size teams.

Recall Touch vs hiring: the real cost comparison