AI Receptionist Cost Calculator for Contractors and Home Service Businesses

By The Professions Cloud Editors Updated October 2026 · 5 sources · 3 min read

Prices and facts checked October 14, 2026. We don't accept payment for rankings.

How to use it: enter roughly how many calls your business gets a month and how long they last. The calculator works out the AI receptionist minutes you'd need and which published plan covers them. It also gives a rough estimate of what missed calls may be costing you. Change any number and the results update instantly.

The default numbers are examples only. Replace them with your own figures. The "revenue at risk" line is simple arithmetic on your inputs (calls × missed % × booking rate × job value), not a prediction.

Where the prices come from

The calculator uses the prices each company publishes, checked October 14, 2026:

Sources: Rosie pricing; Jobber pricing; Housecall Pro pricing; Housecall Pro AI Team.

A few things the numbers don't capture:

• Jobber's add-on needs a Jobber plan. Jobber Core starts at $29 a month on annual billing, so the real minimum is about $58 a month if you're not already a Jobber customer (Jobber pricing).
• Rosie's cheapest plan only sends booking links. If you want the AI to put jobs directly on your calendar, you need Scale ($149). Rosie doesn't publish overage rates for going past your minutes, so ask before choosing a tier.
• Jobber's other AI is included on every plan. Jobber AI chat and voice (in beta) lets admins draft quotes, send invoices and check schedules hands-free. It's separate from the receptionist add-on (Jobber Help Center).
• Housecall Pro's AI phone answering is a paid add-on with no published price. Its AI chat, analyst and coaching assistants are included on every plan (Housecall Pro AI Team).

How to estimate your inputs

Calls a month. Your phone provider's call log is the most accurate source. If you don't have one, count a typical week and multiply by about 4.3.

Call length. Short booking and scheduling calls usually take a few minutes. Quote discussions and emergency calls take longer. If you're unsure, use 3 minutes. Rosie's own plans are sized around that kind of call volume, at about 80 calls on 250 minutes.

Missed calls. Most owners underestimate this. Check your missed-call list for a week, including after-hours and weekend calls.

Booking rate. Of the callers who reach you, how many become jobs? Use your own number. Not every missed caller would have booked, and some will call back.

What to check before you switch one on

1. Recording and disclosure rules. AI receptionists record and transcribe calls. Several states require everyone on the call to consent, and telling callers they're speaking with AI builds trust. See our AI receptionist call recording laws guide.
2. Texting follow-ups. If the AI texts callers back, opt-out rules apply (TCPA opt-out rules for AI texting).
3. Booking accuracy. Test it with a few calls yourself before turning it on for customers, especially for pricing questions. Give it price ranges, not firm quotes.

Compare the options in detail

The calculator covers cost. For features, reviews and which tool suits which trade, read Best AI Receptionist for Contractors and Jobber vs Housecall Pro.

FAQ

How many minutes does an AI receptionist need?

Multiply your monthly calls by the average call length. 120 calls at 3 minutes is 360 minutes, which is more than Rosie's 250-minute plan but well within the 1,000-minute Scale plan.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than an answering service?

Often, but compare like for like: minutes included, whether it books directly into your calendar, and how calls get transferred to you.

Does the calculator store my numbers?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.

Changelog: Oct 14, 2026: first published.