When your customers call, you want them to be greeted with professionalism and respect. Many business owners believe this can only be accomplished by employees who work at the business and are immersed in the company's culture. However, with the right answering service, your customers can speak with a professional, courteous representative on days and during times when your business may be closed.
\r\nAnd if you are worried about the cost of hiring an answering service, there is good news. Many companies provide an easy way you can evaluate the service first before making a long-term commitment.
\r\nThere isn't a completely free answering service, but many companies allow you to try their answering service for free for a limited time. By leveraging one or more free trial answering service opportunities you can see which service and features are the most beneficial for your business.
\r\n\r\n
Editor's note: Need an answering service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.
\r\n\r\nSeveral companies offer free trials. Below we examine trial offers from five well-known answering services.
\r\nMAP Communications Inc. offers comprehensive answering services throughout the nation. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the company was founded in New York in 1990 and is owned by its employees.
\r\nFeatures
\r\nLength of free trial: 7 days
\r\nCost of MAP Communications' services: The company offers three plans, with base costs ranging from $39 to $249 per month.
\r\nPATLive, founded almost 30 years ago, handles more than 2 million calls each year. Agents are located in Florida. The company has more than 150 virtual receptionists. PATLive guarantees that calls are answered within four rings, regardless of when a call comes in. [Read our review of PATLive to learn more about why it is our pick as the best answering service for small businesses.]
\r\nFeatures
\r\nLength of free trial: 14 days
\r\nCost of PATLive's services: Business owners can choose from six plans; base costs start at $39 per month and range up to $999 per month.
\r\nReceptionHQ is a subsidiary of OfficeHQ, a company that was established in 2003. Its U.S. headquarters and operations center is located in Arizona, and global offices are located in the United Kingdom and Australia to ensure international availability around the clock.
\r\nFeatures
\r\nLength of free trial: 7 days
\r\nCost of ReceptionHQ's services: You can choose from 10 plans. Base costs range from $20 to $654 per month, plus the company offers custom corporate solutions as well.
\r\nGo Answer was founded in 2012 as a family business with two employees. The business has grown to nearly 400 employees at three facilities dedicated to providing businesses of all sizes a comprehensive answering service that fits their specific needs. [Read our review of Go Answer to learn more about why it is our pick as the best inbound call center service.]
\r\nFeatures
\r\nLength of free trial: 30 days
\r\nCost of Go Answer's services: You'll need to contact the company to receive a custom price quote.
\r\nSpecialty Answering Service (SAS) was founded in Pennsylvania in 1985 as a small answering service. By 2003, it became the multilingual international company that it is today. [Read our review of Specialty Answering Service to learn why it is our pick as the best overall answering service.]
\r\nFeatures
\r\nLength of free trial: 14 days
\r\nCost of SAS' services: Eight plans are available; base costs range from $31 to $7,749 per month. Custom corporate solutions are available.
\r\nAnswering incoming phone calls to field questions, complaints or to accept orders in a timely, courteous, and professional manner is essential to staying in business and staying ahead of your competition. However, having to constantly manage the phone lines when you have limited staff can impede business operations.
\r\nWhether you are in a busy retail environment or a professional office space, answering services, such as the five we profiled above, can provide quality service to your customers while freeing up some additional time so you can focus on running your business.
\r\nA free trial from an answering service is a great way to determine whether your business would benefit from this type of service. However, just because a service offers a free trial does not necessarily mean it will offer everything you need. Read our comparison of the best answering services to find the right one for your needs.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_baec54a428f642be7cb22922af2af9a0","lastModified":"2020-07-24T14:07:00.000Z","published":"2020-07-24T14:07:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"While free answering services don't exist, many answering services offer a free trial so you can test how they handle your incoming calls.","template":"v1","title":"Free Answering Services: Who Offers Free Trials, and What to Look for During Your Trial","type":"article","author":{"avatar":"https://staging.business.com/images/author/566/58f7b3187b1e74f8b45f4/100-100","bio":"Marisa is an award-winning marketing professional and contributing writer. She has worked with businesses large and small to help them drive revenue through integrated marketing campaigns and enjoys sharing her expertise with our audience.","name":"Marisa Sanfilippo","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisasanfilippo","twitter":"https://twitter.com/marisaasan","website":""},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"Contributing Writer","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/uploads/user/profile/5fbafa7f76459be0d51c0191bf5472c18037c.jpg","profile":{"company":"Fortune Web Marketing","jobTitle":"","website":""}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Marketing","slug":"marketing"},"sub":{"name":"Marketing Solutions","slug":"marketing-solutions"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"These five answering services offer free trials to help you decide whether they are right for your business.","title":"Where to Find Free Trials for Answering Services - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"are-there-free-answering-services","title":"Are there free answering services?"},{"id":"which-answering-services-offer-free-trials","title":"Which answering services offer free trials?"}],"json":[{"component":"p","children":[" When your customers call, you want them to be greeted with professionalism and respect. Many business owners believe this can only be accomplished by employees who work at the business and are immersed in the company's culture. However, with the right answering service, your customers can speak with a professional, courteous representative on days and during times when your business may be closed. "]},{"component":"p","children":["And if you are worried about the cost of hiring an answering service, there is good news. Many companies provide an easy way you can evaluate the service first before making a long-term commitment."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"are-there-free-answering-services"},"children":["Are there free answering services?"]},{"component":"p","children":["There isn't a completely free answering service, but many companies allow you to try their answering service for free for a limited time. By leveraging one or more free trial answering service opportunities you can see which service and features are the most beneficial for your business."]},{"component":"p","children":[" "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Editor's note: Need an answering service for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information."]}]},{"component":"RfqWidget","props":{"className":"bz-form-widget","id":"bz-form-widget-0","widgetCategoryId":"10094"},"children":[" "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"which-answering-services-offer-free-trials"},"children":["Which answering services offer free trials?"]},{"component":"p","children":["Several companies offer free trials. Below we examine trial offers from five well-known answering services."]},{"component":"h3","children":["MAP Communications"]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.mapcommunications.com/services/answering-services/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["MAP Communications Inc."]}," offers comprehensive answering services throughout the nation. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the company was founded in New York in 1990 and is owned by its employees. "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Features"]},{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["24-hour live answering service: "]},"24-hour availability is within your reach with the help of a live answering service. MAP Communications reps can answer your customers' questions and respond to concerns using scripts that are customized for your business.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Appointment scheduling: "]},"When you are busy scheduling appointments, you are not closing deals. However, by leveraging a free answering service online trial, you can focus on fulfilling customer obligations without sacrificing lead generation.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Call routing: "]},"Call routing, patching, forwarding and transfer are all possible with a live answering service. This helps your clients reach members of your team, even if employees are spread out across the country.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Customized phone scripts: "]},"Phone scripts help ensure the representative answering calls for your business effectively helps your customers and provides the same level of service as what your employees would provide.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Local and toll-free numbers: "]},"A toll-free number can incentivize customers who are not located in or near your area to interact with your company. If you only offer local services, MAP can utilize numbers within your local area code. "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Length of free trial: "]},"7 days",{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cost of MAP Communications' services: "]},"The company offers three plans, with base costs ranging from $39 to $249 per month."]},{"component":"h3","children":["PATLive "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.patlive.com/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["PATLive"]},", founded almost 30 years ago, handles more than 2 million calls each year. Agents are located in Florida. The company has more than 150 virtual receptionists. PATLive guarantees that calls are answered within four rings, regardless of when a call comes in. ",{"component":"strong","children":["["]},{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/categories/best-answering-services/#PATLive"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Read our review of PATLive"]}]},{"component":"strong","children":[" to learn more about why it is our pick as the best answering service for small businesses.]"]}," "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Features"]},{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["24/7 live answering service: "]},"Your business may not be open 24/7, but your customers may wish otherwise. With a free trial to an answering service, you can find out how many opportunities you are missing before making a decision.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Order processing: "]},"PATLive can use your online system (or their software) to not only answer frequently asked questions but process orders and returns.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Call screening:"]}," Working with this answering service, you can set your call preferences so that only the desired calls are sent through to you or your employees.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Third-party integrations"]},": No matter what software you use to run your business, PATLive may be able to integrate with it to more precisely and effectively help your clients. "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Length of free trial: "]},"14 days",{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cost of PATLive's services: "]},"Business owners can choose from six plans; base costs start at $39 per month and range up to $999 per month."]},{"component":"h3","children":["ReceptionHQ"]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.receptionhq.com/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["ReceptionHQ"]}," is a subsidiary of OfficeHQ, a company that was established in 2003. Its U.S. headquarters and operations center is located in Arizona, and global offices are located in the United Kingdom and Australia to ensure international availability around the clock. "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Features"]},{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["24/7 live answering service: "]},"Virtual receptionists are located in Arizona during regular office hours, and ongoing coverage is provided with receptionists in the U.K. and Australia.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Online client portal and apps: "]},"Easily manage your greeting, calls, transfers and forwarding messages instantly via ReceptionHQ's online portal or apps, which are available for iPhone and Android devices.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Bilingual service: "]},"Representatives fluent in Spanish are available to accounts at all levels at no additional cost.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Customized service: "]},"The company offers a dedicated account manager and customized service that allow for greater flexibility with your answering service plan. "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Length of free trial: "]},"7 days",{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cost of ReceptionHQ's services: "]},"You can choose from 10 plans. Base costs range from $20 to $654 per month, plus the company offers custom corporate solutions as well."]},{"component":"h3","children":["Go Answer"]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.1888goanswer.com/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["Go Answer"]}," was founded in 2012 as a family business with two employees. The business has grown to nearly 400 employees at three facilities dedicated to providing businesses of all sizes a comprehensive answering service that fits their specific needs. ",{"component":"strong","children":["["]},{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/reviews/1-888-go-answer/"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Read our review of Go Answer"]}]},{"component":"strong","children":[" to learn more about why it is our pick as the best inbound call center service.]"]}," "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Features"]},{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Extensive free trial: "]},"The 30-day free trial is double the free trial periods of many competing answering services offer.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["HIPAA compliant"]},": For businesses such as medical facilities, doctors' offices and legal offices that handle sensitive information, Go Answer can speedily relay patient and client calls using secure methods. "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Easy access: "]},"In addition to iPhone and Android apps to facilitate system integration and notifications, you can be alerted by email or SMS (text message) when something important happens.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["24/7/365 live bilingual answering service: "]},"Packages that include Spanish-speaking virtual agents are available.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Multiple support options:"]}," Besides offering live answering, Go Answer offers email support, web chat and even video chat support. "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Length of free trial: "]},"30 days",{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cost of Go Answer's services: "]},"You'll need to contact the company to receive a custom price quote."]},{"component":"h3","children":["Specialty Answering Service"]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["Specialty Answering Service"]}," (SAS) was founded in Pennsylvania in 1985 as a small answering service. By 2003, it became the multilingual international company that it is today. ",{"component":"strong","children":["["]},{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/categories/best-answering-services/#Specialty-Answering-Service"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Read our review of Specialty Answering Service"]}]},{"component":"strong","children":[" to learn why it is our pick as the best overall answering service.]"]}," "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Features"]},{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["24-hour live answering service: "]},"Approximately 20% of SAS employees speak fluent Spanish, which means your Spanish-speaking customers receive high-quality customer service from a fluent representative.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["No credit card required:"]}," The free trial requires no commitment at all.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Calls are recorded: "]},"To ensure the service is providing the level of customer service you're expecting from an answering service, you can listen to recorded calls.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Digital platform:"]}," SAS provides easy access to new messages, call history, recorded calls, call transcripts and notes in one place. "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Length of free trial: "]},"14 days",{"component":"strong","children":[" "]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cost of SAS' services: "]},"Eight plans are available; base costs range from $31 to $7,749 per month. Custom corporate solutions are available. "]},{"component":"p","children":["Answering incoming phone calls to field questions, complaints or to accept orders in a timely, courteous, and professional manner is essential to staying in business and staying ahead of your competition. However, having to constantly manage the phone lines when you have limited staff can impede business operations. "]},{"component":"p","children":["Whether you are in a busy retail environment or a professional office space, answering services, such as the five we profiled above, can provide quality service to your customers while freeing up some additional time so you can focus on running your business. "]},{"component":"p","children":["A free trial from an answering service is a great way to determine whether your business would benefit from this type of service. However, just because a service offers a free trial does not necessarily mean it will offer everything you need. Read our comparison of the ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/categories/best-answering-services/"},"children":["best answering services "]},"to find the right one for your needs."]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":{"sponsorType":"no-sponsor","name":null,"thumbnail":null,"bio":null,"slug":null,"status":null,"social":{"website":null,"linkedin":null,"twitter":null,"facebook":null}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/5f1/87d767b4374d71b8b4567/1500-0-","caption":"Kritchanut / Getty Images","isBlurred":false},"bestPicks":{"title":"The Best Answering Services of 2021","widgetSection":{"__typename":"SectionWidget","widget":{"widgetId":"10094"}},"bestPicksSection":{"__typename":"SectionBestPicks","bestpicks":[{"fullTitle":"Best Overall ","bullets":["Eight pricing plans","Second-to-second billing","14-day free trial"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best Overall","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/specialty-answering-service/","review":{"fullReview":"Specialty Answering Service (SAS) is our pick for the best overall answering service. It offers several flexible pricing plans and all of the features we looked for in an answering service as well as inbound and outbound call center services, making it a scalable service that can grow with your company. All calls are answered in its California-based contact center.
\r\nFor all of our answering service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nSAS has eight different pricing plans designed to suit the budgets of small and large businesses. Its rates are competitive for its high-volume packages and somewhat more expensive for its lower-volume plans (but not cost-prohibitive). It offers a pay-as-you-go plan for very low-volume businesses. A 14-day, no-obligation free trial is available for businesses to try before making a buying decision.
\r\nSpecialty Answering Service's pricing plans are as follows:
\r\nService is on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term contracts required. You can change plans on a monthly basis if you expect a spike or dip in call volume. There is a $50 setup fee, but SAS typically waives it if you become a client following the 14-day free trial.
\r\nSAS bills in one-second increments, meaning that you are only charged for the time you use. Many call centers and answering services round up to the nearest six or 12 seconds, and some even round up to the nearest minute. SAS does not round up time and only bills for the time that agents are engaged with your callers on the phone.
\r\nWhen it comes to call center services, Specialty Answering Service met all of our requirements and expectations that we specifically look for. The company offers some useful services that can improve a business's internal processes as well.
\r\nThese are some of the most important call center services SAS offers:
\r\nTo see all of our call center service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nSAS provides everything we looked for in an answering service, including around-the-clock live operator phone answering and advanced functions like appointment scheduling. Bilingual support is also available.
\r\nHere's more about the key features SAS offers businesses:
\r\nYou can create a custom script that SAS agents use when speaking with your customers. This script can be submitted through the client portal, which is available on any web browser and through the SAS mobile app. The SAS customer service department will help you write the script if you like, and if you need to change the script at any time, the service will work with you to develop an updated script. You can add or remove services through the client portal as well, and all changes display in real time for SAS agents.
\r\nThe client portal is also where you can find several reports, allowing you to drill down into your usage and glean important insights about callers. As a client of SAS, you can get detailed reports on data like call volume by geography, which can provide valuable insights into your business. General overviews can be emailed to you at the end of each day. Reports are updated on a call-by-call basis in real time, so you always have access to the most recent data.
\r\nWe found few drawbacks with SAS, save for the high cost of its low-volume plans. While the company offers several flexible plans suitable for low-volume businesses, including a pay-as-you-go plan, the plans all cost roughly $1 per minute or more. It's not until the 2,500-minute plan that its per-minute usage rate becomes more competitive with other call centers and answering services we evaluated.
\r\nThe customer service from SAS was among the best we experienced in our review process. We spent a lot of time on the phone with its representatives, who gave us a thorough explanation of the company's services, pricing plans and the onboarding process. They provided several scenarios where a company might benefit from certain services SAS offers, such as third-party verification or dealer-locate services.
\r\nWe expressed early in our calls to customer service representatives that we were not ready to make a buying decision. They remained fully engaged and attentive. We never felt pressured to make a purchasing decision or that representatives were disinterested in the questions we had about the company.
\r\nEditor's Note: Is your business looking for a call center service? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"http://www.specialtyansweringservice.net","docType":"service","title":"Specialty Answering Service","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rev/prod/Specialty_Answering_Service_logo.jpg"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":false,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10094","widget":{"id":"10094","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"http://www.specialtyansweringservice.net","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best for Small Business","bullets":["Six pricing plans","6-second incremental billing","14-day free trial"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best for Small Business","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/patlive/","review":{"fullReview":"PATLive is our pick as the best answering service for small businesses. It checks all the major boxes when it comes to the features we look for in an answering service. The company, based in Tallahassee, Florida, works with clients to tailor its services to meet clients' unique needs. PATLive has a client portal on its website through which customers can view their billing details and call volume. Customers of PATLive can also customize their call script.
\r\nFor all of our answering service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nPATLive offers all the key features we look for in an answering service, plus, as a client, you have the ability (and flexibility) to customize your script through the client portal.
\r\nHere's more about PATLive's key features:
\r\nPATLive offers a full-featured, 14-day free trial so potential clients can test the service. There is no transfer time or agent work time charged; clients are billed only for the time that PATLive agents are on the phone and engaged with callers. Features and services vary based on the subscription plan you choose. PATLive's pricing plans are as follows:
\r\nPATLive's pricing is posted here. Its per-minute usage rates were among the highest of the answering services we evaluated, ranging from nearly $1 per minute (with its plan that offers the highest number of live answer minutes) to nearly $2 per minute for its plan with the lower number of minutes. The average cost we ascertained, based on the answering services we evaluated, ranged from about 80 cents per minute to $1 per minute. All PATLive plans are billed month-to-month, and there is no penalty for cancellation.
\r\nPATLive bills only for the time its agents spend talking on the phone with your customers. It does not charge for post-call work. After the first minute of each call, PATLive bills in 6-second increments. So, for example, a 1-minute and 6-second call would appear on your bill as \"1.1 minutes.\" Billing in 6-second increments is a common practice in the industry; several other services we evaluated bill in this manner too.
\r\nPATLive's biggest limitation is its high per-minute usage rates, which range from $1 per minute to $2 per minute. Most of the other answering services we looked at featured plans with a per-minute usage rate that was less than $1 per minute, with some as affordable as 79 cents per minute or lower. PATLive's high per-minute usage rates could make it prohibitive to smaller businesses on a tight budget.
\r\nAnother limitation of the service is that while PATLive offers all the major features we like to see in an answering service, some features are not available at lower-priced subscription levels. PATLive only allows some features, such as appointment scheduling, order processing and a dedicated account manager, to their higher-priced packages.
\r\nThe Standard plan should be enough to accommodate most small businesses' needs, but certain features, like a dedicated account manager, are not available until clients subscribe to the Pro plan.
\r\nOur customer service experience with PATLive was characterized by extremely friendly conversation and a thorough explanation of PATLive's services, pricing model, and policies. The representative we spoke with was knowledgeable and forthcoming about PATLive and followed up after the call with additional information. We explained to the agent that we were not prepared to make a buying decision; the PATLive representative we spoke with remained fully engaged during the call and never once pushed us to make a purchasing decision.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for an answering service? We can help you choose the one that's right for you. Use the Compare Quotes button below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
"},"url":"https://www.patlive.com/","docType":"service","title":"PATLive","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5cd468875a215ec6188b458a/patlive.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10094","widget":{"id":"10094","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.patlive.com/","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best for Budget","bullets":["16 pricing plans","Second-to-second billing","Optional add-ons"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best for Budget","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/professional-communications-messaging-service/","review":{"fullReview":"PCMSI is our pick as the best low-cost answering service because of its low-volume plans and incredibly low per-minute rates. With several tiered plans that range from 60 minutes to 4,000 minutes per month and rates as low as 55 cents per minute, PCMSI is an exceptionally cost-effective solution. PCMSI agents handle all calls through the company's office in Erie, Pennsylvania.
\r\nFor all of our answering service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nPCMSI offers several types of services for businesses. It met all of the features we look for in an answering service and then some. Here's more about PCMSI's key services and features:
\r\nIf your business is in the healthcare sector, PCMSI offers HIPAA-compliant services and encryption. Other features include employee call-out lines, emergency dispatching and event registration. Services are all flexible based on your business's needs and can be set up with a PCMSI account manager.
\r\nPCMSI offers four different tiers of plans. It's Business and Enterprise plans offer some of the lowest rates among the answering services we evaluated. The Enterprise plan of 4,000 minutes per month has a rate of just over 55 cents per minute. Even the mid-tier plan is an affordable option for businesses on a budget. Overage fees for each plan are 75 cents per minute, which was on the low end compared to other answering services we evaluated.
\r\nStarter Plans:
\r\nProfessional Plans:
\r\nBusiness Plans:
\r\nEnterprise Plans:
\r\nAdd-ons:
\r\nThere is an additional fee for some other services. Here's more about those services and their related fees:
\r\nPCMSI bills in 1-second increments, which means there is no rounding up in terms of minutes used. If a call lasts for 1 minute and 5 seconds, clients are billed for 65 seconds. The industry standard is to bill in 6-second increments. PCMSI stands out in this regard. It also does not charge for post-call work time, meaning that you only pay for the time agents are on the phone with callers.
\r\nThere is a one-time setup fee of $35, which was low, too, compared to the setup fees other answering services we assessed charge. You'll need to remit a deposit for the first and last month of service. After that, you are billed each month for your plan plus any overage fees incurred. All calls are recorded and stored for review if needed.
\r\nA major limitation of PCMSI is that there isn't a client portal on its website that you can access to view monthly usage information, call details, or to customize your call script. As a client of PCMSI, you can set up email and text message notifications to receive the information typically available to you through a portal; however, that information isn't available to you at a moment's notice.
\r\nThe representative we spoke with told us a client portal could be coming soon, but at the time this review was written, no portal was available.
\r\nA second limitation is that if you need to make any changes to your script, you'll need to call or email the company and coordinate with them to implement those changes.
\r\nOur customer service experience with PCMSI was exceptional. We spoke with a knowledgeable representative who patiently walked us through their services and explained their billing structure. The representative was friendly and thorough, offering us insights into billing policies like second increments, deposits and setup fees. After requesting a follow-up email with more information, the representative quickly reached out and followed up multiple times to see if we had any additional questions. Even after we explained we were only in the research stage and wouldn't be making a buying decision, he remained engaged and attentive and was never pushy.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for an answering service? We can help you choose the one that's right for you. Use the Compare Quotes button below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
"},"url":"http://www.pcmsi.com/","docType":"service","title":"PCMSI","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5ce424f59c658a0c208b4567/PCM.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10094","widget":{"id":"10094","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"http://www.pcmsi.com/","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Customizable ","bullets":["Six pricing plans","No setup fee","Free trial and instant activation"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Best Customizable","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/bpo-american/","review":{"fullReview":"BPO American is our best pick for a customizable answering service. It offers both answering services and call center services, as well as a unique instant activation option that can get you up and running on the same day you sign up. BPO American has six different pricing plans for various call volumes and can develop custom packages for clients with specific needs. It also offers a three-day, full-featured free trial following instant activation.
\r\nFor all our answering service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nBPO American offers six main answering service plans, starting at $29 per month and topping out at $369 per month. Custom packages are available for clients with more specific needs. There is no setup fee for answering services, and all plans run month to month with no penalty for cancellation. These are BPO American's answering service plans:
\r\nCall center services require a special quote from a company sales representative and a $750 setup fee. For our hypothetical business, we required about 6,000 minutes of call center services per month, which BPO American offered at a competitive rate of 80 cents per minute. Including the $750 setup fee (which covers scripting, agent training and technology setup), the total initial cost came to $5,500. Unused minutes roll over month to month and never expire, unless you are inactive for six months. All service is month to month and can be canceled with no fees.
\r\nBPO American bills in one-second increments, which means it never rounds calls up to the nearest minute and you only pay for the time you use. This is superior to the industry standard of six-second billing increments.
\r\nWe were also offered a monthly billing option, which demanded less upfront expense but charged a higher per-minute rate. That option included a monthly minimum of $2,000 for 2,105 minutes, plus the $750 setup fee. The per-minute rate came to a high 95 cents.
\r\nBPO American's call center features expand on the answering service to include complaint handling and full-scale customer service. Call center agents can also make outbound calls on your company's behalf and engage in market research such as surveys and polls. These are some of BPO American's key call center services:
\r\nFor all our call center service recommendations, visit our best picks page.
\r\nBPO American offers an easy-to-use instant activation service, with an online tool that automatically builds out a script based on how you fill out a series of required fields. You can immediately get up and running with the instant activation, which allows for basic answering services. You can add on other common services like appointment setting, live web chat and order taking. All calls are answered by BPO American agents in the company's South Carolina-based call center.
\r\nBPO American's call center services require a relatively steep setup fee, which can make upfront costs a bit high. However, setup fees depend on the complexity of your needs, so more straightforward businesses might find that BPO American's setup fee is lower than the one in the proposal we received for our hypothetical business.
\r\nThe answering services do not include call recording, which is an $89 monthly charge on top of the monthly subscription and a one-time setup fee of $100. Services like live web chat and email management are not included in the subscription price either, so you'd need to pay extra if you want them.
\r\nOur customer service experience with BPO American was positive. While the representative we worked with was not overly friendly, he was extremely helpful and responsive, and he followed up with additional information immediately upon request. We received a detailed proposal that the representative walked us through, but he never pushed us to make a buying decision. Even after we expressed that we were not yet ready to subscribe to a service, he remained fully engaged and helpful in each of our interactions. He broke down the pricing model and explained clearly when additional fees would be incurred if we added on services such as call recording and detailed monthly reports.
\r\nEditor's Note: Is your business looking for a call center service? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"https://www.bpoamerican.com/","docType":"service","title":"BPO American","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5ce420e67b4374d1238b457b/bpo.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":false,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10094","widget":{"id":"10094","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.bpoamerican.com/","name":""}}}}]}}},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"The Ultimate Small Business Guide to Credit Card Processing Fees","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/credit-card-processing-fees/","slug":"credit-card-processing-fees","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d2/346547b437454698b4577/1500-0-","dek":"Learn about credit card processing fees and how to negotiate for lower costs.","lastModified":"2020-06-16T10:08:00Z","published":"2017-12-07T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Which Business Phone System is Best for Your Business?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/choosing-business-phone-system/","slug":"choosing-business-phone-system","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/58f/4f3a42f87b15407e7023f/1500-0-","dek":"Here's how to narrow phone options down with this quick list.","lastModified":"2017-10-18T21:00:00Z","published":"2017-10-18T21:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Hire for Your Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-staff-business/","slug":"how-to-staff-business","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ea/9c8bb9c658aee018b456c/1500-0-","dek":"Sterling Staffing Solutions CEO Stephen Carter shares his tips on staffing your business.","lastModified":"2020-07-31T15:00:00Z","published":"2018-08-16T12:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Using Lean Strategies to Achieve Team Synergy and Efficiency","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/lean-strategies-team-efficiency/","slug":"lean-strategies-team-efficiency","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5be/480e49c658a51108b458c/1500-0-","dek":"Learn more about lean manufacturing strategies and how to implement them in your business.","lastModified":"2018-11-08T08:00:00Z","published":"2018-11-08T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"What Is the Triple Bottom Line?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/triple-bottom-line-defined/","slug":"triple-bottom-line-defined","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e8/c6d029c658a03718b456a/1500-0-","dek":"The triple bottom line is a sustainability-based accounting method that focuses on people, profit and planet. 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