Blog · Pricing & comparisons · 2026-10-18 · 3 min read

12 Questions to Ask Before You Buy an AI Receptionist

A buyer checklist for local business owners: pricing, overage, booking, texting rules, honesty, and what happens when you cancel.

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Use this before any demo

Print this list or keep it open during a sales call. A good vendor answers every question clearly. A vague answer is an answer.

Price and limits

  1. What is included in the monthly price? Minutes, calls, texts, website chat, booking?
  2. What exactly happens when I use my last included minute? Overage fee, upgrade, or calls ring me?
  3. Is there a setup fee or a contract?
  4. Can I cancel anytime, and what happens to my data?

Quality

  1. Can I call a live demo right now? Listen for natural pauses, interruptions handled well, and correct details read back.
  2. What does the AI do when it does not know the answer? It should take a message, not guess.
  3. How does it handle an urgent call? Ask them to show you a transfer to a cell phone.
  4. Will it ever quote prices I did not give it? The right answer is no.

Booking and follow-up

  1. Does it book directly into my calendar on my plan, or only send a link?
  2. Does it follow up with people who did not book?

Texting and compliance

  1. Does it text customers only after they agree? Ask how consent is recorded and how STOP is handled.
  2. What compliance claims do you make, and can you show proof? Ask for audit reports or signed agreements if they claim HIPAA or SOC 2.

Our answers

QuestionWebCrew
Included250 AI min (founding) or 500 (standard), phone + website chat, booking, reminders, follow-ups, review requests, website
At the limitNew calls ring your cell. No overage bill.
Setup / contract$0 setup, no contract, 30-day free trial
Unknown answerTakes a message and tells you
Urgent callsTransfers to the cell you choose, or takes an urgent message
Made-up pricesNever. Only prices you give it.
TextingOnly after the customer agrees; STOP handled automatically
ComplianceRuns on SOC 2-audited infrastructure; WebCrew has no SOC 2 audit of its own and does not claim HIPAA

Stop losing calls you never heard ring.

WebCrew answers your phone and your website 24/7, books jobs into your calendar, follows up, and asks happy customers for reviews. Founding 10: $99/mo locked for life, 250 AI minutes, $0 setup, 30-day free trial.

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