Hiring a receptionist seems like the obvious move when you're growing. But the math tells a different story. RunBy does more, costs less, and never takes a sick day.
| Feature | Receptionist | RunBy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $4,000–$6,000 | Starting at $299 |
| Availability | Business hours only | 24/7/365 |
| Scalability | 1 call at a time | Unlimited concurrent |
| Sick days | Yes | Never |
| Training time | 2-4 weeks | Live in 24 hours |
| Turnover risk | High | None |
| After-hours coverage | None | Full coverage |
| Invoice follow-up | Manual | Automated |
| Review requests | Manual | Automated |
| Estimate follow-up | Often forgotten | Automated sequences |
| Daily briefings | No | Every morning |
| Languages | Usually 1 | English + Spanish |
+ benefits, payroll tax, turnover
flat rate, all-in, no surprises
plus 24/7 coverage and automation
Plus: 24/7 coverage, unlimited concurrent calls, no training, no turnover risk, automated invoice and review follow-up, daily briefings, and multi-language support.
Your receptionist handles one call at a time. RunBy answers unlimited calls simultaneously. When summer hits and the phones explode, every customer gets through instantly.
A receptionist works 9-5. RunBy is live every minute of every day. Holiday emergencies, late-night callbacks, weekend inquiries—all answered instantly with zero downtime.
Every call makes RunBy smarter. It learns your language, your workflows, and your customer patterns. No manual training required. It just gets better over time.
Beyond answering calls. RunBy books jobs, chases invoices, requests reviews, follows up on estimates, and delivers daily briefings to your inbox every morning.
RunBy handles inbound calls, job booking, and basic customer inquiries 24/7. However, if your receptionist handles other office tasks (scheduling, admin, supplier management), you'd need to backfill those roles. Most HVAC companies use RunBy alongside streamlined admin support.
RunBy is trained to be conversational and friendly. It handles scheduling, captures emergency details, and ensures no call goes unanswered. Your technicians still handle the relationship-building and service delivery where it matters most.
A full-time receptionist costs $48,000-$72,000 annually plus benefits. RunBy costs $299-$799 monthly ($3,588-$9,588/year). Plus you gain 24/7 coverage, unlimited calls, and automation that a human can't deliver. Most customers see ROI within the first month.
RunBy can route to a human at any time. You set the rules. For emergencies, it escalates immediately. For other inquiries, it handles 95% without handoff. When customers do need a human, they get one.
24 hours. Connect your phone number and calendar, and RunBy takes your first call tomorrow. No training, no ramp-up period. A new receptionist takes 2-4 weeks to reach full productivity.
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