Cheap Virtual Receptionist Services

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A virtual receptionist can provide you with a friendly voice that acts as the ‘front of house’ of your business. From ensuring every call is answered and helping you uphold a professional reputation to giving your brand presence in a different country, there are many reasons why you might seek out a virtual receptionist service. You can get a prime UK telephone number without the cost of a landline, making it ideal for remote workers or those who are overseas. 

But one of the main benefits for cash-strapped startups is that they can save you money. Instead of mounting up high costs of recruitment and training, you will simply pay a monthly fee. Cheap virtual receptionist services are a small expense with big, big benefits. But what sort of features should you look for when choosing your virtual receptionist provider? 

Here are the things that are an absolute must for getting every bit of your money’s worth. 

Do they have trained and experienced receptionists?

A good virtual receptionist service should be managed by a small, expert team of receptionists. It should sound and feel worlds away from a generic call centre, and the call handlers should familiarise themselves with your brand and be able to give the impression that they work for you, and you only. To the caller, they should act like a permanent member of your staff, and this means they need to be fully trained in adapting to multiple personalities to help you stay on brand with every call. 

There are a number of cheap virtual receptionist services available in the UK, but the best ones will spend time getting to know you and your business, and follow your guidelines with stringency. 

Can they forward calls and take messages?

Not only should your virtual receptionist help you handle calls, but they should also give you different options for notification. With our Receivr service, calls can be easily forwarded to you or a member of your team (including mobiles). If you’re busy, your receptionist will take a message and notify you by text or email - it’s up to you how you want to be contacted. 

Is the contract flexible?

One of the most important things to look for when looking for a virtual receptionist contract is flexibility. New startups, particularly those wanting to penetrate volatile markets, are often under a lot of pressure to succeed. Cash flow can be tight at times, so a flexible month-to-month payment plan can be peace of mind. While you’re still finding your feet, find a contract that doesn’t tie you down. You should be able to cancel at anytime without any cancellation fees. 

Are they transparent on call costs?

Another thing to watch out for is hidden costs. Some companies may offer a very low fee but have very small call limits, so you are constantly going over. Your virtual service provider should be very clear on what the monthly price includes, and how much it will cost you per call once you reach your limit. Any call forwarding charges should also be clearly listed. Transparency is very important, so if a price list isn’t visible on their website be sure to ask. 

Can the company offer other virtual services?

A company that also offers other virtual services is often a good choice because they have experience working with new businesses, startups, budding entrepreneurs and people just like you who are starting out for the first time. Having one single provider for your virtual services also makes acquiring different services easier. 

At Hoxton Mix, we are a one-stop shop for virtual offices and addresses (with mail forwarding), virtual phone services, private lockable office suites in London, and handy meeting room hire. This gives you the flexibility to have both virtual and physical presence, as and when you need to.

Do they offer a money-back guarantee?

Every good virtual phone answering service provider should be able to promise a money-back guarantee. If a provider is confident that they can deliver an excellent service and please their clients, guaranteeing money back for unhappy customers should come as standard.

Not only does this give you peace of mind as a startup, but it ensures that you won’t be wasting precious money on services that simply don’t get the job done.