OfficeHQ can provide 24/7 live call answering, with Australian receptionists available around the clock, so calls outside standard business hours can be handled exactly the same way as calls during the day. You can set specific instructions for after-hours calls – such as taking messages only, or escalating urgent matters.
No. Your calls are answered in your business’s name, using your preferred greeting. Our professional receptionists are trained to represent your business seamlessly – callers experience the same quality of interaction they’d expect from an in-house team.
An in-house receptionist typically costs $71,000-$85,000 per year including super, leave loading, WorkCover and recruitment. OfficeHQ’s virtual reception plans start from $25 per month ($300/year), with the typical annual cost being around $2,220/year on our most popular plan. The potential annual saving for most small businesses runs well into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Yes. We collect whatever information is most useful to you – depending on how many details your plan allows for – such as the nature of the job, address, urgency and any other details you specify. Every message is sent through to you immediately by email or SMS. MessageExpress plans allow 3 details to be collect (name, number and reason for call), MyReceptionist plans allow up to 5 details to be collected and MyAssistant/MyDiary plans allow for unlimited details.
Yes. We work from your custom call script, which can include advising callers of after-hours call-out fees before escalating to you or a nominated team member. This helps filter genuine emergencies from enquiries that can wait until business hours.
Yes. On a MyDiary plan, our receptionists can book appointments directly into your preferred calendar or property management software. We handle the scheduling so your team can stay focused on other priorities.
Yes. On MyAssistant or MyDiary plans, we can follow your preferred call script to assess whether a maintenance call is urgent, then escalate as required to the appropriate property manager or on-call contact. Non-urgent calls are still messaged to you immediately for follow-up during business hours.
Many callers hang up when their call goes to voicemail, so you can miss out on vital conversations or leads. As a small business owner, ensuring calls are answered by a real person, rather than voicemail or a robot, is vital to increase customer satisfaction, build loyalty and improve your opportunity to create a rapport and obtain caller details.
A live call answering service can also allows you to screen calls, as you can advise your receptionist to transfer or take messages for only those call types you wish to receive. Once answered, you can see each message as it’s taken and prioritise who you will call back first.
Virtual receptionists can help your small business increase revenue through better customer connections, prevent the need to hire a full-time receptionist at vastly greater cost and help you to be more efficient with your time.
For large organisations, the volume and complexity of inbound calls can quickly overwhelm in-house reception teams – particularly during peak periods, staff leave or unexpected surges in enquiries. Callers who can’t get through, or are placed on hold for extended periods, can quickly form a negative impression.
A live call answering service provides professional, scalable call handling across multiple departments or teams, ensuring callers can speak to a real person, are directed appropriately and receive a consistent experience.
