AnswerFirst is a telecommunications company based in Tampa, FL. They offer a range of virtual receptionist services and provide phone cover to businesses of all sizes across the country.
The company started operations in 1998. All of their call agents are based in their offices, and their services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
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About AnswerFirst
The company is headed up by current President and CEO, Matt Herron.
AnswerFirst is an inbound call center, specializing in providing virtual receptionists and call answering services on a pay-per-minute model.
If you’re struggling to keep on top of your calls, or it’s simply taking up too much of your time, a virtual receptionist might be the solution.
How AnswerFirst Works
You can forward your business calls to their team of agents and they’ll answer your calls as if they were an in-house team member. Most of the time customers have no idea they’re talking to a third-party agent, neither does it matter.
They’re speedy too, AnswerFirst says that 90% of all calls are answered in four rings or less on average. The rest goes into a hold queue with a message informing the caller than an agent will be with them shortly.
It’s worth noting that you’re not billed for the time your callers spend in the call queue.
Getting Started with AnswerFirst
When you sign up with AnswerFirst, one of their Business Development Coordinators will take you through the onboarding process.
You’ll be given login details for their online portal, so you can access your account information. They’ll also talk you through how their service works and ask for a script and any other company information their agents need.
They will then provide you with a unique forwarding phone number. You forward your calls to this number when you’re not able to take the calls, and one of their agents will answer using your company name and instructions.
You can keep an eye on how many minutes you’ve used, your messages, call logs, and other account information via their online portal or by using their mobile app.
Services
AnswerFirst offers a range of call answering services, including:
- 24/7 Call answering
- Live call transferring and message taking
- Making and scheduling reservations
- Voicemail services
- Virtual receptionist services
Plans and Pricing
AnswerFirst does not currently have set pricing plans to choose from before discussing your requirements with their team.
They operate on a cost per minute, like most virtual receptionist providers. Instead of a flat monthly rate, they say their pricing “automatically adjusts to the best rate for you.”
This sounds like a hook to get you on the phone, but I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that.
They do say that their plans start at $20 per month for a pay-as-you-go package, with rates per minute as low as $1.06. This is a competitive rate, but it’s not clear how many minutes you’ll get at that rate and how many you’ll have to commit to.
If you want to find out more about their pricing and get a custom quote, you can reach out via a form on their site or by picking up the phone.
The latter option is a perfect way to find out how professionally they answer their phones.
AnswerFirst Alternatives
Two of the more popular virtual receptionist companies worth checking out are Gabbyville and Ruby Receptionists.
| Ruby Receptionists | Gabbyville | DaVinci | 1-888-GoAnswer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | not rated | not rated | ||
| Established | 2003 | 2013 | 2006 | 2003 |
| Minimum Monthly Cost | $299 for 100 minutes | $229 for 150 minutes | $99 for 50 minutes | $110 for 100 minutes |
| Price per Minute | $2.99 | $1.53 | $2.00 | $1.10 |
| Set-Up Fee | $99 | $95 | $75 | |
| Trial | 14-Day Free Trial | 14-Day Free Trial | 30-Day Risk-Free | |
| Learn more | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
Both offer 14-day free trials, so you can try before you buy. Ruby Receptionist’s pricing starts at $299 for 100 minutes per month. While Gabbyville is a little more competitive starting at $229 for 150 minutes, with a $99 setup fee.
Your Turn
Have you worked with AnswerFirst? If so, please leave a review below to help others with their decision.