Top 41 Virtual Receptionist agencies

Sometimes known as a virtual answering service, a virtual receptionist service provides businesses with an assistant who works from a remote location. This person's job is to answer phone calls and to handle any queries callers have.

Some virtual receptionist agencies offer their clients virtual assistants who can help with general administrative tasks. Others specialize in live receptionists whose sole responsibility is to answer inbound calls. Many virtual receptionist agencies engage workers in different time zones so that they can provide round-the-clock service to their clients.

A traditional receptionist works at a physical location within a company, usually the front desk. Their job is not only telephone answering but also meeting and greeting clients in person. By contrast, a virtual receptionist works at a remote location (usually their home) and their core responsibility is to answer calls.

By outsourcing responsibility for inbound calls to a virtual receptionist, an organization frees up its workers to focus on more valuable tasks. These workers no longer need to decide between answering a call or letting it go to voicemail—a virtual receptionist is always there to offer customer support. Providing a positive experience for potential clients is particularly important for law firms, real estate agencies and other companies where lead generation is vital.

Pricing for these kinds of assistant services varies widely. The best virtual receptionist services charge between $1 and $1.50 per minute, depending on the service plan. The industry standard for phone answering services is to charge per minute, though some agencies charge per call. Additional call answering service charges may include set-up or account activation fees, plus additional costs for reception services over holiday periods.

To become a virtual receptionist, you can apply for a position right here on Upwork or apply at a virtual receptionist company. These firms look for remote workers who can field client calls at odd hours and who are dedicated to providing excellent service and a positive customer experience. Callers can come from a wide variety of backgrounds, so virtual receptionists who are bilingual or fluent in Spanish are often in demand. You will also need a home setup that allows you to operate as a virtual office, with at least one landline and a computer with a high-speed internet connection.

A virtual receptionist's primary responsibility is to answer incoming calls and ensure customer satisfaction. Beyond that, they may also schedule appointments and log calls in a customer relationship management (CRM) system. Depending on the needs of the business owner, a virtual receptionist might also engage in web chat, text messaging, and managing social media feeds.