Three ways to handle your website and phone — compared honestly.
Most comparisons pick a winner early. This one lays the trade-offs side by side and lets the dimensions speak for themselves — what each option costs, where it falls short, and what you give up to get it.
The comparison
Same seven dimensions. Three honest answers.
Setup cost, monthly cost, after-hours, languages, lead capture, ongoing upkeep, and how long it takes to get going. Each row answers the same question three different ways.
Managed service
We build it, we run it, we keep it working.
- One-time setup cost
- Predicable setup fee, scoped up front.
- Monthly cost
- One predictable monthly fee.
- After-hours coverage
- 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
- Language support
- Any language, on request.
- Lead capture
- Every caller becomes a structured lead.
- Ongoing maintenance
- Hosted, updated, and tuned by us.
- Time-to-launch
- Weeks, not months.
We handle the build, the hosting, and the phones — for one predictable monthly fee.
DIY
You build it. You run it. You answer it.
- One-time setup cost
- Lowest in cash; highest in your evening hours.
- Monthly cost
- Hosting, a domain, tools, and your time.
- After-hours coverage
- Whatever the phone and calendar can do alone.
- Language support
- Website only — your call-takers speak what they speak.
- Lead capture
- Manual: sticky notes, voicemail, memory.
- Ongoing maintenance
- You — updates, security, downtime, broken plugins.
- Time-to-launch
- Variable — usually weekends for a few months.
Honest take: best when you want full control and have the time to keep things up to date.
Human receptionist
An in-house or remote person on the phones.
- One-time setup cost
- Recruiting, onboarding, and equipment.
- Monthly cost
- Salary, benefits, and software for one role.
- After-hours coverage
- Only with a second shift or on-call premium.
- Language support
- Whatever languages the person speaks.
- Lead capture
- Manual: depends entirely on the person.
- Ongoing maintenance
- Training, PTO, sick days, and turnover.
- Time-to-launch
- Months — recruit, interview, hire, train.
Honest take: right for some, but payroll, training, and PTO aren’t free — and neither is after-hours.
Still weighing it
Not sure which one fits your business?
Tell us about your business and the work you’d like off your plate. We’ll reach out within one business day with the option that fits — even if it isn’t us.