To choose the right call answering service to scale your business, you need to look at proven experience, trusted results, and reliable coverage. Abby stands out with over 20 years of expertise, thousands of satisfied clients, and tailored solutions designed to help businesses of any size grow.
What Are Call Answering Services?
A call answering service is a professional solution that manages incoming phone calls for your business. This can include taking messages, routing calls, booking appointments, or providing information to clients. The goal is simple: ensure no call is ever missed and every caller feels supported.
Call answering services come in different forms depending on your industry and needs. Abby offers three tailored options: Human Receptionist, AI Receptionist, and Live Web Chat. Each one is designed to give your business reliable, professional coverage at every touchpoint.
The best call answering services share consistent features that make them truly effective:
- Custom answering hours: Choose the hours you need, with full 24/7 coverage available.
- Customized call handling: Calls are answered according to your instructions so callers feel like receptionists are sitting in your office, a part of your team.
- Appointment scheduling: Receptionists can manage scheduling through Calendly or use a calendar of your choice with Scheduling Assistants.
- Call announcement and transfer: Calls can be announced and transferred exactly as you direct.
- Answer business FAQs: Receptionists are trained on your FAQs, which can be updated at any time.
- Receptionists powered by AI: Support includes AI-generated call summaries, transcripts, recordings, and customer sentiment scores.
- Seamless integrations: Sync caller insights directly into your existing workflows.
With these features, a call answering service becomes much more than a phone handler. It becomes a reliable extension of your business, improving client satisfaction and giving your team more time to focus on growth.
Why a Call Answering Service Could Be the Secret to Scaling Your Business
A call answering service does more than pick up the phone. It can directly impact how fast your business grows and how many clients you keep. Call answering services are now an essential tool for smaller businesses to scale, and are even game-changers for mid-sized and enterprise companies.
Nearly half of businesses report higher customer satisfaction and stronger client retention after adopting an answering service. When calls are answered quickly and professionally, clients feel valued and supported.
Answering services also drive growth. More than 42% of businesses see an increase in inbound leads, with some even doubling their lead flow once they stopped missing calls.
The cost savings are just as important. Around 34% of businesses report spending significantly less by outsourcing call handling instead of hiring in-house receptionists. That money can be redirected to marketing, operations, or scaling your business.
Missed calls are expensive. Between 72% and 80% of callers hang up without leaving a voicemail if no one answers. For small businesses, that can mean losing as much as 75% of potential clients.
Your reputation is also on the line. Studies show 71% of clients will end a business relationship because of poor phone etiquette. With a professional service in place, you protect your brand image while keeping clients happy and returning.
Finally, answering services give you a competitive edge. With 60% of customers expecting higher service standards every year, reliable call handling shows that your business is professional, responsive, and ready to grow.
The ROI of Call Answering Services
Hiring a full-time receptionist in the U.S. can cost over $50,000 a year once you factor in salary, benefits, and training.
By comparison, Abby’s call answering plans start at just $99 a month, with 24/7 coverage and bilingual support included.
With studies showing that up to 80% of callers won’t leave a voicemail if no one answers, the cost of missed calls adds up quickly.
That makes a professional call answering service one of the most affordable and impactful ways to grow your business.
What Types of Call Answering Services Are Available?
Not every business has the same needs. That is why Abby offers three types of call answering solutions designed to fit different industries and goals.
Human Receptionists
Abby’s human receptionists bring warmth and professionalism to every call. Each client is supported by a small, U.S.-based team that knows their business and follows custom call handling instructions. From appointment scheduling and call transfers to bilingual support and answering FAQs, Abby’s human receptionists deliver the personal touch that turns callers into loyal clients.
AI Receptionist
Abby’s AI Receptionist combines 20 years of call handling expertise with modern artificial intelligence. It answers within one ring, never puts callers on hold, and can handle hundreds of calls at once. The AI is trained in your brand’s voice, can schedule appointments, route calls, and even answer FAQs. If a question ever requires the human touch, the AI seamlessly routes the call to a live human receptionist for backup, giving you total coverage and confidence.
Live Web Chat
For visitors who prefer online communication, Abby’s live web chat service captures leads directly on your website. With proactive greetings, 24/7 coverage, and multilingual support, web chat agents convert casual visitors into booked appointments. Features like chat-to-call, SMS integration, and scheduling assistance make it easy for clients to connect with your team however they prefer.
How to Choose the Right Call Answering Service: 5 Features Every Business Needs
Not all call answering services are created equal. Whether you use virtual receptionists, AI receptionists, or web chat, the best providers all share a set of essential features. When you’re comparing your options, make sure these five are in place:
- 24/7 Availability
Calls and inquiries don’t stop at 5 p.m. A reliable service should give you round-the-clock coverage so no client is ever turned away. Abby provides true 24/7 support across human, AI, and chat. - Custom Call Handling
Every business has its own way of greeting clients, routing calls, and capturing details. A great service lets you customize call flows, FAQs, and scheduling so callers feel like they’re speaking with a member of your team. - Professionalism and Brand Alignment
Whether a call is answered by a person or an AI, it should sound warm, natural, and on-brand. Abby’s solutions are trained to represent your business exactly how you want. - Scalability Without Extra Overhead
The right service should grow with you. From a few calls a week to thousands, the system should handle volume without delays or costly hiring. Abby’s solutions are built to scale instantly, whether through AI, live agents, or a hybrid approach. - Actionable Insights and Integrations
Answering calls is only the start. The best services also give you visibility into caller trends, transcripts, scheduling, and CRM integration. Abby delivers this through its portal, mobile app, and AI-powered call summaries.
Case Study: Green Hill Fence Company Doubles Revenue with Abby
Green Hill Fence Company, a fencing and high-end landscaping business in South Carolina, was losing revenue because of missed calls, overwhelmed staff, and poor call tracking. With so many inquiries slipping through the cracks, both new leads and existing customers were left waiting.
The turning point came when their sales team was headed to a tradeshow and could not answer phones. Green Hill turned to Abby, and the results were immediate. Abby’s dedicated team of U.S.-based virtual receptionists provided 24/7 call answering, call routing, scheduling, and detailed call documentation.
With Abby handling every call, Green Hill was able to capture more leads, serve more clients, and double their revenue. The transition was seamless, and the company now relies on Abby’s client portal and mobile app to track calls, manage appointments, and keep operations running smoothly.
“We instantly were able to grow our revenue because we were able to serve more customers.” — Green Hill Fence Company
Get Started with Abby Connect Today
Every missed call or message is a missed opportunity. Abby Connect makes sure your business never has to choose between growth and responsiveness. With 24/7 coverage, dedicated U.S.-based teams, and AI-powered efficiency, you can capture every lead, impress every client, and scale with confidence.
Ready to see the difference?
👉 Get started with Abby Connect and experience call answering designed to grow your business.
