Upfirst is an outsourced receptionist service that answers your calls 24/7, takes messages, books appointments, and sends callers to the right person. You set it up yourself. No contracts, no per-minute fees.
Whether you need a virtual receptionist, appointment scheduler, lead intake, or all of the above, this two-minute walkthrough shows you how Upfirst answers, screens, and routes calls on your behalf.
How it works
Tell Upfirst about your business, set your call handling rules, and forward your phone number. Your outsourced receptionist starts answering right away.
Enter your business name, hours, services, and common questions. Upfirst uses this as its knowledge base to answer callers accurately, the same way you would train a new hire. You can also import details from your website in one click.
Decide how each call gets handled. Send sales leads to your cell. Route support questions to a team member. Take messages when nobody is available. Your receptionist doubles as a message taking service with smart call routing based on rules you set.
Forward your business line to Upfirst. Every call gets answered on the first ring. You get a text and email summary after each one, so you always know who called, what they needed, and whether it needs follow-up.
You are on a job site, in a meeting, or with a client. The phone keeps ringing, and you can not answer every call. When you outsource phone answering, someone else handles those calls while you focus on your work.
You are with a client. You are driving. You are on a ladder. The phone still rings. Upfirst picks up every call so no customer goes to voicemail. If a call is urgent, your receptionist transfers it to you with full context. If not, it takes a message and texts you the details. Your after hours answering service runs the same way, day and night.
Not every call deserves the same response. Your outsourced receptionist asks the right questions, figures out what the caller needs, and routes them to the right person. Sales leads go to your phone. Billing questions go to your office. Spam gets filtered out before it reaches anyone.
Your receptionist asks callers for their name, phone number, email, and whatever details you need. Every call becomes a clean lead sent to your inbox by text or email. Connect your calendar and let callers book time with you directly.
A full-time receptionist costs $3,000 or more per month. Traditional answering services charge per minute and lock you into long agreements. A remote receptionist service like Upfirst handles the same work for a fraction of the cost. Spam calls and hang-ups are never billed. You only pay for real conversations.
Integrations
Send caller details, messages, and appointment data to your CRM, calendar, or other business tools.
A complete AI receptionist service with the features small businesses actually use. Set up in minutes, no technical skills needed.
Connect Google Calendar, Outlook, or Clio. Your receptionist checks availability and books appointments during the call. Caller details are added to the event automatically.
Collect names, phone numbers, emails, or any custom fields you define. Your receptionist asks the questions, gathers the answers, and delivers structured results to your inbox.
Your receptionist speaks English, Spanish, and 35+ other languages. Callers hear a natural conversation in their preferred language. No separate phone lines or agents needed.
Get a text and email after every call with a summary of who called, what they needed, and what action was taken. Route notifications to specific team members based on call type.
Robocalls and sales calls get filtered before they reach you. Upfirst checks incoming numbers against a spam database and detects spam behavior during the call. You are never billed for blocked calls.
Route calls by topic, department, or team member. Warm call transfers brief you on who is calling and why before you pick up. Decline the transfer, and your receptionist takes a message. It works like a built-in call screening service.
Train your receptionist to answer questions about hours, pricing, services, and policies. Add information manually or import it from your website. Callers get accurate answers without waiting for a person.
Don't see your question answered here? Get in touch with our team.
What is an outsourced receptionist service?
An outsourced receptionist service handles your business calls without you hiring in-house staff. Instead of paying for a full-time employee or managing a call center, you forward your phone line to a service that answers, screens, and routes calls on your behalf. Upfirst is an AI-powered outsourced receptionist that works 24/7, takes messages, books appointments, and sends you summaries after every call. Learn more in our guide to outsourced phone answering services.
How is an AI receptionist different from a traditional answering service?
Traditional answering services use live operators who follow scripts. They charge per minute, have limited hours, and often require contracts. An AI receptionist service like Upfirst answers instantly, works around the clock, and handles calls based on rules you set. It can also handle appointment scheduling, send texts, and route calls, things most answering services charge extra for.
How much does an outsourced receptionist cost?
Starting at $24.95/mo, Upfirst plans cost a fraction of what you would pay for a full-time receptionist or a per-minute answering service. There are no long-term commitments, and spam calls are never billed. For a full breakdown, read our comparison of virtual receptionist cost per month.
Can an outsourced receptionist handle complex calls?
Yes. Upfirst answers detailed questions using your knowledge base, collects custom information from callers, and transfers calls to a specific person when needed. For calls that require a human, the AI transfers with full context so the person picking up already knows who is calling and why.
How long does it take to set up?
Most businesses are answering calls within 10 minutes. Add your business details, set your call handling preferences, and forward your phone number. No technical skills or special equipment required.
Join the small businesses already using Upfirst to answer every call, collect leads, and route customers to the right person. Set up takes minutes. No credit card required. See pricing plans to find the right fit.
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