The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Receptionist Needs for Small Businesses

If you own a small business, you may find yourself wondering if you should hire a receptionist to answer your phone calls or whether you should outsource the service to an answering service. Learning the benefits will help you decide if outsourcing your receptionist needs make sense for your business. Here are a few of the benefits of using an answering service instead of hiring a dedicated receptionist. 

An Answering Service Is Typically Cheaper

One of the biggest benefits to outsourcing your receptionist needs is that it is typically cheaper than hiring one or more full-time receptionists. When you hire an employee, you typically provide them with benefits, pay workers compensation insurance on them and provide them with a salary, regardless of how many calls they answer. With an answering machine service, the cost of the employees is spread out among the various businesses who use the service, making it more affordable and often cheaper, especially for small businesses. 

Allows Your Employee Budget to Go to Other Jobs

Another benefit to outsourcing your receptionist needs is that it allows your employee budget to go to the completion of more tasks. As a small business, you may not get that many phone calls each day. But if you have a receptionist, that receptionist may need to stay near their phone all day to answer the few calls you do get. This limits the tasks they can do as they are confined to their desk area. When you outsource your receptionist needs, you can hire a general office assistant who can occasionally field calls if needed, but can also make copies, deliver mail, or complete other tasks around the office without being tied down to a desk. 

You Always Have Receptionist Coverage

The last benefit to outsourcing your receptionists needs is that you will always have receptionist coverage. If you hire a receptionist, people may not be able to get through to someone if your receptionist is on a break, at lunch, out sick or on vacation. They may also be unable to reach anyone before or after business hours. Most answering services offer 24 hour a day services, ensuring you always have receptionist coverage. You don't have to wonder who will answer your phones if the receptionist calls in sick or is running late in the morning, helping to ensure your business runs smoothly. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to outsourcing your receptionist needs for your business. If you do not receive a high volume of calls, it is generally beneficial to outsource your receptionist needs, rather than hiring a dedicated receptionist for your office. But learning the advantages will help you make an educated decision about whether it is right for your business. 


Share