Per Call vs Per Minute Billing

As a business owner or manager, you understand the importance of having someone reliable and professional to handle your customers’ calls. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best for your company. When choosing an answering service, one important question is: do they charge per call or per minute?

Per Call Billing

With a per call billing model, you’re only charged for each individual call that comes in. This usually means that regardless if your average call is one minute or three minutes, you’re charged the same. This allows a safe estimate of how much you will pay each month, especially when the average length of calls varies.

The benefits of per call billing include:

• Predictable costs: You know exactly how much you’ll be charged each month.

• Simple to understand: No complicated calculations or surprise charges.

• Encourages efficiency: With per call billing, it incentivizes operators to keep your calls brief, professional, and to the point.

Per Minute Billing

On the other hand, per minute billing charges clients based on the actual time spent answering and handling each call. This is commonly used when your customers require in-depth assistance or have complex questions, but gets more expensive the longer the call.

The benefits of per minute billing include:

• Reflects actual usage: You’re only charged for the time your answering service actually spends handling calls.

• Encourages quality over quantity: With per minute billing, your answering service might prioritize providing service and support, as the longer the call goes the more they can bill.

• Flexibility: This model can be more suitable for businesses with varying call volumes or those that require specialized services.

Conclusion

The unfortunate truth is that there is no simple answer. Every business is unique, and your pricing structure will likely reflect that. Some companies are better off with a per minute billing structure, while many others benefit from per call billing. If you have calls with varying call length or want calls as short as possible, per call billing is the way to go. On the other hand, if your customers require extensive assistance or personalized support, per minute billing might be the only option.

Here at Answering Specialists, we charge per call (your specific package determines the actual cost per call, including what tasks or information you request). We believe that this sort of straight forward pricing structure puts you – the customer – in the best position to control how you want your call handled. It also comes with the added benefit that by it’s nature, it pushes us to be efficient to ensure your call is handled as quickly as possible while keeping sure quality is met.

Take the time to research and compare different answering services’ pricing models. Ask questions about their billing structures, and don’t hesitate to request a customized quote based on your specific needs. By doing so, you’ll find an answering service that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

If you’re interested in learning more about us, call us anytime at (866) 503-7025 or fill out our inquiry form to start the quote process.