For many UK businesses, the choice between hiring a full-time receptionist and outsourcing to an AI-powered virtual receptionist is no longer just about convenience — it’s about cost, efficiency, and scalability. In this guide, we break down the true cost of employing a receptionist in 2025 and show how modern AI reception services like Norango.ai can deliver the same (or better) results at a fraction of the price.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Receptionist in the UK?
Hiring a receptionist comes with more than just a monthly salary. You’ll also need to account for recruitment, training, benefits, and overheads.
Typical UK Receptionist Salary in 2025
- Average annual salary: £23,000 – £28,000 (source: Indeed & ONS)
- London weighting: often £30,000+
- Hourly rate equivalent: £11 – £14
Additional Employer Costs
- National Insurance Contributions: ~13.8%
- Holiday pay: 28 days per year
- Sick pay & cover: average 4–6 days absence annually
- Pension contributions: minimum 3%
- Recruitment & training: often £2,000–£5,000 per hire
- Office costs: desk, phone line, software
👉 All in, the true cost of a full-time receptionist in the UK is typically £32,000–£38,000 per year — and that’s before factoring in staff turnover or downtime.
Virtual Receptionist Services — What Businesses Pay in 2025
Many small businesses turn to live virtual receptionist providers as an alternative to hiring in-house. While these services remove overheads, they can still be costly.
- Monthly fees: £200 – £600 depending on call volumes
- Overage per minute: £1.20 – £1.75
- Typical annual spend: £5,000 – £12,000
Live services can be a better option than hiring, but costs quickly escalate for growing businesses, and availability often depends on scripted agents working shifts.
AI Receptionist Pricing — How It Compares
AI receptionists are designed to be available 24/7, handle multiple calls at once, and integrate directly with booking systems and CRMs. At Norango.ai, we combine the efficiency of AI with the reassurance of UK-based live agents who step in when needed.
- Plans from £99.95/month
- Minutes included: 100–500 depending on plan
- Overage cost: from £0.25/minute
- Scalable concurrency: answer multiple calls at once with no extra staffing
That means your annual cost is typically £1,200 – £3,600 — less than 10% of a full-time receptionist, and significantly cheaper than traditional live answering services.
The ROI of Switching to AI Reception
When comparing costs, it’s clear:
| Option | Annual Cost Range | Coverage | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house receptionist | £32k – £38k | Office hours | 1 call at a time |
| Virtual live receptionist | £5k – £12k | Extended hours | Limited |
| Norango.ai hybrid AI reception | £1.2k – £3.6k | 24/7/365 | Unlimited |
Key Advantages
- Always open: never miss a call, lead, or booking
- Transparent pricing: no hidden fees, no nasty surprises
- Scalable: handle peaks in call volume instantly
- Professional image: callers get a consistent, polished experience
Conclusion: Smarter, Leaner, More Competitive
In 2025, the economics are clear: paying £35k+ for a single receptionist simply doesn’t make sense for most small and medium businesses. Even traditional live services struggle to compete with the combination of AI efficiency and human reassurance that Norango.ai offers.
👉 Switch today and cut your call-handling costs by up to 90%.
Check our pricing plans or book a demo to see how Norango.ai can save you time, money, and missed opportunities.
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