How our answering service works

1. Your phone rings as usual. If nobody picks up within about 20 seconds, or it’s after hours, the call comes to us.
2. It answers in a natural voice and tells the caller it’s your business’s assistant.
3. It answers the questions you approve: hours, location, services, prices you’re happy to share.
4. It books the appointment on supported booking systems, or texts the caller your booking link while they’re still on the phone.
5. You get a text summary of every call: who called, their number and what they need.

You keep your phone number. Your phone company forwards calls to us when nobody picks up, when the line is busy or after hours. Nothing changes for your customers except that someone answers.

Answering service vs. AI receptionist: what’s the difference?

A traditional answering service is a call centre. A person answers, takes a message and passes it on, and you pay by the minute. An AI answering service answers instantly at any hour, can answer real questions and book the visit, and costs a flat monthly fee. Here’s how the options compare.

Option	Typical cost (2026)	What you get
Traditional answering service (live agents)	US$175–$700 a month at small-business volume, often US$0.75–$1.50 a minute	A person takes a message. Costs climb with every busy month.
AI answering service	US$25–$300 a month for most tools	Answers instantly, any hour, and can book or text your booking link
In-house receptionist	About US$38,000 a year median wage before benefits	Knows your business best, but works set hours and takes one call at a time

Prices above are published market ranges in US dollars, not Zolo’s prices. Ours are below in Canadian dollars.

Built for Vancouver storefront businesses

• Dental offices: new-patient calls while the team is chairside.
• Salons and spas: booking calls while hands are full.
• Physio, chiro and massage clinics: calls during treatments.
• Med spas: evening consult calls.
• Auto repair shops: calls from drivers while the bays are busy.

Pick your plan

Simple monthly plans in Canadian dollars. Every plan includes setup, testing and a weekly check of your calls by our team.

One-time setup fee of CA$299 on every plan, plus applicable taxes. 3-month minimum, then month-to-month. Not sure which plan fits? Book a free 15-minute review or call 778-892-7802.

What happens after you get in touch

1. Same or next business day: we call you to learn your services, hours, prices you’re happy to share and the questions your front desk answers most.
2. Within a week: we build your receptionist, connect it to your phone line and booking system, and test it with real-sounding calls.
3. You approve it by calling it yourself before it ever talks to a customer.
4. Every week after: we review the calls and fix any answer that missed.

Answering service questions

How much does an answering service cost in Vancouver?

Live answering services usually run about US$175–$700 a month at small-business volume, often billed at US$0.75–$1.50 a minute. AI answering services usually cost US$25–$300 a month. Zolo’s plans start at CA$149 a month for missed-call text-back and CA$299 a month for AI answering on after-hours and overflow calls, plus a one-time CA$299 setup.

Can I keep my business phone number?

Yes. You keep your number and your phone company. Calls are forwarded to us only when nobody answers, when the line is busy or after hours.

Will callers talk to a real person?

No. The answering service is AI, and it tells callers it’s an assistant. When a caller asks for a person, it takes a message or transfers the call to you if you’ve turned transfers on.

Do you offer after-hours answering?

Yes. Every AI plan answers after-hours calls. The 24/7 Pro plan can answer every call, any time.

Is an AI answering service allowed in Canada?

Yes. Under Canada’s privacy law (PIPEDA) callers should be told the call may be recorded and why. Our greeting says so, and the assistant only collects what’s needed to book or pass on a message. This isn’t legal advice.

How fast can it be set up?

Usually within a week. We learn your services and common questions, build it, and you test it by calling it yourself before any customer hears it.

Does it include a live chat for my website?

Yes. The AI Receptionist and 24/7 Pro plans include an AI chat on your website. It uses the same knowledge as your phone receptionist, answers visitors any time of day, books or shares your booking link, and sends you every lead.

Sources: OnceHub, “Answering Service Cost in 2026” (Sept 2026, US dollars); Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, PIPEDA guidance.