How much does an AI receptionist cost in Toronto?

AI receptionist pricing varies a lot more than most comparison articles let on, because "AI receptionist" actually covers two very different products: templated call-answering apps, and custom-built systems. Knowing which one you're actually shopping for changes the price by 10x.

Templated AI receptionist tools: roughly $25–$160/month

Most budget options — the ones marketed broadly to any small business — charge based on call volume or minutes. A typical solo or 2–3 person business handling 30–300 calls a month lands in this range. These tools work off a generic script you configure through a dashboard: they don't know your specific clients, they don't have a CRM built in, and they're not customized to how your business actually runs.

Mid-tier tools with booking focus: roughly $99–$500/month

A step up are tools built specifically around appointment booking rather than generic call answering — still templated, but tuned for businesses where booking is the main call reason (salons, for example).

Custom-built CRM + AI receptionist: roughly $300–$400+/month

This is a different category entirely: a receptionist built around your actual business — your real services, your real pricing, your real client history — paired with a CRM designed the same way, instead of a generic dashboard you configure yourself. You're not buying software you set up; you're buying a system someone builds for you and keeps working as your business changes.

So which one is worth it?

• Pure call volume problem, simple service: a templated tool at the lower price point might genuinely be enough.
• You also need client history, quotes, job tracking, or team scheduling: a templated tool means paying for a second app (or three) to cover what it doesn't do — a custom system usually ends up cheaper once you count what you'd otherwise juggle.
• Your business has real complexity — multiple services, staff, recurring clients, project stages — a generic script answering calls "for" your business without knowing it usually shows, and costs you the job.

Zivo is a flat $350/month in Toronto — one price, a custom CRM and AI receptionist built together, no add-on fees, no per-call charges, no separate booking app or CRM subscription to also pay for.

P.S. — beyond the CRM, we also run standalone business strategy audits and website design projects, starting at $700 flat.