AI phone receptionist for Florida businesses

An AI receptionist that works like a good front desk.

We design and program it for your business. It answers right away, helps callers with your own facts, books calls on your calendar, takes messages and gets a person on the line when a caller needs one.

Or call (561) 468-3885. Answered right away by our AI front desk.

Basic setup starts at $1,500. Most custom builds run $3,000 to $5,000. The phone platform bills its subscription and usage to you directly.2

Example only. "Example Company" is made up, and this is not a real call.1

Hear it for yourself

Call Hickey Media and hear our front desk.

Leo, the AI receptionist we built for Hickey Media, answers our main line. Ask a question, leave a message or ask about booking a call. You'll hear how a call with one sounds before you decide on yours.

That's Leo's greeting word for word. It says it's an AI and gives the recording notice before the call goes any further.7

How a call goes

It handles what it can, then gets a person when it should.

Think about calling a pharmacy or a doctor's office. The automated line takes care of the simple things and sends you to someone for the rest. This works the same way, set up to sound like your front desk.

  1. Call comes in
  2. Answers and says it's an AI
  3. Picks the next step

Helps

Answers common questions from your website and the script documents we write: hours, services, directions.

Books

Puts a call or appointment on your calendar, on the days and times you allow.

Takes a message

Gets the caller's name, number and reason, then sends it where you choose.

Transfers

Sends the caller to a person when they ask, when it's urgent or when it can't help.

Rules we build into every call

Built to

  • Say it's an AI at the start
  • Give the recording notice before anything is recorded
  • Get a person on the line when the caller asks
  • Stick to the answers you approved

Built never to

  • Give legal, medical or financial advice
  • Make outbound or sales calls. It answers incoming calls only.
  • Take card numbers or passwords
  • Quote prices or make promises you haven't approved

AI phone tools can still get things wrong. That's why we test calls with you before launch and set clear rules for when it hands a call to your team.

Built for Florida businesses

Set up to follow the rules.

We're based in Jupiter, Florida, and every build starts from Florida's rules. Here's what your callers will hear, and the law or guidance behind each setting.

It says it's an AI

The first thing callers hear is that they're talking to an AI assistant, and they can ask for a person at any time. We do this on every line, so nobody feels tricked.

It gives a recording notice

When recording is on, the greeting says, "This call may be recorded for quality and training." Florida requires the consent of everyone on a call before it's recorded.

Florida Statutes section 934.033

Healthcare needs a BAA

Medical and dental offices only go on a platform that signs a HIPAA business associate agreement with the practice. Vendors that handle patient information for you need one.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services4

Law firms: AI, not a lawyer

The Florida Bar's guidance says an AI that talks with prospective clients must say it's an AI and not a lawyer, and can't give legal advice. It gathers basic facts and a lawyer follows up.

The Florida Bar, Ethics Opinion 24-15

Incoming calls only

In 2024 the FCC said AI-generated voices count as "artificial" voices under federal robocall law, so AI calls out to people need their consent first. We keep it to answering calls that come in.

FCC Declaratory Ruling 24-17, 20248

Texts need registration and consent

Business texts from a regular 10-digit number need carrier registration (A2P 10DLC) and people who opted in. Until both are in place, confirmations go by email.

Twilio, A2P 10DLC guide9

Blake is not a lawyer, and none of this is legal advice. It's what we've learned setting these up, with the sources linked so you can read them yourself. Your own counsel or compliance advisor has the final word.

You choose

Set up the way your office already works.

These are your calls to make. We walk you through each one on the free call and in the build.

The voice

Male or female, and the tone: warm, upbeat or straight to the point.

What it answers

Only the topics you approve. Anything else becomes a message or a transfer.

When it transfers

Who takes urgent calls, what counts as urgent and what happens if nobody picks up.

Recording

On or off. If it's on, callers hear a recording notice before anything is recorded.

Hours

All day, after hours only, or when your team doesn't pick up first.

Where messages go

Call summaries to your email, your CRM or both.

How it works

From a free call to a line that's live.

  1. Free call

    15 minutes by phone or Zoom: what calls come in and what should happen to each.

  2. Script and training docs

    We learn your website and your current call script, if you have one, and write the documents that teach it your business.

  3. Build and connect your calendar

    Programmed in your phone platform, with booking connected to your calendar.

  4. Test calls together

    We call it together, try the hard questions and fix what's off before it goes live.

  5. Go live and hand over

    Calls start going to it on the schedule you picked. Your team gets a short walkthrough and a written handover document: the script, the settings and how to update it.

  6. Tune-ups

    Optional. Want to add to it or change it after launch? Changes are quoted as tune-ups.

Blake standing at his desk in front of two monitors showing campaign reports
Blake at his desk

Who builds it

Programmed in house, on the platform you pick.

New AI phone apps come out all the time. Want the newest one that just came out? Blake learns it and programs it with you. Or we work in the platform you already have, or recommend one that fits your calls and budget. The account stays in your name, and you add us as a user. No shared passwords.

  • (561) 468-3885Hickey Media's main line, answered by Leo, the AI receptionist we built
  • 2006The year our founder started in marketing
  • 500+6Freelance projects since 2006

The math

What a front desk costs, next to this setup.

A person at the front desk is paid every month. This is set up once, then the platform bills a monthly fee. Here's a simple example with every assumption spelled out.

Front desk receptionist, one year

$38,010

The U.S. median pay for receptionists in May 2025, about $3,168 a month, before taxes and benefits.10

Basic setup, year one

$2,700

$1,500 to set up, plus an example $100 a month for the phone app.

Custom build, year one

$6,600 to $8,600

$3,000 to $5,000 to build, plus an example $300 a month for the platform and usage.

How we did the math

  • Example only, not a quote. Your numbers will be different.
  • 12 months. The pay figure is the national median from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay in your part of Florida may be higher or lower.
  • The $100 and $300 monthly fees are examples. Plans we've looked at run from tens of dollars to a few hundred a month, depending on the plan and how many calls come in. We check current pricing with you before you decide.
  • Doesn't include tune-ups, extra phone lines or minutes over a plan's limit.

It answers calls. It doesn't do the whole job.

An AI receptionist handles the phone: questions, messages, booking and transfers. It doesn't greet people at the door, check them in or do the rest of what a front desk person does. It can work alongside your staff, picking up after hours, at lunch or when every line is busy.

Pricing

Two ways to set it up.

A basic setup on a phone app that fits, or a custom build on the platform that fits. Your exact price is in writing before any work starts.2

Basic setup

“We want it answering soon, without a big project.”

$1,500

starting price, one time, quoted in writing

  • Calls: Two setup calls with Blake
  • Build: Blake helps program a basic receptionist on a phone app that fits
  • Testing: Test calls together before it goes live
  • Not included: The app's subscription and usage. You pay the app directly, and the account is in your name.

Custom build

“Answer our phone the way our front desk would.”

$3,000 to $5,000

for most builds, one time, quoted in writing

  • Discovery: Calls about who calls you and what should happen to each
  • Script: Written from your website, your current call script if you have one, and your answers
  • Build: Programmed on the platform that fits and connected to your calendar
  • Testing: Blake calls it, tries the hard questions and tunes it until you sign off
  • Handover: A short staff walkthrough and a written handover document (script, settings, how to update it)
  • Not included: The platform's subscription and per-minute usage, billed to you by the platform

How long it takes depends on how much you want it to do. Some basic setups take about an hour. Some custom builds take a few weeks to a month of back and forth before everyone signs off. Platform subscription and usage fees are always billed to you by the platform, not by us.

Speeds things up

Already have a call script for your front desk, or a list of what you expect them to handle? Send it. If not, we have a front desk script template to start from.

Changes after launch

Want to add to it or change it later? New questions, hours or steps are quoted as tune-ups.

Already have a phone platform?

We can work in the one you use when it can do the job, or recommend one that fits.

FAQ

Straight answers.

Blake writing notes in an open planning notebook
Planning on paper
Does it tell callers it's an AI?

Yes. The greeting says it's an AI assistant at the start of every call, and callers can ask for a person at any time.

Are calls recorded?

That's your choice. Florida requires the consent of everyone on a call to record it, so when recording is on, the greeting says "This call may be recorded for quality and training" before anything is recorded.3

Can a medical or dental office use it?

Yes, with the right platform. Patient calls need a phone platform that signs a HIPAA business associate agreement with your practice, so we only set those up on one that does.4 It doesn't give medical or dental advice. It books, takes messages and transfers.

Can a law firm use it?

Yes, with limits. The Florida Bar's guidance (Ethics Opinion 24-1) says an AI that talks with prospective clients must say it's an AI and not a lawyer, and can't give legal advice. That's how it's set up. Your firm should also review the platform's privacy and data terms, and your counsel has the final word.5 Blake is not a lawyer and doesn't give legal advice.

Will it call people back or make sales calls?

No. It answers incoming calls only. AI-voice calls out to people need their consent under federal rules, so callbacks come from your team.8

What does it cost?

Two options. A basic setup starts at $1,500: two setup calls, then Blake helps program a basic receptionist on a phone app that fits, and you pay the app's subscription directly. Most custom builds run $3,000 to $5,000, depending on how much you want it to do: discovery calls, scripting, programming, real test calls, tuning and sign-off. Either way, the platform, the phone number and per-minute usage are billed to you by the platform, not by us. We go over the platform's pricing with you before you decide.

How does the cost compare with hiring a receptionist?

They do different jobs. In our example, a basic setup comes to about $2,700 in year one with an example $100 monthly app fee, and the U.S. median pay for receptionists was $38,010 a year in May 2025, before taxes and benefits.10 But an AI receptionist only handles calls. It can work alongside your staff, not do everything they do.

How long does setup take?

It depends on how much you want it to do. Some basic setups take about an hour. Some custom builds take a few weeks to a month of back and forth until everyone is happy with it and signs off.

Do I need a call script already?

No, but it helps. If you have a script for your front desk or a list of what you expect them to handle, send it. If not, we have a front desk script template to start from.

Which platform do you use?

The one that fits your business. We can work in the phone platform you already use when it can do the job, or recommend one. The account stays in your name, and you add us as a user.

Can I change it after it's live?

Yes. Changes after launch, like new questions, new hours or new steps, are quoted as tune-ups.

Can you promise it won't miss calls or will book more appointments?

No. We can't guarantee call or booking numbers. We test it with you before it goes live and adjust the script when something isn't working.

Let's talk about the calls your office gets.

A free 15-minute call by phone or Zoom. You'll leave knowing what it could answer, what it would hand to your team, and with a written quote if we're a fit.

  1. Pick a time

    The calendar is on the contact page. Choose a slot and you're booked.

  2. Talk for 15 minutes

    By phone or Zoom. Walk through the calls you get and what should happen to each.

  3. Get it in writing

    If we're a fit, a written proposal with your exact price before any work starts.

  1. The example call uses a made-up business, "Example Company," and made-up wording. It is not a real call or a client result.
  2. "Starting at $1,500" is the price for a basic setup. "$3,000 to $5,000" is where most custom builds land, not a fixed price. Your exact price is in writing before any work starts. The phone platform, phone number and per-minute usage are billed by the platform directly to you and aren't part of our fee. Changes after launch are quoted as tune-ups.
  3. Florida Statutes section 934.03 makes it unlawful to record a phone call without the prior consent of all parties: flsenate.gov. General information, not legal advice.
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, business associates guidance: hhs.gov. General information, not legal advice. Your practice decides with its own compliance advisor.
  5. The Florida Bar, Ethics Opinion 24-1 (January 19, 2024), an advisory opinion on lawyers' use of generative AI: floridabar.org. Blake Hickey is not a lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice.
  6. 500+ freelance projects since 2006, as Blake Hickey states them. Past work is not a promise of future results.
  7. (561) 468-3885 is Hickey Media's main line. It is answered by Leo, an AI assistant built by Hickey Media. Leo's greeting, word for word: "Thanks for calling Hickey Media. This is Leo, Hickey Media's AI assistant. This call may be recorded. How may I help you?" It can book a call or take a message.
  8. Federal Communications Commission, Declaratory Ruling FCC 24-17, CG Docket No. 23-362 (adopted February 2, released February 8, 2024): AI technologies that generate human voices are "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and callers must have the called party's prior express consent: fcc.gov. General information, not legal advice.
  9. Twilio, A2P 10DLC: anyone sending SMS or MMS from an application over a 10-digit US number must register, and registration covers how people opt in and out: twilio.com.
  10. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Receptionists: median pay $38,010 per year ($18.27 per hour), May 2025 (page last modified August 27, 2026): bls.gov. $3,168 a month is $38,010 divided by 12. The year-one examples use Hickey Media's starting prices plus example monthly platform fees; real platform fees vary by plan and call volume.