Voicemail, a receptionist, an answering service, or a line that always answers.
We'd rather show you the honest trade-offs than pretend there aren't any. Here is what each option actually does when the phone rings and you can't reach it.
Voicemail
Most first-time callers hang up rather than leave a message, and the ones who do are already dialling the next number while they talk.
Part-time receptionist
Excellent during the forty hours they work. The other 128 hours a week, and the second simultaneous call, still go to voicemail.
Traditional answering service
A stranger reading a script takes a message. They can't quote your prices, can't see your calendar, and can't book the job.
HeyLine
Answers in 1.2 seconds, knows your prices from day one, books into your real calendar, and writes down every word.
The same nine questions, asked of all four.
| Question | HeyLine | Receptionist | Voicemail | Answering service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answers at 9 PM Saturday | Yes | No | Beeps | Yes |
| Time to answer | 1.2 seconds | 3–6 rings | Never | 4–8 rings |
| Knows your prices | Day one | After training | No | No |
| Books into your calendar | Every call | Sometimes | No | Rarely |
| Calls handled at once | Unlimited | 1 | 1 | Queued |
| Written summary of every call | Always | Rarely | No | Message only |
| Escalates real emergencies | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Setup effort for you | 20-minute call | Hiring & training | None | Scripting |
| Monthly cost | $0 in beta | $2,400+ | $0 + lost jobs | Per minute |
Receptionist cost assumes ~40 hours a week at US small-business rates including payroll overhead. Answering-service pricing is the common per-minute range. HeyLine's answer time and resolution rate are measured across beta accounts.
When you should not buy HeyLine
If your callers need genuine human judgement on every call — sensitive medical conversations, complex negotiations, distressed customers — a person should answer, and we'll tell you so. HeyLine is for the volume underneath that: the bookings, the prices, the hours, the “are you open?” calls that eat your day and go to voicemail anyway.
Judge it as a caller, not as a table.
Two minutes on the demo line settles it either way.