Introduction

When it comes to managing customer calls and inquiries, businesses have two main options: handling calls in-house or outsourcing to a professional telephone answering service. In this article, we’ll compare the costs of in-house vs. outsourced answering services, specifically looking at the offerings from Phone Direct, a leading provider of telephone answering services in the UK. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which option provides the best value for your business.

The True Costs of In-House Call Handling

Handling calls in-house may seem like the most cost-effective solution at first glance. However, there are many hidden costs to consider:

• Salaries and benefits for dedicated call handling staff
• Training costs to ensure staff can handle calls effectively
• Infrastructure costs for phone systems, computers, office space
• Opportunity cost of having staff focus on calls vs. core business functions

When you add it all up, the true cost of in-house call handling is often much higher than anticipated. Especially for small businesses, the overhead required can be prohibitive.

The Advantages of Outsourcing to Phone Direct

Outsourcing your call answering to a professional service like Phone Direct provides numerous benefits:

• Significant cost savings vs. in-house with plans starting from £25/month
• 24/7/365 after-hours and overflow call handling to capture every lead
• Highly-trained, professional agents to provide top-tier customer service
• Industry-specific expertise, e.g. medical and legal answering
• Instant scalability to handle call volume fluctuations

Phone Direct’s professional agents provide top-quality customer service.

Phone Direct’s Affordable Answering Service Options

Phone Direct offers a range of competitively priced call answering services to fit any business need and budget:

With plans starting from just £25 per month, every business can afford to provide 24/7 live answering, without the hassle and expense of doing it in-house. Phone Direct’s transparent pricing makes it easy to predict and control your monthly call handling spend.

Phone Direct offers answering service plans for every budget.

Phone Direct’s Proven Track Record

Businesses across the UK have experienced tremendous success by outsourcing their call handling to Phone Direct. Results that Phone Direct’s clients have achieved include:

• 30% increase in captured leads
• 22% increase in appointments booked
• 95%+ customer satisfaction scores
• 50% reduction in call handling costs

Phone Direct’s answering services consistently deliver fantastic results for clients.

Why Choose Phone Direct Over Other Answering Services?

While there are many answering services out there, Phone Direct stands out as the top choice for UK businesses for several reasons:

• Exclusively UK-based agents for a localised caller experience
• Unmatched customisation of call handling to your exact protocols
• Seamless integration with your existing systems and software
• Real-time access to call data and insights via an online portal
• Simple, transparent pricing with no hidden fees or long-term contracts

With UK-based agents, custom call flows, seamless tech, and clear pricing, Phone Direct outshines the competition.

Getting Started with Phone Direct is Quick and Easy

Making the switch to Phone Direct’s inbound telephone answering service couldn’t be simpler:

1. Select your ideal plan based on your monthly minutes and features
2. Provide your custom call handling instructions to the onboarding team
3. Choose a start date and port your number or forward to the service
4. Begin enjoying 24/7 phone coverage from Phone Direct’s expert agents

Most clients can be up and running within 3 business days. There are no long-term contracts and you can change your plan at any time as your needs evolve.

The Bottom Line: Outsourcing to Phone Direct Saves You Money

When you crunch the numbers, it’s clear that outsourcing your call handling to Phone Direct is much more cost-effective than handling calls in-house. For a low monthly fee, you get access to Phone Direct’s robust infrastructure, expert call agents, and advanced features. You avoid all the costs and headaches of providing 24/7 live answering yourself.

Outsourcing call handling to Phone Direct delivers major savings compared to in-house.If you’re looking for a way to reduce your operating costs while still providing an outstanding caller experience, moving to an outsourced answering service is the clear choice. And when you partner with an industry leader like Phone Direct, you can be confident you’re getting the absolute best value for your spend.

Contact Phone Direct today to start saving money on your business call handling!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost to use Phone Direct’s telephone answering service?

Phone Direct offers affordable monthly plans starting from just £25 per month, with varying amounts of inclusive minutes. Additional minutes are billed at competitive rates. There are no setup fees, long-term contracts, or hidden charges.

2. Is Phone Direct more affordable than hiring in-house staff?

In most cases, outsourcing to Phone Direct is significantly cheaper than employing in-house call handling staff. You avoid salaries, benefits, training costs, and telephony infrastructure expenses. Many clients save 50% or more on their call handling spend.

3. What is included in Phone Direct’s answering service plans?

All Phone Direct plans include 24/7/365 live telephone answering, a UK local number, personalised greetings, instant call transfer, appointment scheduling, FAQ handling, voicemail and message taking, and email/SMS message delivery. Higher tier plans have extra features like CRM integration and customised reporting.

4. How long does it take to set up Phone Direct’s service?

Phone Direct prides itself on a quick setup process. Once you select your plan and provide your call handling instructions, the service can usually go live within 3 business days. The onboarding team provides training and ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition.

5. Can I change my plan later if my call volume increases?

Absolutely. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time to accommodate changes in your call volume. There are no long-term commitments. Phone Direct’s flexible plans grow with your business and make it easy to control your monthly costs.