By the Numbers

Callers Want the Price, and Many Leave Without It

HubSpot’s research on first sales calls found that 58% of prospects want to talk about price on the very first call, compared with 23% of salespeople. BrightLocal’s 2026 study of 1,227 US consumers found that 32% did not contact a local business because the pricing was unclear.

People are comparing you with two or three other businesses. The one that gives them something concrete on the phone wins the next conversation.

Your Options

Three Ways to Answer “How Much?”

• Give the price. If you charge a set fee for a service call, a consultation, or a standard package, the receptionist states it.
• Give a starting point. For services with a range, the receptionist says what prices start at and what moves the number up or down.
• Book the estimate. When the price depends on the job, the receptionist collects the details and sets an appointment for you to quote it.

A Sample Call

What the Caller Hears When They Ask About Cost

The caller asks what a visit costs. The receptionist gives the fee you set, says what it covers, and asks whether the caller would like the next open appointment. If the answer depends on the job, the receptionist asks two or three questions, writes down the answers, and books the estimate.

The caller hangs up with a number or a time on your calendar, and you have the details in hand before you ever speak.

Avoid These

Two Mistakes That Cost You the Call

• Hiding the price completely. A caller who hears “someone will call you back” with no number often moves on to the next business on the list.
• Quoting a number you cannot keep. A guess from someone who does not know your jobs creates a dispute later, so give a firm fee or a clear starting point and book the estimate for the rest.

Prepare Once

Build a One Page Price Sheet

Write down your standard prices, your starting points, and the questions that change a quote. Give the sheet to your receptionists one time. Every caller then hears the same answer, whether the call comes in on a Monday morning or a Friday afternoon.

Update the sheet when your prices change, and your team uses the new numbers on the next call. If a caller asks about something the sheet does not cover, the receptionist takes the details and passes the question to you rather than guessing.

Human First, Technology Second

A Person Answers, and the Caller Gets Something Useful

Our receptionists offer general information and help each caller get what they need. They can set appointments and take payments, and the technology behind them handles call routing, call recording, scheduling, and CRM integration. A person finishes the conversation, and your customers can visit the office and meet the team.

In Denver Tech Center

Quote Requests Arrive in Batches

DTC offices send out requests for several vendors at once, and the caller is often an assistant who needs one clean answer to pass along. A receptionist who gives your starting rates and takes the contact details for the decision maker keeps you in the running. You send the formal quote with the right name on it.

Watch

Watch: A Tour of Intelligent Office Services

The video shows the front desk, meeting rooms, and the assistant team that answers calls as a member of your business. It also covers setting appointments, taking payments, and working within your CRM.

Why Intelligent Office Denver Tech Center Is Built Around Real People

Our Denver Tech Center team answers your business calls from 8 to 5, and you are welcome to visit the office and meet the people who pick up your phone.

Learn more about Intelligent Office Denver Tech Center

Sources

HubSpot, The First Call Conundrum for the 58% and 23% figures and BrightLocal, Consumer Search Behavior and Decisions 2026 for the 32% figure.