Answers 24/7 from $99/mo

What Counts As A Call Minute?

Answering-service pricing has a reputation for surprises, so here is the whole model in plain terms. You buy a monthly plan with a block of AI call time. The only thing that spends it is Nicole talking with a caller.

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In short

A call minute is a minute Nicole spends actually talking to a caller, measured from when she answers to when the call ends. Ringing, calls she does not answer, texts, emails and dashboard use do not consume minutes. Plans include 250, 500 or 1,000 minutes per month.

What Uses Minutes

Live conversation time between Nicole answering and the call ending.
Time she spends collecting details, answering questions and booking.
Time on the line while transferring a call to you.

What Does Not Use Minutes

Ring time before she answers.
Calls that go to your own phone and are answered by you.
Text and email summaries, transcripts and dashboard access.
Updating her knowledge base, scripts or routing rules.

How Many Minutes Do You Actually Need?

Most receptionist calls run two to three minutes. At an average of two and a half minutes, 250 included minutes covers roughly 40 answered calls a month — about right for a business receiving a handful of calls a day. Heavier phone businesses usually land on Growth (500 minutes) or Extreme Pro (1,000 minutes).

What Happens If You Run Out

You are not cut off mid-month without warning — we flag it and you can move up a plan, which takes effect immediately. There are no per-call operator fees, no contract, and there is a 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.

Simple pricing, no contracts

Every plan includes Nicole answering 24/7 and no contracts — cancel anytime. Starter comes with a 7-day free trial. Pick the call volume that fits your business.

Starter

$99/month

$99 one-time setup fee

Includes 250 minutes of AI call time each month.

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

AI receptionist coverage
Lead capture and message taking
Basic FAQ handling
2 custom call-handling instructions
Automatic spam protection

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do spam and wrong-number calls use my minutes?

Only for the seconds Nicole is on the line, and those calls are typically over in well under a minute.

Are minutes rounded up per call?

Usage is measured in call time, so short calls consume short amounts. A 40-second call is not billed as a full minute of your allowance.

Do unused minutes roll over?

No — each month starts fresh with your plan's full allowance.

How much does Nicole cost?

Plans are $99/month (Starter), $199/month (Growth) and $299/month (Pro), each with a matching one-time setup fee and up to 250, 500 or 1,000 minutes of AI call time. No contracts, no per-call operator fees, and a 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.

Keep Reading

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Serving Businesses Nationwide

Nicole answers for businesses anywhere in the US. The Bay Area is home — here are the cities we cover most.

San Francisco San Jose Oakland Fremont Berkeley Hayward San Mateo Santa Clara Sunnyvale Walnut Creek

Hear it before you buy it

Call Nicole and put her through the same questions your customers ask.

Try Nicole Now — (415) 413-5576