Get a Virtual Receptionist
Answer Calls Professionally Without a Receptionist on Payroll
You can’t afford to miss important calls, but hiring a full-time receptionist just isn’t realistic. And if you’re answering calls yourself (or letting them go to voicemail), you’re probably losing opportunities, sounding less professional than you’d like, and getting constantly interrupted.
The worst part? It doesn’t scale. As your business grows, so does the chaos.
That’s where a virtual receptionist comes in. It automatically answers your business phone line with a professional greeting and routes calls exactly where they need to go — no staff, no hardware, and no stress.
It’s the simplest, most affordable way to sound like a real company and stay focused on actually running one.
Get a Virtual Receptionist
Answer Calls Professionally Without a Receptionist on Payroll
You can’t afford to miss important calls, but hiring a full-time receptionist just isn’t realistic. And if you’re answering calls yourself (or letting them go to voicemail), you’re probably losing opportunities, sounding less professional than you’d like, and getting constantly interrupted.
The worst part? It doesn’t scale. As your business grows, so does the chaos.
That’s where a virtual receptionist comes in. It automatically answers your business phone line with a professional greeting and routes calls exactly where they need to go — no staff, no hardware, and no stress.
It’s the simplest, most affordable way to sound like a real company and stay focused on actually running one.
What is a Virtual Receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is an automated phone system that replaces the need for a live receptionist. It answers your business calls with a custom greeting, offers simple menu options, and routes callers to the right person, department, or voicemail — without anyone needing to pick up the phone.
It’s the most cost-effective way to give your business a professional front desk experience without hiring staff, installing hardware, or dealing with complicated tech. Whether you’re running your business solo or managing a small team, a virtual receptionist helps you stay polished, responsive, and organized.
What is a Virtual Receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is an automated phone system that replaces the need for a live receptionist. It answers your business calls with a custom greeting, offers simple menu options, and routes callers to the right person, department, or voicemail — without anyone needing to pick up the phone.
It’s the most cost-effective way to give your business a professional front desk experience without hiring staff, installing hardware, or dealing with complicated tech. Whether you’re running your business solo or managing a small team, a virtual receptionist helps you stay polished, responsive, and organized.
Why Use a Virtual Receptionist for Your Business?
Hiring a full-time receptionist isn’t realistic for most small businesses, especially if you’re remote, on the go, or just getting started. But that doesn’t mean you should be answering every call yourself or letting them go to voicemail.
A virtual receptionist replaces that front-desk role with a polished, auto attendant solution that always answers professionally and routes calls exactly where they need to go.
Here’s what you get with a virtual receptionist:
- A custom greeting that makes your business sound polished and professional
- A simple menu with extensions for departments, employees, or voicemail
- A built-in dial-by-name directory so callers can reach the right person
- 24/7 call handling — no missed calls, no awkward first impressions
It’s one level deep, easy to set up, and powerful enough to make your business feel organized — even if it’s just you and your cell phone behind the scenes.
Why Use a Virtual Receptionist for Your Business?
Hiring a full-time receptionist isn’t realistic for most small businesses, especially if you’re remote, on the go, or just getting started. But that doesn’t mean you should be answering every call yourself or letting them go to voicemail.
A virtual receptionist replaces that front-desk role with a polished, auto attendant solution that always answers professionally and routes calls exactly where they need to go.
Here’s what you get with a virtual receptionist:
- A custom greeting that makes your business sound polished and professional
- A simple menu with extensions for departments, employees, or voicemail
- A built-in dial-by-name directory so callers can reach the right person
- 24/7 call handling — no missed calls, no awkward first impressions
It’s one level deep, easy to set up, and powerful enough to make your business feel organized — even if it’s just you and your cell phone behind the scenes.
How to Set Up a Virtual Receptionist (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need a full-time staff member to answer your business calls. You just need a few minutes to set up your virtual receptionist. No hardware, no IT, no complicated phone system. Just a professional call-handling experience, ready to go.
Here’s how it works:
1) Choose Your Business Phone Number
Pick a number that fits your brand — local, toll-free, or a custom vanity number. Already have one? No problem. You can port your existing number.
- Choose your area code or go toll-free
- Search for something memorable
- Keep your existing number if you want
2) Record Your Custom Greeting
Create a friendly, professional message that welcomes callers and guides them through their options.
- “Thanks for calling [Your Business]. Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support…”
- Record it yourself or upload a recording
- Update it anytime as your business grows
3) Set Up Your Menu Options
Decide where calls go — extensions, voicemail, or a direct number. You can include a dial-by-name directory or basic call routing.
- Route to employee extensions or departments
- Send calls to voicemail after hours
- Let callers search by name if they don’t know the extension
Once it’s live, every caller hears the same polished greeting and gets directed to the right place — no missed calls, no awkward first impressions.
How to Set Up a Virtual Receptionist (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need a full-time staff member to answer your business calls. You just need a few minutes to set up your virtual receptionist. No hardware, no IT, no complicated phone system. Just a professional call-handling experience, ready to go.
Here’s how it works:
1) Choose Your Business Phone Number
Pick a number that fits your brand — local, toll-free, or a custom vanity number. Already have one? No problem. You can port your existing number.
- Choose your area code or go toll-free
- Search for something memorable
- Keep your existing number if you want
2) Record Your Custom Greeting
Create a friendly, professional message that welcomes callers and guides them through their options.
- “Thanks for calling [Your Business]. Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support…”
- Record it yourself or upload a recording
- Update it anytime as your business grows
3) Set Up Your Menu Options
Decide where calls go — extensions, voicemail, or a direct number. You can include a dial-by-name directory or basic call routing.
- Route to employee extensions or departments
- Send calls to voicemail after hours
- Let callers search by name if they don’t know the extension
Once it’s live, every caller hears the same polished greeting and gets directed to the right place — no missed calls, no awkward first impressions.
Related Features
Virtual Receptionist FAQs
What You Need to Know About Getting a Virtual Receptionist
1) Is a virtual receptionist a real person?
No, not in this case. A virtual receptionist with Unitel Voice is an automated system that answers your business calls with a custom greeting and routes them where they need to go.
- No live agents involved
- Completely self-managed
- Works 24/7 without a salary
2) What’s the difference between a virtual receptionist and a live receptionist?
A live receptionist answers each call manually. A virtual receptionist plays a recorded greeting and offers a menu of options so callers can route themselves to the right extension or voicemail.
- Costs a fraction of hiring someone
- Always consistent, always available
- Requires no management or supervision
3) Can I customize the greeting?
Yes. You can record your own greeting or upload a professional recording that matches your brand’s tone and style.
- Create greetings for business hours and after hours
- Update it anytime from your dashboard
- Keep it friendly, formal, or anything in between
4) How many menu options can I have?
Unitel Voice’s virtual receptionist supports a simple one-level menu — enough for most small businesses.
- Example: “Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, or 0 for Voicemail”
- No nested sub-menus or complex trees
- Easy to set up, easy for callers to use
5) Can I include a dial-by-name directory?
Absolutely. You can enable a dial-by-name option so callers can reach team members without knowing their extensions.
- Helps callers get to the right person quickly
- Great for small teams or solo founders who want to appear bigger
- Easy to manage from your online account
6) Will it work with my existing phone setup?
Yes. You can forward calls to any phone (mobile, VoIP, or landline) and manage everything online.
- No special equipment needed
- Keep using the phones you already have
- Works wherever you do
7) Does it work after hours?
Yes. You can set up different routing rules based on business hours, like sending calls directly to voicemail after a certain time.
- Stay professional 24/7
- Never miss a call, even when you’re offline
- Add custom messages for holidays or weekends
8) Is this only for big businesses?
Not at all. A virtual receptionist is perfect for solo entrepreneurs, small teams, startups, and growing businesses that want to look polished without the cost of hiring help.
- Makes even a one-person operation sound established
- Scales with your business
- No long-term commitments
9) Can I change my call routing anytime?
Yes. You can update your call menu, greetings, and routing rules anytime through your online dashboard.
- Add or remove extensions as needed
- Switch voicemail destinations
- Make quick changes without any tech support
10) How fast can I set this up?
You can be up and running in under 10 minutes. Just pick your number, record your greeting, and assign your extensions.
- No waiting for activation
- Easy setup wizard guides you through it
- Instant credibility for your business
Built for Business Builders. Backed by Outrageous Support.
Spend time building your business, not setting up your phone system. You don’t need tech skills or an IT department. If you hit a snag, we’ll take care of it.
- Award-Winning Support
- Try It 30-Days Risk-Free
- Satisfaction Guaranteed
- Award-Winning Support
- Try It 30-Days Risk-Free
- Satisfaction Guaranteed