What information do I need to provide to get started?

To get started with an AI receptionist, you'll typically need to provide basic information about your business: your business name, phone number, hours of operation, and a general description of what you do. This gives the AI the foundation it needs to answer calls accurately and represent your business correctly from day one.

Beyond the basics, the more detail you can provide upfront, the better your AI receptionist will perform. Think through the most common questions your callers ask — things like pricing, service areas, appointment availability, parking, accepted insurance, or turnaround times. You'll also want to clarify how you want calls handled: Should the AI take messages? Transfer urgent calls to a live person? Book appointments directly into your calendar? Having clear answers to these questions before setup saves time and reduces the back-and-forth during configuration. Most providers will walk you through this with a simple intake form or onboarding call.

You'll also need to decide on call routing preferences. If you want the AI to transfer certain calls — say, existing clients, or calls flagged as urgent — you'll need to provide the phone numbers where those transfers should go. Some businesses also want the AI to send text or email notifications when a message is taken, so having those contact details ready helps too. The good news is that none of this requires technical knowledge. The setup process is designed for business owners, not IT departments, and most services can have you live within a day or two once you've provided the necessary information.

For businesses ready to stop missing calls, My AI Front Desk offers 24/7 AI receptionist coverage starting at $65/month. The onboarding process is straightforward, and their team helps you configure your receptionist with the specific details that matter to your business. Learn more at myaifrontdesk.com.