AI Phone Agent ROI: How to Calculate the Return
Calculate the return on investment of an AI phone agent by comparing costs, captured revenue, and time savings.
AI phone agent ROI is measured by comparing the cost of the AI service against the revenue captured from previously missed calls, staff time savings, and reduced overhead. Most businesses see positive ROI within the first month.
The Cost of Missed Calls
Research shows the average small business misses 62% of incoming calls during business hours. 85% of callers who don't reach you won't try again. The financial impact varies by industry: home service businesses lose $300–$1,200 per missed call, legal services lose an average of $425 per missed call, healthcare practices lose $200–$500 per missed appointment opportunity, and real estate agents lose $500+ per missed lead. If your business misses even 5 calls per week at $300 per missed opportunity, that's $78,000 in lost revenue per year.
What AI Phone Agents Cost
AI phone agent pricing models include per-minute billing ($0.05–$0.15 per minute), monthly subscriptions ($30–$500 per month), and enterprise contracts (custom pricing). For comparison, a full-time receptionist costs $30,000–$50,000 per year plus benefits, while a traditional answering service charges $0.75–$2.00 per minute. AI is typically the most cost-effective option when you factor in 24/7 coverage and unlimited concurrent calls.
Revenue Captured
AI phone agents capture revenue that would otherwise be lost: after-hours appointments (40% of bookings happen outside business hours), qualified leads that would have gone to voicemail, appointment reminders that reduce no-shows by 30%, and outbound campaigns that generate new opportunities. A business that captures just 10 additional appointments per month at $200 average revenue per appointment generates $24,000 in additional annual revenue.
Staff Time Savings
Beyond direct revenue, AI saves staff time: front desk staff spend 60–70% of their time answering phones. AI handles routine calls (scheduling, FAQs, routing), freeing staff for in-person service. Automated reminders eliminate hours of manual calling. Call transcripts and summaries reduce time spent on documentation. At $20/hour for front desk staff, saving 20 hours per week equals $20,800 per year in productivity gains.
How to Calculate Your ROI
To calculate your ROI: (1) Estimate missed calls per week and multiply by your average value per call. (2) Add after-hours appointment revenue (40% of total appointments). (3) Add no-show reduction savings (30% fewer missed appointments). (4) Add staff time savings. (5) Subtract the AI phone agent cost. Most businesses see 3x–10x ROI. The break-even point is typically reached when the AI captures just 2–3 additional appointments or leads per month.
Key Takeaways
- The average small business misses 62% of calls, with 85% of missed callers never calling back
- Missed call costs range from $200–$1,200 per call depending on industry
- AI phone agents cost $30–$500/month vs. $30,000–$50,000/year for human reception
- 40% of appointments are booked outside business hours—revenue AI captures
- Most businesses break even when AI captures just 2–3 additional leads or appointments per month
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most businesses see positive ROI in the first month. If AI captures even a few appointments or leads that would have gone to voicemail, it pays for itself.
Arbol tracks every call, appointment booked, and lead captured. You can see exactly how many opportunities AI handled vs. what would have gone to voicemail.
If your call volume is very low (under 10 calls per month), the ROI may take longer to materialize. But even low-volume businesses benefit from 24/7 coverage and professional call handling.
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