Cost Comparison
Price vs. Payroll — why practices choose Calla AI
One full-time front desk can exceed $53,000/year fully loaded. Calla AI provides
24/7 answering, qualification, and direct booking into your PMS for $2,388/yr.
$0 activation — no setup fee.
Traditional Payroll
~$53,000/yr cost
Fully loaded receptionist (wages + benefits) — before recruiting, PTO, or turnover.
Calla AI
$2,388/yr flat price
24/7 answering, qualification, books directly into your PMS, recordings & AI summaries —
just $199/mo. ≈ ~2% of a fully loaded salary.
One front-desk hire (typical U.S.)
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Median wage: ~$37,200/yr (40 hrs/wk). Source: BLS
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Benefits load: ~29.7% → ~$53k/yr fully loaded. Source: BLS
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Recruit/replace: ~$4,700 per hire. Source: SHRM
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Coverage: ~40 hrs/wk, vacations, sick days, breaks, missed after-hours calls.
Calla AI (always on)
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Flat price: $199/mo → $2,388/yr.
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$0 activation; cancel anytime.
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Books straight into your PMS (Dentrix, OpenDental, Eaglesoft, etc.).
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Scales on demand for simultaneous callers, nights, weekends, holidays.
~$53,000/yr
Front desk (wages + benefits)
+$4,700
Recruit/replace cost per hire
$2,388/yr
Calla AI — 24/7 coverage