by There is no question that a receptionist serves as a key player of a company and things wouldn’t run smoothly without this individual’s hard work. A receptionist works just as hard as any other employee, and in a way this person serves as the glue holding an entire company together.
There may be no question about whether or not having a receptionist is crucial – the answer is yes. There is, however, a lot of debate over whether a receptionist service will suffice over an in-house employee.
An employer has two options to consider when hiring a receptionist. The first option is a traditional receptionist that works behind a desk within the office. The second is hiring an agency to provide your company with a virtual receptionist. So which is better?
In-House Receptionist Pros and Cons
Having a traditional receptionist on staff has a lot of benefits. Not only will you get to see this person’s smiling face every day, you’ll also be able to easily communicate since the receptionist desk is on site. As a boss, you’ll be able to closely monitor his or her productivity and go through training processes exactly as you please.
Although these perks are hard to deny, there are quite a few disadvantages to having an in-house receptionist. The first is the cost involved. Since this person will be directly on your payroll, you have to pay a decent salary and provide health benefits. The average receptionist salary of 2019 is about $30,000.
There is also a lot of money involved in training this person, office-related costs, and employee turnover costs. And what happens when your receptionist takes her well-deserved 2-week vacation? Chances are the office won’t run as efficiently while this vital employee is on a beach in Cancun.
Virtual Receptionist Service: Pros and Cons
If you choose to outsource your receptionist from an agency, you’ll reap the rewards rather quickly. Since your receptionist(s) will technically be employed by someone else, you aren’t responsible for providing their paychecks or benefits. Instead, you’ll pay your fees to the agency, which is way less than $30,000 a year plus benefits.
There are also no office-related costs to hiring a virtual receptionist service since your receptionist won’t be sitting at a desk within your company building. You also never have to worry about your receptionist quitting or going on vacation. No matter what, the agency will provide you with a qualified representative to answer the phones.
On top of that, productivity levels have been known to go through the roof for companies investing in virtual receptionist services. Part of this is because the agency often provides 24/7 support, 365 days a year. This means that the phones will always be answered, no matter if it is late at night or Thanksgiving Day.
If you can go without the smiling face and peppy attitude of an onsite receptionist answering your phones, there is absolutely no comparison when trying to decide between the two. A virtual receptionist is the way to go.
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