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AI receptionist for man and van: catch calls on the road

Jobber's AI Receptionist answers calls and texts while you're carrying a wardrobe or driving, books small jobs and passes on the rest. From about $59£44€52A$84C$83 a month.

At a glance

  • What it costs$59–78£44–59€52–70A$84–113C$83–111 a month

  • Worth, in extra profit or time saved in the worked example$309£232€276A$445C$436 a month

  • Pays for itselfIn about a week

  • Sign up and configure; no technical skills neededEasy to set up

Figures come from the worked example below, using its stated assumptions. Tool prices checked . How we check prices

The problem

A man and van owner is either driving or carrying something heavy most of the day, and the phone rings at the worst moment. Someone wanting a fridge collected today rings the next number. If 8 calls a week go unanswered and 2 of them were $120£90€107A$173C$169 jobs, that's about $1,029£774€921A$1,486C$1,455 of work a month going elsewhere (2 x $120£90€107A$173C$169 x 4.3).

What the AI does

Jobber is job management software, and its AI Receptionist page says it answers calls and texts 24/7, books visits during the call using the online booking settings you've set up, takes a message and turns it into a task when it can't book, and logs every call with a summary, transcript and recording. You choose keywords, such as 'today' or 'urgent', that transfer the call to you or send you a text alert. Online booking is on Jobber's Core plan; the AI Receptionist is a $29 (about $29£22€26A$42C$41) monthly add-on, or included on Plus.

A worked example

A one-van man and van business in Glasgow doing furniture collections, small flat moves and tip runs. The owner works alone most days and lets calls go to voicemail when driving.

Before

About 8 missed calls a week; few leave a message

After

Every call answered; about 2 extra small jobs a week booked, worth about $239£180€214A$346C$338 a week

What it's worth

About $309£232€276A$445C$436 a month in profit, at an assumed 30% margin on $1,029£774€921A$1,486C$1,455 of extra work (2 jobs a week at $120£90€107A$173C$169 times 4.3). That is against $59£44€52A$84C$83 to $78£59€70A$113C$111 a month: Jobber Core is $29 a month billed annually or $49 with no commitment, plus the $29 AI Receptionist add-on, $58 to $78 (about $59£44€52A$84C$83 to $78£59€70A$113C$111).

How to set it up

  1. Set up Jobber with your services, prices for simple jobs, service area and working hours.
  2. Set your online booking rules so it only books the jobs you're happy to take without seeing them, such as single items.
  3. Add the AI Receptionist and forward your missed calls to it.
  4. Choose the keywords that should transfer a call or text you, and ring your own number to test a booking, a same-day request and a sales call.
  5. Read the call summaries each evening for the first fortnight and tighten the settings where it got something wrong.

What goes wrong

  • Jobber's AI Receptionist page lists only US and Canadian demo numbers and doesn't mention the UK. Check it works with a UK number before you pay.
  • Prices are in US dollars, so the pound cost moves with the exchange rate.
  • It can't see the stairs or the size of the sofa. Keep anything bigger than a single item as a message for you to price.
  • Some callers hang up on anything automated. Check the call log daily and ring back anyone who did.

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Last updated October 17, 2026.