BookingBee.ai vs Hiring Another Receptionist: ROI Breakdown  

“We Need Another Receptionist”  

It usually starts on a busy day. The phone keeps ringing, a client is waiting at the front desk, and a stylist is asking about the next appointment. Another caller hangs up because no one picked up the phone in time. At the end of the day, you check the call log and see a long list of missed calls. That’s when the thought appears: “We need another receptionist.”

For many salon owners, this feels like the obvious solution. More calls should mean more staff. But before you add another salary to your payroll, it’s worth asking a smarter question. What if the problem isn’t the number of receptionists, but the way calls are handled?

In this blog, we’re going to look at the real cost of hiring another receptionist, how missed calls impact your revenue, and how Voice AI changes the numbers completely. You’ll also see why many busy salons are choosing automation instead of adding more payroll.

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The Real Cost of Hiring Another Receptionist  

When salon owners think about hiring another receptionist, they usually look at the hourly wage first. In most parts of the United States, a front desk receptionist earns somewhere between $15 and $18 per hour. On paper, that seems manageable.

But the hourly wage is only part of the story. Once you include payroll taxes, training time, paid time off, sick days, and the cost of replacing employees who leave, the number becomes much higher. In reality, the monthly cost of a receptionist often reaches $3,000 to $3,500.

Over the course of a year, that turns into $36,000 to $42,000 just to answer calls and manage the front desk. And even at that cost, the receptionist only works a limited number of hours per day. They need breaks, they can only handle one call at a time, and they are not available after closing hours.This is the true salon front desk cost that many owners underestimate when thinking about hiring a receptionist for a salon.

What BookingBee Costs Compared to a Receptionist  

Now imagine your salon had someone who could answer every call, day or night, without needing breaks or days off. Imagine that this system could handle multiple calls at the same time and never forget to follow the booking process.

That is what Voice AI makes possible.

Instead of paying thousands of dollars each month for another employee, many salons now use an AI Voice Agent that costs a fraction of a receptionist’s salary. The difference is not just in the price, but in the availability. While a human receptionist works limited hours, an AI receptionist for salons works around the clock.

BookingBee’s AI Receptionist is specifically built to handle after-hours calls, which is when many salons lose their highest-intent clients. Those late-evening callers are usually ready to book, and if they reach voicemail, they often call the next salon on Google.With salon call automation powered by Voice AI, those calls are answered instantly and turned into real appointments.

The Missed Call Problem Most Salons Overlook  

Many salon owners focus on what happens inside the salon, but they don’t always realize how much revenue is lost through missed calls. Some of the most valuable callers reach out during lunch rush, peak service hours, or after the salon has closed for the day.

These callers are not just asking questions. Most of them are ready to book an appointment. When they reach voicemail, they rarely leave a message. Instead, they move on to another salon that answers the phone.

This is where an AI receptionist for salons becomes a powerful revenue tool. A Voice AI system answers those calls instantly, even late in the evening or early in the morning. It provides the caller with a smooth booking experience and confirms the appointment on the spot.Instead of losing those clients, your salon captures them automatically.

ROI Breakdown: A Real Salon Scenario  

Let’s look at a real-world style scenario based on the kind of results busy salons see after adding BookingBee.

One mid-sized salon with eight chairs noticed a pattern. The front desk team was constantly busy, especially during peak hours. Stylists were asking questions, clients were checking out, and the phone kept ringing in the background. By the end of each day, the owner could see a long list of missed calls.

On average, the salon was missing around six to eight calls per day. The average service ticket was about $80. That meant the salon was potentially losing between $480 and $640 in revenue every single day, simply because those calls were not answered.

Over a typical 25-day working month, the missed revenue added up to nearly $12,000 to $16,000. The owner’s first instinct was to hire another receptionist, which would have added more than $3,000 per month to payroll.

Instead, the salon decided to try BookingBee’s AI Receptionist, mainly to handle calls during busy hours and after closing time. The system was set up to answer every incoming call, check availability, and confirm bookings automatically.

Within the first month, the salon began to notice a change. Clients who used to call in the evening were now able to book instantly. Missed call notifications dropped, and the schedule started filling up more consistently.

On average, the salon began capturing around 10 to 12 additional bookings per week that previously would have been lost. With an $80 average ticket, that translated to roughly $800 to $960 in extra weekly revenue. By the end of the month, the additional income ranged between $3,200 and $3,800.

The system essentially covered its own cost with just those extra bookings. Everything beyond that became pure additional revenue for the salon.

For the owner, the biggest difference was not just the numbers. The front desk felt less stressed, stylists had fuller schedules, and the constant pressure to hire another receptionist disappeared.This is how BookingBee’s AI Receptionist turns missed calls into steady, measurable income using Voice AI. It doesn’t just reduce workload. It directly increases revenue by capturing the bookings that would have otherwise gone to another salon.

Cost vs Revenue: The Real Difference  

When you compare the two options, the difference becomes clear. Hiring another receptionist adds a fixed cost to your payroll, while an AI receptionist for salons adds a revenue-generating system to your business.

One option increases expenses without guaranteeing more bookings. The other option is designed specifically to capture more appointments and increase your income. BookingBee’s AI Receptionist doesn’t just answer calls; it helps fill empty chairs.That’s why many salon owners see it not as a replacement for a receptionist, but as an upgrade to the entire front desk.

What Salon Owners Really Want  

Most salon owners didn’t start their business because they love hiring, training, and managing staff. They started their salon because they wanted a full schedule, happy clients, and steady revenue.

But when the phone keeps ringing and calls go unanswered, the entire operation feels more stressful. Stylists end up with empty slots, clients complain about not getting through, and the front desk feels constantly overwhelmed.Voice AI removes that pressure. Instead of adding another employee, you add a system that answers every call and books appointments automatically. An AI receptionist for salons keeps the schedule full without increasing payroll or management complexity.

When Hiring Another Receptionist Makes Sense  

There are situations where hiring another receptionist is the right move. If your salon has heavy walk-in traffic or a strong retail area that needs constant attention, an additional staff member can be helpful.

However, hiring another receptionist does not always make sense when the main issue is missed phone calls. If the biggest problem is after-hours bookings or call volume during peak times, adding another salary may not solve the issue.In those cases, salon appointment automation powered by an AI Voice Agent is often the more practical solution.

Why Busy Salons Are Choosing BookingBee  

Busy salons don’t just need another person at the desk. They need every call answered and every booking captured. That is exactly what BookingBee’s AI Receptionist is designed to do.

It answers calls instantly, books appointments automatically, and works around the clock. It integrates with your booking system and scales with your salon as you grow. Most importantly, it focuses on after-hours call handling, which is where many high-value bookings are lost.Instead of adding another salary, you add a system that continuously brings in more appointments.

The Smarter Financial Decision  

When you step back and look at the numbers, the decision becomes clearer. Hiring another receptionist increases payroll and management responsibilities. An AI receptionist for salons, on the other hand, reduces missed calls and increases bookings.It is not just about saving money. It is about building a front desk that never stops working.

See Your Salon’s Real ROI  

Before you decide to hire another receptionist, take a moment to consider how many calls your salon is missing each day. Think about how many of those callers were ready to book, and what even a few extra bookings per week would mean for your revenue.

With BookingBee’s AI Receptionist, you can capture after-hours calls, reduce front desk pressure, and turn missed calls into confirmed appointments.

Book a demo and see the numbers for your own salon.  Compare the cost of another receptionist with the revenue you could gain from Voice AI. You may discover that the smarter hire isn’t a person at all.