Handyman Answering Service & AI Receptionist
Frontivo.io is a 24/7 AI receptionist and answering service for handyman businesses. It answers calls, chats and texts, writes up every task on the customer's list, checks each one against the work you do and don't take on, quotes your hourly rate, minimum charge and flat-rate tasks from your price list, and books a visit long enough for the whole list. Phone Only starts at $199/month; phone, website chat and text together are $299/month. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial and no credit card.
14-day free trial · No credit card · 14-day money-back on your first payment · Keep your number by forwarding it
Hi, I've got a few things I need done around the house. Can you help?
Sure — tell me what's on the list and I'll check each one against what we do.
Mount a TV, fix a bathroom door that sticks, and swap a ceiling light for a fan.
Thanks. TV mounting and door adjustments we do. I'll note the ceiling fan for Sam to confirm on the visit, since that depends on the wiring that's there. Do you already have the TV bracket and the fan?
What can an AI receptionist do for a handyman business?
Job lists, written up
Takes down every task on the customer's list — what it is, where in the house, and whether they already have the parts or item — so you know the visit before you arrive.
In-scope checks
Checks each task against the services you list and politely declines or takes a message for work you don't take on, such as gas, panel or roofing work — whatever your list says.
Rate and minimum quotes
Quotes your hourly rate, minimum charge, trip fee and flat-rate tasks (TV mounting, furniture assembly, door adjustment) only from your price list.
Right-length bookings
Books the service that fits the list — a one-hour fix or a half-day visit — using the lengths you set, inside your open times.
Landlords and property managers
Captures the unit, tenant access, who approves the work and who receives the invoice for rental repairs and turnovers.
Safety calls
If a caller mentions a gas smell, sparking or water near electrics, it tells them to get safe and call local emergency services, the gas company or the utility first, then flags it for you.
Review requests
On Growth, automations send a review request after each visit.
Why handyman businesses lose small jobs
Handyman work is many small jobs from many different people — a door that sticks, a TV to mount, a fence board, a list of ten things before visitors arrive. Every one of those calls comes while you're on a ladder in someone else's house. Return them at night and half have found someone else; answer them on the job and the customer in front of you pays for your phone time. And plenty of calls are for work you don't do, which still eats the time.
How does Frontivo.io book a handyman visit with several jobs?
A sample conversation. Prices and names are examples — Frontivo.io only quotes the prices and details you give it.
Caller
Hi, I've got a few things I need done around the house. Can you help?
Frontivo.io AI
Sure — tell me what's on the list and I'll check each one against what we do.
Caller
Mount a TV, fix a bathroom door that sticks, and swap a ceiling light for a fan.
Frontivo.io AI
Thanks. TV mounting and door adjustments we do. I'll note the ceiling fan for Sam to confirm on the visit, since that depends on the wiring that's there. Do you already have the TV bracket and the fan?
Caller
Yes, both. How much will it cost?
Frontivo.io AI
Our rate is $85 an hour with a one-hour minimum, and TV mounting is a flat $120 with your bracket. For this list I'd book a three-hour visit, and Sam confirms the final price before starting. I have Friday at 9:00 AM Eastern. What's the address?
Caller
88 Maple Avenue.
Frontivo.io AI
You're booked for Friday at 9:00 AM Eastern at 88 Maple Avenue. I've texted you a confirmation with your job list. Keep the bracket and fan nearby so Sam can start straight away.
How do you set up an AI receptionist for a handyman business?
- 1
Tell Frontivo.io about your handyman business: services, prices, hours and service area — type them in or import an FAQ or services page from your website.
- 2
Set your rules — what counts as urgent, when to transfer to a person, and which times can be booked — then test every channel in the Channel Tester.
- 3
Forward your business line (or get a new Frontivo.io number: in seconds in the US and Canada, after a documents check in most other countries) and paste one line of code to add the chat and voice widget to your website.
What to add to your knowledge base
- Hourly rate, minimum charge and trip fee
- TV mounting and shelving
- Furniture assembly
- Door, window and drywall repair
- Light fixture and ceiling fan swaps (where your rules allow)
- Fence, deck and gate repairs
- Rental turnovers and property-manager work
- Jobs we don't take on
Works with the tools you already use
- Your business phone number. Forward your existing line, or get a new number.
- Google & Outlook Calendar. Checks live availability before it books, so slots aren't double-booked.
- Website chat, text, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger & email. One AI receptionist answers on every channel with the same knowledge (WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and email are on Growth, or each on its own single-channel plan). WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger open soon, once Meta's approval is through: reserve WhatsApp Only, Instagram Only, Messenger Only or Growth at no charge.
- Zapier, webhooks and API. Send every new lead and booking to the other software your handyman business runs on through Zapier, Make, signed webhooks or the API (on Growth; opens soon, reserve it at no charge). Google Sheets and Slack or Teams alerts work on every plan.
What are missed calls costing your handyman business?
Adjust the sliders to your own numbers.
Estimated extra revenue if those callers book
$5,092/month
- Phone Only plan
- -$199
- Net per month
- $4,893
Pays for itself after 1 job a month.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a promise. Prices in US dollars.
Start free trialFrontivo.io vs voicemail vs an answering service for handyman services
Voicemail
- Cost
- Free
- Hours
- 24/7
- Books on your calendar
- No
- Knows your urgent calls
- No
- Channels
- Phone only
Human answering service (Ruby, Smith.ai)
- Cost
- Ruby from $250/mo for 50 minutes; Smith.ai from $300/mo for 30 calls
- Hours
- 24/7
- Books on your calendar
- Often (Calendly or Google Calendar)
- Knows your urgent calls
- Follows your script
- Channels
- Phone; live chat or texts with some providers
In-house receptionist
- Cost
- About $4,500/mo in the US (median pay $38,010/yr plus benefits)
- Hours
- Business hours
- Books on your calendar
- Yes
- Knows your urgent calls
- Yes
- Channels
- One call at a time
Frontivo.io
- Cost
- From $199/mo for phone; $299/mo for phone, chat and text; usage included
- Hours
- 24/7
- Books on your calendar
- Yes
- Knows your urgent calls
- Yes
- Channels
- Phone, chat, text, email (WhatsApp, Instagram & Messenger open soon)
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
| Option | Cost | Hours | Books on your calendar | Knows your urgent calls | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voicemail | Free | 24/7 | Phone only | ||
| Human answering service (Ruby, Smith.ai) | Ruby from $250/mo for 50 minutes; Smith.ai from $300/mo for 30 calls | 24/7 | Often (Calendly or Google Calendar) | Follows your script | Phone; live chat or texts with some providers |
| In-house receptionist | About $4,500/mo in the US (median pay $38,010/yr plus benefits) | Business hours | One call at a time | ||
| Frontivo.io | From $199/mo for phone; $299/mo for phone, chat and text; usage included | 24/7 | Phone, chat, text, email (WhatsApp, Instagram & Messenger open soon) |
Sources: Ruby and Smith.ai pricing pages (checked September 28, 2026); US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Receptionists (2025 median pay) and Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (June 2026, benefits 30% of compensation). US prices from the sources above; other providers and countries vary. Frontivo.io prices are in US dollars.
For handyman businesses the key difference is sorting the job list: Frontivo.io writes up every task, checks it against the work you do and books a visit long enough for it, while voicemail or a message pad just tells you someone called.
How much does a handyman answering service cost?
Phone Only is $199/month: 300 AI voice minutes (about 100 calls), live call transfer to your on-call number, missed-call text-back and appointment reminders. Handyman businesses that also want website chat and texting choose Starter ($299/month): 300 AI voice minutes (about 100 calls), 300 website chats and 300 AI text replies, plus the Leads and Customers pages. Teams that also want WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and email choose Growth ($549/month; opens soon, reserve it at no charge) for all 7 channels, with 450 minutes (about 150 calls), 600 conversations and 500 text replies, plus review requests, follow-up texts and analytics. Calls and website chat work from day one; texting switches on after carrier approval for your number. Annual plans save 15%, extra usage is billed per unit or can be set to pause at your allowance, and every plan starts with a 14-day free trial with no card and no setup fee (your phone number is connected when you subscribe, and WhatsApp comes with WhatsApp Only or Growth, which open soon). Other single-channel plans start at $99/month. Several locations or 1,500+ minutes a month? Talk to us about a custom plan. Prices in US dollars.
Compare all plansFAQ
Handyman Services: FAQ
Straight answers about how Frontivo.io works for handyman services.
- Yes. You list the services you offer and the ones you don't (for example gas lines, panel work or roofing). It books what fits, politely tells the caller when a task is outside your work, and takes a message if you'd rather decide case by case.
Still have questions?
Pick whatever's easiest. We're happy to help.
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Answer calls 24/7.
Website chat can be live in about 15 minutes, and your phone number is connected when you subscribe. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
- 14-day free trial
- No credit card
- Cancel anytime
Several locations, a team, or a custom setup? Talk to sales