While you were out
Locksmith
Caller: “I need to get into my ex’s apartment. My stuff’s still in there.”
Penny: “Our locksmith has to confirm the right to enter before taking this job. I’ll pass your request to our team.”
For local service businessesFinally, an AI receptionist with common sense.
Penny asks callers the questions you’d ask, then books the appointment on your calendar. If she doesn’t know an answer, she says so instead of guessing. Send her every call or only the ones you miss.
No credit card. Penny’s website chat stays free after the trial.
example call
Incoming call
Fernhollow Plumbing
Penny on the line
The same missed call, two ways.
Dana calls about her kitchen sink while you’re out on another job.
Without Penny
- 1Rings out
- 2Voicemail
- 3Dana may call the next plumber she finds
- 4You call back later from a number she doesn’t recognize
- 5You still don’t know whether the leak is spreading
With Penny
- Penny picks up
- She asks whether the leak is spreading
- A slow drip, so she offers Thursday at 8 AM
- She takes Dana’s name, number and address
- Booked on your calendar, with an email after the call
Both columns follow the Fernhollow Plumbing call at the top of the page.
Your line of work
Penny knows what to ask in your line of work.
She starts with the questions businesses like yours ask callers, and you can change any of them. Add your own house rules in plain sentences, the way you’d brief whoever covers your phones.
- HVAC“Is the system running at all right now?”
- Property management“May maintenance enter if you’re not home?”
- Towing“Is it somewhere safe, out of traffic?”
- Law firm“Is there a court date or deadline coming up?”
- Veterinary clinic“What kind of animal is it, and what’s its name?”
- Garage doors“Did you hear a loud bang before it stopped?”
example
House rules
Bramblewood Handyman
- 1.Ask how they heard about us.
- 2.Get the gate code before you book.
- 3.We don’t work on mobile homes. Say so nicely.
- 4.Our trip charge is
$79$89. - 5.Don’t give out my cell.
Trickier calls
Penny checks before she says yes.
While you were out
Electrical
Caller: “How much to put in an EV charger?”
Penny: “We price charger installs by quote, so I can’t give you a figure on the phone. Want me to set up a visit?”
While you were out
Roofing
Caller: “Can someone look at my roof Friday? I’m out in Elgin.”
Penny: “That’s outside our usual area, so I can’t book it myself. I’ll pass it to the office as a request, and they’ll confirm with you.”
While you were out
Salon
Caller: “Can you cancel my 10 o’clock tomorrow? Something came up.”
Penny: “To find your appointment, I need the full name it’s under. If it’s under a different number than the one you’re calling from, tell me that number too.”
Try Penny
Interview Penny before you hire her.
Call her and try these.
“Can I talk to a real person?”
She offers to take your name and number for our team, then reads the number back to check it.
Switch to Spanish halfway through.
Her next answer is in Spanish, and she goes back to English when you do.
Ask something we never told her.
She won’t make up a price or a time to sound helpful.
Calls Penny handles
From a service question to a booked visit.
Callers ask for a visit, an estimate, a first consultation or an answer about the work you do. Penny gets the details your team needs, and you choose whether she books. When a caller reports an emergency, the safety words come first.
HVAC
An annual furnace tune-up
“Roughly how old is the system?”
Penny takes the address and offers a tune-up from the openings on your calendar.
Contractors
A bathroom remodel estimate
“Do you already have plans or permits?”
Penny passes the project to your office as a request, with the job address and what the caller wants done.
Accounting
A new client at an accounting firm
“Is this about taxes, bookkeeping or payroll?”
Penny books a first consultation, and the email you get says which kind of work they need.
HVAC
A gas smell by the furnace
“Leave the building now, without using light switches or a phone inside. Once you’re outside, call 911 or the gas company’s emergency line.”
Penny marks the call urgent and emails you while the call is still going on.
Example calls. Each quote is what Penny comes set up to say in that line of work. Read the emergency rules.
Getting started
Set Penny up from your website and call her yourself.
Look over the hours and services she finds on your site and fix anything that’s off. You hear what your customers will hear before you send her any calls.
Forwarding codes for your carrierGetting started
Done: Tell Penny about your business
Enter your website and she suggests your hours and services.
Done: Pick a local number for Penny
She gets a number of her own.
Done: Call her number to test it
Hear her answer as your business before you forward anything.
To do: Forward your number to hers
Dial your carrier’s code from your business phone.
Integrations
Put appointments on your calendar and caller details in your office’s tools.
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Jobber
- Housecall Pro
- HubSpotvia Zapier
- Salesforcevia Zapier
- Slackvia Zapier
- Zapier
Penny books into the Google Calendar or Outlook calendar you connect, once you turn booking on. On Pro, what she takes down on a call or chat can also go to Jobber as a request, or to Housecall Pro as a lead if you’re on Housecall Pro’s Max plan, for your office to schedule. HubSpot, Salesforce and Slack connect through Zapier.
Find your softwarePricing
Free website chat. Phone answering from $29 a month.
Every phone plan asks the questions your line of work needs and books into your calendar. Bigger plans add minutes, on-call schedules, more numbers and locations, Jobber or Housecall Pro, and reports.
Billed annually, ~17% less than month to month.
Starter
For an owner who needs calls answered and appointments booked.
$29/mo
100 phone minutes a month · $348 billed annually
- Everything in Free
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.100 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.29/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.300 chat conversations a month, without the Penny markOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Penny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.Calendar booking in Google or Outlook, on phone and chatPenny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.
- Edit your industry’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny tries the number you choose. If nobody answers, she takes a message and emails it to you.Your industry’s emergency rules and a transfer numberEdit your industry’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny tries the number you choose. If nobody answers, she takes a message and emails it to you.
- Every call and chat with its transcript in your dashboard. Send call, lead, and appointment details to your own system with a signed webhook, or through Zapier to Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Salesforce, and other apps.Call log with transcripts; Zapier and webhooksEvery call and chat with its transcript in your dashboard. Send call, lead, and appointment details to your own system with a signed webhook, or through Zapier to Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Salesforce, and other apps.
Free for 14 days
Pro
For a crew that shares on-call coverage and needs details in its field-service tools.
$99/mo
375 phone minutes a month · $1,188 billed annually
- Everything in Starter
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.375 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.27/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.1,000 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Set who is on call by day and hour. Penny rings that person and, with announce on, tells them about the call before connecting the caller. If nobody picks up, Penny comes back on the line, takes a message, and emails it to you.On-call schedule and warm transferSet who is on call by day and hour. Penny rings that person and, with announce on, tells them about the call before connecting the caller. If nobody picks up, Penny comes back on the line, takes a message, and emails it to you.
- Send intake records to Jobber or Housecall Pro for your office to review and schedule. Penny sends one after each call or chat where she takes a message, lead, request, booking or voicemail. Housecall Pro needs its Max plan.Jobber or Housecall ProSend intake records to Jobber or Housecall Pro for your office to review and schedule. Penny sends one after each call or chat where she takes a message, lead, request, booking or voicemail. Housecall Pro needs its Max plan.
- Up to 3 locations and 3 Penny numbers under one account. Each location has its own number, hours, greeting, service area, transfer contacts and alert email. Your services, prices, house rules and answers are shared.Multiple numbers and locationsUp to 3 locations and 3 Penny numbers under one account. Each location has its own number, hours, greeting, service area, transfer contacts and alert email. Your services, prices, house rules and answers are shared.
Business
For an office that needs reporting, retention controls, and guided setup.
$249/mo
1,050 phone minutes a month · $2,988 billed annually
- Everything in Pro
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.1,050 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.24/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.2,500 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Everything Pro does for multiple locations, for up to 10 locations and 10 Penny numbers.Up to 10 locations and numbersEverything Pro does for multiple locations, for up to 10 locations and 10 Penny numbers.
- Call volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.Analytics and reporting; API and exportCall volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.
- Choose how long Penny keeps conversations. Older ones are deleted automatically, except those with an appointment still to come.Retention controlsChoose how long Penny keeps conversations. Older ones are deleted automatically, except those with an appointment still to come.
- Front-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.Priority support and guided setupFront-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.
14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.
Free$0/mo
Chat on your website. 100 conversations a month.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.100 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- The free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.A small “answered by Penny” mark on the widgetThe free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.
- A visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and the email gives you what you need to confirm it with them. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.Appointment requests you confirmA visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and the email gives you what you need to confirm it with them. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.
- Penny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.English and SpanishPenny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.
- Penny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.Answers from your website and your industry’s knowledgePenny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.
- The details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.Lead capture, with an email after every conversationThe details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.
Phone answering, live booking, and call transfers begin on Starter.
Try Penny freeEnterpriseFrom $3,000/yr
From $3,000 a year, with custom volume and a named account team.
- Everything in Business
- Minutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.Custom phone volumeMinutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.
- What talk time past your contract’s minutes costs is agreed with the account team and written into your contract.Overage set in your contractWhat talk time past your contract’s minutes costs is agreed with the account team and written into your contract.
- Website conversations sized to your traffic, set in your contract along with your minutes.Custom website chat volumeWebsite conversations sized to your traffic, set in your contract along with your minutes.
- A named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.A dedicated account team and SLAsA named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.
- Connectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.Custom integrations and onboardingConnectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.
Billed annually on a custom contract.
Talk to usNo setup fee. Keep your number and cancel from billing. Enterprise uses a custom annual contract.
Questions
What owners ask about Penny.
Send setup or plan questions to support@pennyassistant.com.
The questions she asks and the house rules she follows are yours to read and change. She won’t book a visit until she has the details your settings require. Before you decide, call the demo line and try to trip her up. Then, on your free trial, call your own Penny and ask what your callers ask. That Penny starts with your trade’s questions and your house rules.
Let Penny take next week’s calls.
Your 14-day trial includes 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.