Answers to the questions business owners ask us
Plain answers about AI phone answering, websites, hosting and showing up on Google and in AI answers. Each page answers one topic, one question at a time.
AI Receptionist for Small Business: What It Costs and How It Works
An AI receptionist answers your business phone 24/7 and books the job. Here is what it costs, how it works, and what it does with calls it cannot handle.
- What is an AI receptionist and how does it actually work?
- How much does an AI receptionist cost for a small business?
- Can an AI receptionist really answer my phone calls and book appointments?
- Does an AI receptionist sound robotic or like a real person?
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- Will callers know they are talking to an AI?
- What happens when a caller asks something the AI cannot handle?
- AI receptionist vs a live answering service: which is right for my business?
- Is an AI receptionist worth it for a solo operator or a very small business?
- Does it work with my existing business phone number?
- How long does it take to set up?
- Can it answer in French as well as English?
- Is it legal to use an AI to answer calls, and do I have to tell callers?
- How do I get started with Samro's quoting agent, and what does it cost?
Local SEO, Google Business Profile and AI Answers: How a Small Business Gets Found
Local SEO answered plainly: what it costs, how the Google map pack works, why your profile may not show, and how to get your business named in AI answers.
- Does local SEO actually work for a small business?
- How much does local SEO cost per month?
- Is a Google Business Profile free, and do I really need one?
- Google Business Profile or website: which do I need first?
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- How do I get my business into the Google map pack (the top 3 on Maps)?
- Why is my business not showing up on Google Maps?
- Do Google reviews really matter for showing up locally?
- How long before local SEO shows results?
- How do I get my business to show up in ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews?
- What does an SEO agency actually do for me every month?
- What are the red flags when hiring an SEO company?
- What questions should I ask before hiring an SEO company?
- How is Samro's SEO/AEO Management priced and what is in the weekly report?
Missed Calls: What They Cost a Service Business and How to Stop Losing Them
Work out what missed calls cost you using your own job value and call volume, why callers skip voicemail, and how to get every call answered, day or night.
- How much business am I actually losing from missed calls?
- What happens when a small business misses a customer's call?
- Why don't callers leave a voicemail anymore?
- Why do customers call a competitor instead of calling me back?
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- How do I stop missing calls while I am on a job, in an attic or up a ladder?
- Should I rely on voicemail, an answering service, or an AI receptionist?
- How much does an answering service cost for contractors?
- Do missed calls hurt my Google reviews or reputation?
- What about after-hours and weekend calls?
- How fast do I need to call back a missed lead?
- Can I forward my existing number so nothing is missed?
- How is Samro's quoting agent priced, and how do I start?
Hiring a Web Design Agency: Cost, Timelines and What to Ask Before You Sign
Small business websites are quoted $1,000 to $15,000 CAD and take 2 to 3 weeks to build. What to ask an agency, and how to tell a redesign from a rebuild.
- How much should a small business website cost?
- How long does it take to build a website?
- Agency, freelancer or do it myself on a page builder: which is right for me?
- What questions should I ask a web designer before hiring them?
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- Where do I find a good web designer?
- How much does a website redesign cost?
- Redesign or rebuild: how do I know which one I need?
- When is it time to rebuild my small business website?
- What should a contractor or home-service website include to get leads?
- Why is my website getting traffic but no leads?
- How often should I update my website?
- Do I need a bilingual website if I do business in Québec?
- How does Samro quote, and how does the process work?
Monthly Website Plans, Hosting and Maintenance: What You Actually Pay For
A monthly website plan bundles the build, hosting and support into one fee. What the fee covers, who owns the site, and what happens if you stop.
- Is a monthly website subscription better than paying once?
- What is a monthly website plan and what does it include?
- Who owns my website if an agency builds it?
- What happens if I stop paying for my website?
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- What happens to my domain if I leave my web design agency?
- Is $20 to $40 a month for website hosting normal?
- What does a hosting fee actually cover?
- Do I really need a website maintenance plan, or can I leave the site alone?
- Why is website maintenance important for a small business?
- Is a monthly plan from an agency better than doing it myself on a page builder?
- Why do some agencies push monthly plans, and when should I say no?
- How much does website hosting cost in 2026?
- How are Samro's plans priced and how do I choose?
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