Making the Right Choice for Your Cleaning Business

Managing incoming calls and appointment scheduling is crucial for cleaning service businesses, but it's also one of your biggest operational expenses. Seattle cleaning companies face a tough decision: invest in hiring a dedicated receptionist or embrace modern AI-powered solutions like OAK AI.

This comparison explores the financial, operational, and practical differences between these two approaches to help you make an informed decision for your business.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor	Traditional Employee	OAK AI Receptionist
Annual Cost	$50,000 - $65,000 salary	Starting at $99/month ($1,188/year)
Benefits & Payroll Taxes	$10,000 - $15,000 annually (20-30%)	$0
Training Time	2-4 weeks before productivity	15 minutes setup time
Availability	9 AM - 5 PM (typical)	24/7/365
Consistency	Varies by mood, fatigue, experience	100% consistent every call
Sick Days & Time Off	10-15 days/year unpaid coverage needed	Never takes time off
Scalability	Linear - hire more staff as you grow	Grows with you instantly
Call Handling Capacity	Limited to 1 person's time	Unlimited simultaneous calls
Turnover Risk	High - recruiting & training costs	Zero turnover
Performance Monitoring	Manual tracking & oversight	Detailed analytics & insights

Detailed Financial Analysis

The True Cost of a Traditional Employee

Most Seattle cleaning companies budget around $50,000