Frequently asked questions
Simple answers about how the service works, what it costs and what you need to get started.
The basics
What is The Color of AI Answering Service?
It’s an AI phone answering service you make your own. You start with a call flow built for your business from your website and Google Business Profile, then polish her words with Live Coaching and call reviews. Your AI receptionist answers your calls any time of day, follows your call flow, collects the caller’s details and the job, then emails you a summary after every call. You can turn on text alerts too.
Who is it for?
Small businesses anywhere in the US that can’t pick up every call: home services and trades, salons and med spas, law, dental and medical offices, real estate, insurance and more. If your phone rings while you’re busy or closed: yes, your business too.
Will my callers know it’s AI?
The voice is warm and natural, and the conversation sounds like you’re speaking with a friendly receptionist. If a caller asks directly whether they’re talking to an AI, it answers honestly. Most callers simply want to know someone has taken down their information, and they do.
Will it give prices or arrival times?
At first, your agent takes the details and says you’ll call back with a price. Want your agent to share pricing or arrival times? Add it to the right card in your call flow, or in its “Instructions for her (not said out loud)” box.
What does it ask callers?
By default it collects the caller’s name, callback number, what they need, and the service address with ZIP code. You can add your own questions to your call flow, for example the age of the equipment, the type of door or how they heard about you. She asks only what your flow asks.
What is the Call Flow?
It’s the path every call follows, laid out as simple cards. We build it for you from your website and Google Business Profile when you sign up. Each card holds what she says, with an “Instructions for her (not said out loud)” box and “Save their answer as” to keep the caller’s details. She asks only what your flow asks. Try it with the test call panel, add a “Something else” choice for callers who don’t fit, and use “Undo last save” to go back up to 10 steps. Want a clean slate? “Erase my flow and start over” asks you to confirm first.
Setup
Do I need to set anything up myself?
Very little. When you sign up, we read your website and Google Business Profile and build your call flow: greeting, services, questions and closing. You test it, edit any card, and coach her words until she sounds like you. No keys and no tech skills needed.
How do calls get to my AI receptionist?
We give you your own answering line. You forward your business number to it, either all the time, after hours, or only when you don’t pick up.
How long does setup take?
Your call flow is ready right after you sign up. You can test it in your browser the same day and keep fine-tuning it for as long as you like.
Can I change what my agent says?
Yes. You can make changes yourself at any time. In Live Coaching, tap any line your agent says and press Coach this. In Calls, Chats & Coaching, review real calls and say what to change, like “stop saying that” or “say it like this.” Press Save, and your agent uses it on the next call. Coached cards show Before and Now, and “Put the old words back” is there if you change your mind.
Can coaching change my call flow?
No, and that’s on purpose. Coaching polishes her words: the tone, the phrasing, the greeting, how she says your business name. Your call flow decides what she asks. If a note would add, skip or move a question, you’ll see a clear message and your flow stays as it is. Every coached card shows Before and Now, with “Put the old words back” one tap away.
What is Live Coaching?
Live Coaching lets you talk to your agent in your browser. The conversation appears line by line, and you can tap any line your agent says and coach it on the spot. Your changes take effect on the next test or customer call.
Do I need tech skills or a support rep to make changes?
No. You change things in plain words from your dashboard, and you don’t have to wait for anyone to update it for you.
Calls and summaries
How do I get the call details?
After every call, you get an email summary with the caller’s name, number, the job, the address and any notes. Want it on your phone too? Turn on text alerts, and you can call the customer back straight from the text.
What happens with calls that can’t wait?
Every call gets a full summary emailed to you right after, and you can turn on text summaries too, so you can call back the ones that can’t wait.
Does it answer at night and on weekends?
Yes. The line answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Want it only after hours, or only when you’re busy? Just set up call forwarding from your phone. Your phone company can help.
Can it book appointments?
Yes, on every plan. Connect your Google Calendar and it books into your open times during the call.
Does it speak Spanish?
Yes. It answers calls in English, Spanish, or both. You choose.
Does it work with my CRM, Jobber or Housecall Pro?
Through Zapier or a webhook, yes. After every call, a summary goes to Zapier or your webhook within about 5 minutes, and you can send it to your CRM, a spreadsheet or other apps. There’s no direct built-in connection.
Plans and trial
How does the free trial work?
Pick a plan and create your account. Your first 7 days are free. If you keep it, your plan starts automatically on day 8 at the monthly price. We email you 2 days before the trial ends with a one-click cancel link.
How do I cancel?
Cancel anytime from your dashboard. We also email you 2 days before your trial ends with a quick one-click cancel link. Cancel before day 7 and you won’t be charged anything. After that, plans are month to month and you can cancel any time.
Can I switch plans?
Yes. You can move up or down between Starter, Pro and Business. Just ask us in the chat.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. Plans are month to month, and you can cancel any time.
What if I use more minutes than my plan includes?
Extra minutes are 35¢ each on Starter, 30¢ on Pro and 25¢ on Business. If you often go over, you can move to a bigger plan any time.
Still have a question? Start your 7-day free trial and try your agent yourself in the browser.
The more you coach, the smarter it gets.
Every time you tap Coach this, your AI receptionist gets better. Keep coaching, and it learns to handle any call the way you would, even the strange ones nobody saw coming.
Other AI stays the same. Yours keeps getting better.
Your new hire is ready when you are.
Your agent starts with what’s on your website. Then you coach it. Laugh at the first tries, fix a few words, and soon it sounds just like you. No tech skills needed.
Start your 7-day free trial. Your ready-to-go agent is built from your website in minutes.
