The problem
You're mid-install. Your phone rings — unknown number. If it's a new lead, missing it might mean losing a job. But you can't stop what you're doing to take every call, and you can't afford to have half your business calls go to voicemail.
Why we built it
The AI receptionist answers your DIRT Line when you're unavailable. It greets callers as your business, gets their name and the job they're calling about, and texts you a summary the moment the call ends — so you can call back with context.
How it works
- 1
The AI receptionist is on by default on your DIRT Line (Done For You).
- 2
When you don't answer, it picks up: "Thanks for calling [Your Business]. I'll make sure [name] gets back to you."
- 3
You get a text: caller name, callback number, reason for call. Call back within minutes.
What changes for your business
Before
New lead hits voicemail. You see it an hour later. They've called two other contractors.
After
AI answers. Gets the info. Texts you the summary. You call back in ten minutes.
Common questions
What is the best AI answering service for a small business?
The best one captures lead info and gets it to you immediately so you can call back before they call someone else. DIRT's AI receptionist answers your business line, asks the caller's name and what they need, and texts you a summary the moment the call ends. Compare that to a service that just takes a message and emails it two hours later.
How much do AI answering services cost?
Standalone options run from $29/month (Dialzara) to $95/month (Smith.ai), with Rosie AI at $49 — mid-2026 pricing. DIRT's AI receptionist is included with the DIRT Line on Done For You — it's not a separate tool you're paying for on top of everything else.
Can I use AI to answer calls when I'm on the job?
Yes. When your DIRT Line rings and you don't pick up, the AI receptionist answers in your business name, gets the caller's name and reason for calling, and texts you a summary. You get the who, the number, and what they need — before the next contractor calls them back.
What's the difference between an answering service and an AI receptionist?
A traditional answering service makes sure the call gets picked up and takes a message. Someone still has to follow up. DIRT's AI receptionist does the first step and immediately texts you a structured summary — caller name, callback number, reason for the call — so follow-up happens in minutes, not when you remember to check voicemail.
What information does the AI get from callers?
It greets them as your business, gets their name, their callback number, and what kind of job they're calling about. That summary lands in a text to you the moment the call ends.
Does the AI receptionist work after hours?
Yes. It's always on when you haven't picked up — day, evening, or weekend. After-hours answering is one of the highest-value things a small contractor can have, because a call at 5 PM that goes to voicemail often means the job goes to whoever calls back first.
Does the AI receptionist feed leads into my pipeline?
Yes. The DIRT CRM inbox collects leads from your DIRT Line calls alongside your website forms and SMS. All your inbound goes to one place — not scattered across a text message, an email, and a voicemail you might listen to tomorrow.
Is there a free AI answering service?
Most services charge monthly. The DIRT AI receptionist is part of Done For You, which includes the full DIRT Line — business number, voicemail transcription, and two-way SMS. It's not a free add-on, but it's also not a separate subscription on top of what you're already paying.
Start free
Try it free.
Available on Done For You. Start with Solo free to log real jobs, see your numbers, and upgrade only when you need more firepower.