How to Work at Home as an Answering Service Representative

Working from home as an answering service representative has become an increasingly popular job in today’s remote work landscape. This flexible job allows you to assist businesses by managing customer calls, answering inquiries, and ensuring seamless communication, all from the comfort of home.

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a part-time side gig, remote answering service roles offer the perfect balance of convenience and productivity, helping you save on commute time while still being a vital part of the customer service experience.

What is a Remote Answering Service Representative?

A remote answering service representative handles inbound calls for businesses while working from home or in a remote location.

The duties of answering service representatives typically include answering customer inquiries, routing calls, scheduling appointments, and providing general customer support. Their job is to ensure businesses stay responsive to customers, often outside regular business hours.

They are trained to handle different types of calls, such as customer service, technical support, or emergency dispatch.

Businesses use remote answering services to maintain a professional and efficient communication channel without needing in-house staff available 24/7.

Education and Skills Needed for Remote Answering Service Jobs

To become an answering service representative, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.

You will also need the following skills:

• Excellent Communication Skills: Clearly and effectively communicating with customers is essential for answering service representatives.
• Typing Speed and Accuracy: To efficiently handle calls, candidates must touch type at least 35 words per minute.
• Organizational Skills: Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously and staying organized is crucial in this role.
• Active Listening: Paying attention to customer needs without interrupting is vital for understanding and resolving their issues.
• Interpersonal Skills: You must handle demanding customers with empathy and patience.
• Punctuality and Time Management: Remote work requires discipline and managing your time effectively.
• Multitasking Abilities: Handling multiple inquiries simultaneously, like looking up information while speaking to a customer, is critical.

Equipment Needed to Work as a Remote Answering Service Representative

The good news is that most of the equipment needed for this job is likely already in your home.

You will need to have a reliable computer with internet access, a headset or phone with microphone capabilities, and a quiet workspace free from distractions.

Some companies may also provide additional equipment, such as a CRM system or specific software for call handling.

How Much do Remote Answering Service Representatives Make?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for a remote answering service representative in the United States is around $19.26 per hour. However, specific salaries can vary by location.

On a yearly basis, some remote answering service agents earn approximately $42,205 annually, according to Glassdoor.

Where to Find Remote Answering Service Jobs

Back Office Betties  

Back Office Betties is a company that provides specialized virtual receptionist and assistant services, primarily catering to small and midsize law firms. Their virtual staffing solutions help these firms reduce administrative burdens and offer a cost-effective alternative to in-house employees.

They offer work-from-home answering service jobs, such as virtual legal receptionists and virtual legal intake specialists.

The positions involve answering calls and handling administrative tasks for law firms across the U.S. Employees work remotely, managing calls and other tasks for clients in various industries, particularly legal services.

The company promotes a fully remote work environment, ensuring employees are on duty during work hours but allowing them to work from home full-time.  

Centratel 

Centratel is a 24/7 live telephone answering service provider that has been in business since 1984. They provide services to all kinds of industries, from medical offices and real estate agencies to HVAC companies and funeral homes.

They constantly hire for work-from-home positions like remote telephone service representatives. TSRs receive calls on behalf of clients, screen them, transfer important ones to clients, or take messages for callbacks if the client is unavailable.

Applicants must have previous call center or answering service experience and excellent communication skills (both phone and email). They also require that you be able to type fast (about 40 words per minute) while making customers feel satisfied. 

To work for this company, you will need to reside in Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, or Texas.

Centratel offers paid training to successful applicants and benefits like health insurance, vacation time, and a 401k plan for full-time employees.

The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). They also have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides support for personal or work-related issues.

Gabbyville 

Gabbyville is a virtual receptionist and assistant company that caters specifically to small businesses. They offer services like answering calls, scheduling appointments, and managing emails for clients in various industries.

They hire remote agents for part-time or full-time positions as virtual receptionists. These positions require excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to multitask.

They also have a supportive team environment with regular team meetings and training.

If you are interested in a position with Gabbyville, you’ll need to submit your resume and cover letter to them via email at career@gabbyville.com. The company doesn’t typically post open positions on their website.

Ruby 

Ruby is a virtual receptionist company that specializes in providing exceptional customer service for businesses of all sizes. They offer services like answering calls, managing emails, and handling live chats for their clients.

They hire remote agents as virtual receptionists, offering opportunities for both full-time and part-time positions. These roles require strong communication skills, multitasking ability, and an upbeat attitude.

Ruby offers competitive pay rates, health insurance options, paid time off, and a supportive team environment. They also have ongoing training and development programs to help employees grow within the company.

Smith

Smith is a virtual receptionist company that offers personalized call-answering services for businesses. They specialize in providing excellent customer service and managing clients’ appointments, inquiries, and transfers.

They hire remote agents as virtual receptionists, offering opportunities for both full-time and part-time positions. These roles require strong communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to handle multiple tasks at once.

Some of the benefits Smith offers include competitive pay rates, health insurance options, paid time off, ongoing training programs, and a supportive team environment. They also provide dedicated employees with opportunities for growth within the company.

More Ways to Work From Home as an Answering Service Representative

Offering freelancing services as an answering service representative is another excellent way to work from home.

Freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer allow you to create a profile and offer your virtual receptionist services to clients on a project-by-project basis.

Final Thoughts

Working from home as an answering service representative can be a rewarding career option if you enjoy customer service and have outstanding communication skills.

With the continuous rise of remote work, there are now more opportunities than ever to work from home as an answering service representative.

Consider exploring these options if you are looking for a fulfilling and flexible work-from-home opportunity.