How to Set Up an AI Receptionist in 5 Minutes (Step-by-Step)

Setting up an AI receptionist sounds like it should be complicated. In practice, it takes about five minutes — roughly the same amount of time it takes to set up a new email account.

This guide walks through the process step by step, using SUBLAKE as an example, though the general steps are similar across most AI receptionist platforms.

Before You Start: What You Will Need

Gather these before you begin:

• Your business phone number (landline, VoIP, or mobile)
• Your business hours and holiday schedule
• A list of your most common services and their general pricing
• Your Google Calendar login (optional — SUBLAKE has its own calendar)
• Your business address and service area

That is it. No technical knowledge required. No IT department needed.

Step 1: Create Your Account (1 minute)

Sign up at sublake.com/signup with your email address. You will be asked for your business name, industry, and phone number. Choose your trade from the list — this helps the AI understand the types of calls you receive and the language your customers use.

For example, selecting "Plumbing" tells the AI that callers are likely asking about leak repairs, drain cleaning, water heater issues, and emergency service. Selecting "HVAC" tells it to expect calls about no heat, no cooling, tune-ups, and new installs.

Step 2: Connect Your Phone (1 minute)

You have two options for connecting your phone:

Call forwarding. The simplest option. Set up no-answer forwarding with your phone carrier so the calls you cannot take go to your SUBLAKE number (typically after 3-4 rings). This works with any phone system — landline, mobile, or VoIP.

Direct number. Some businesses prefer to use the AI number as their primary business line — either a new local number or their existing one, ported over. Calls go to the AI first. It never transfers a live call: it takes the details down and you call the customer back.

Most businesses start with call forwarding so they can ease into it. If you are on a job and cannot answer, the AI picks up. If you are at your desk and available, you answer normally.

Step 3: Customize Your Greeting and Responses (2 minutes)

The AI comes pre-loaded with industry-appropriate greetings and responses, but you should personalize them:

Greeting. Something like: "Thank you for calling Smith Plumbing. How can I help you today?" Keep it natural and warm.

Services and pricing. Add your specific services and general pricing ranges. You do not need to list every possible job — just the most common ones. For a plumber, that might be: "Drain cleaning starts at $150. Water heater repair typically runs $200-$500 depending on the issue. We offer free estimates for larger jobs."

Business policies. Service area, payment methods accepted, warranty information, licensing details — anything a caller commonly asks about.

Services for your booking page. List the jobs customers can book themselves through your online booking link — service calls, estimates, tune-ups — with a duration for each.

Step 4: Connect Your Calendar (30 seconds)

If you use Google Calendar, link it. The sync is two-way: SUBLAKE reads your busy times and writes your jobs back, so your booking page only ever offers times you are actually free. (Google Calendar is the one calendar SUBLAKE connects to today; if you do not use it, SUBLAKE's own calendar works on its own.)

You can also set your working hours, so your booking link only shows the slots you want to work.

Step 5: Go Live (instant)

Turn it on. That is the entire step. The AI immediately starts answering calls that you miss or that come in after hours.

What Happens When Someone Calls

Here is a typical call flow once everything is set up:

1. Caller reaches your number. If you do not answer within a few rings, the call forwards to the AI.
2. AI greets the caller with your custom greeting.
3. Caller states their need. "My drain is backing up" or "My AC is not working."
4. AI responds naturally. It answers questions about your services, hours, and pricing based on the information you provided.
5. AI takes the job down — name, address, what is wrong, and when would suit them — and tells the caller someone will call back to confirm a time. Urgent jobs are flagged and pushed to your phone.
6. You receive a summary of every call — who called, what they need, and when they are free.
7. You call back and set the time. Once it is on the calendar, the AI Office Manager sends the confirmation and the reminders.

The entire call feels natural. Callers are talking to an intelligent assistant, not navigating a phone tree or listening to hold music.

Common Concerns

"Will callers know it is AI?" The AI introduces itself honestly. Most callers do not mind — they care about getting their question answered and their problem taken seriously. What frustrates callers is voicemail, not AI.

"What if it cannot handle a question?" For calls that require human judgment — complex complaints, unusual requests, emergency situations — the AI takes a detailed message, flags it as urgent, and pushes it to your phone so you can call straight back. It does not transfer live calls.

"Can I change settings later?" Everything is adjustable at any time. Add new services, change your hours, update pricing — all from your dashboard.

Ready to set up your AI receptionist?

It takes five minutes. Start your free trial — no credit card required — and see the difference in your first week.

*Related reading: AI Employees vs Human: The Real Cost Comparison | Why 62% of Small Business Calls Go Unanswered | The Small Business Guide to AI in 2026*