Who it is for / Barbers
An AI receptionist for barbers.
Mid-fade is no time to answer the phone. While You Work answers the calls you miss in your shop’s name, finds out what the customer wants and when, gives your prices if you have set them, and sends you the details a minute later.
Hear a sample call free, no card needed, and you keep your own number. Ready to put it on your own line? Start a free 7-day trial, no card.
The first 50 UK businesses get Pro for £49 a month plus VAT for their first 12 months, then £69. Plans start at £39. Your line switches on as soon as you finish the set-up form, with a 7-day free trial first and a 14-day money-back guarantee once you pay.
On every call
What your receptionist asks
- What cut or service they want
- Whether they are a new or an existing customer
- When they would like to come in
- The best number to ring back, read back to check it
- Your prices, only if you have set them and they ask
Urgent jobs
Today’s changes go to the top
- A customer who cannot make today’s appointment
- A caller who says it cannot wait
Everything else is sent to you as a booking request within a minute.
An example week
A week of calls to a barber
A barber's phone rings while the clippers are running. Most calls are a quick booking or a "how long is the wait", and the receptionist can answer both from what you tell it.
- Monday, 9.15am: a dad wanting two cuts on Saturday morning, one adult and one child. Names and preferred time taken.
- Tuesday: a caller asking whether you take walk-ins and how long the wait is right now. Answered from your set-up notes.
- Wednesday, 6pm: a skin fade and beard trim before a night out Friday. Time taken.
- Thursday: a regular asking to move his slot to next week. Message with the name.
- Saturday, 8.50am: a caller checking if you are open on the bank holiday. Answered from your hours.
The maths
What a missed call costs barbers
Say you miss 5 calls a week and two in five of those callers would have booked a cut worth about £20.
5 calls × 40% × £20 = £40 a week. × 52 weeks ÷ 12 = £173 a month of work going to someone else. An example: put your own numbers into the missed-call calculator.
One missed cut is £20. One missed new customer is a cut every three weeks for years, and the barber round the corner is happy to take him.
Timing
When a barber's phone rings
Saturday mornings, Friday afternoons, and the days before school goes back. All while you are mid-fade with a queue watching the door.
What callers hear
An example call, word for word
The receptionist asks one thing at a time, checks the number back and never makes up a price. The details reach you by email a minute after the call, and by text straight away when it is urgent, on Pro and Business.
Emailed to you a minute later
Ryan (new customer), 07700 900736. Skin fade tomorrow morning. Told £18.
Receptionist: Hi, you’re through to Kings Barbers. Thanks for calling, I’m the automated assistant. Ali can’t get to the phone right now, but I can take your details so he can get back to you. Calls are recorded so nothing gets missed. What’s your name?
Caller: Hi, it’s Ryan. Have you got anything for a skin fade tomorrow morning?
Receptionist: Thanks, Ryan. Have you been in to Kings Barbers before?
Caller: No, first time. How much is a skin fade?
Receptionist: A skin fade is £18.
Receptionist: And what’s the best number for Ali to ring you on?
Caller: 07700 900 736.
Receptionist: So that’s 07700 900 736. Is that right?
Caller: Yes, that’s right.
Receptionist: Thanks, Ryan. Ali will ring you back to confirm a time tomorrow, and I’m sending you a text now to confirm.
Set up
Three steps, and you keep your number
Tell us about your business
A short form made for barbers:
- Your business name and first name
- Opening hours and where you are
- What your business does, in plain words
- Your prices, only if you want callers told
- Your booking or cancellation policy
- Whether customers ever need you urgently
- Anything else callers should know
- Walk-ins, appointments, or both
- Your price list, if you want callers told
- Opening hours and any half-days
Switch on divert
One code on your mobile sends calls you do not answer within 20 seconds to your While You Work line. Turn it off whenever you like.
Get the details in a minute
Every caller is greeted in your business name. You get the details a minute later, and the caller gets a text saying you will ring back.
Questions
Questions from barbers
Can it book appointments into my diary?
Yes, on the Business plan. It offers the caller your real free times, books the appointment and texts them a confirmation, with your deposit link if you take deposits. On Pro it can text the caller your booking link instead, and on Starter it takes the details and tells the caller you will ring back.
Will it give out my prices?
Only if you add them in the set-up form. If you leave prices blank, callers are told you will confirm the price yourself. It never makes up a price.
Will callers know it is not me?
It answers in your shop’s name with a natural British voice. The greeting tells every caller it is the automated assistant for your business and that calls are recorded. It never pretends to be you.
How much does it cost?
Starter is £39, Pro £69 and Business £129 a month + VAT, for 50, 150 or 400 calls a month. The first 50 UK businesses get Pro for £49 a month + VAT for their first 12 months. There is no contract, and if you cancel within 14 days of your line going live you get a full refund.
Can it tell people whether I take walk-ins?
Yes. It answers from what you put in the set-up form: walk-ins welcome, appointments only, or a mix, and your usual wait on busy days if you add it.
Will it give my prices?
Only if you have listed them and the caller asks. It reads them as written and never rounds or guesses.
More detail: how the AI receptionist works, the call answering service behind it, what a virtual receptionist does, what a missed call costs, UK call answering prices and how we compare.
Fill the gaps in your diary without picking up the phone
Free for 7 days, no card. Pupils and clients who ring while you are busy get a proper answer, a text to say you will ring back, and on Pro your booking link. Plans from £39 a month plus VAT after that; Pro is £69, or £49 plus VAT for 12 months for the first 50 UK businesses.
Also set up for dog groomers, personal trainers, estate and letting agents, accountants and bookkeepers, photographers, caterers, and for every other kind of business.