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Face for Business alternative

A live receptionist costs £150+ a month.
TextBack Pro costs £47.

Face for Business (FFB) provides professional virtual receptionists at a premium price. TextBack Pro gives you the same outcome — every missed call replied to instantly — for a fraction of the cost, with no per-call fees and no contract.

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No credit card required From £47/month flat Replies in 30 seconds

Why trades businesses look for a Face for Business alternative

The cost is hard to justify

Face for Business charges monthly packages plus per-call fees. For a sole trader or small team, total costs can easily exceed £150 to £200 per month. TextBack Pro is £47 flat: the same missed calls caught, for less than a third of the price.

No SMS to the caller

FFB takes a message and passes it to you. The caller gets no immediate written confirmation, no text to reply to. TextBack Pro sends an SMS within 30 seconds so the caller knows you've got their message and will be in touch.

The caller still waits for a callback

Even with a live receptionist, the caller is told you'll call back. That callback might come in 20 minutes or 3 hours. In that window, most callers ring a competitor. TextBack Pro engages them immediately while they're still thinking about their job.

TextBack Pro vs Face for Business

TextBack ProFace for Business
Monthly costFrom £47 flatPackage + per-call
Per-call fees✓ None× Yes
Instant SMS reply (under 30s)✓× No SMS
Works 24/7 automatically✓Business hours
Caller gets written record✓ SMS×
AI two-way conversation✓×
Google Calendar booking✓ Pro plan×
No contract✓×
14-day free trial✓×
Setup time10 minutes1 to 3 days

An honest take on Face for Business

What Face for Business does well
  • Professional UK-based receptionists who know your business
  • Good for B2B firms where professional call handling matters
  • Can handle complex call flows and custom scripts
Where it falls short for trades
  • Monthly cost too high for most sole traders or small teams
  • No instant SMS: the caller still waits for a callback from you
  • No automated follow-up or AI booking capability

Common questions

Is TextBack Pro cheaper than Face for Business?
Yes. Face for Business charges a monthly package plus per-call fees, with total costs typically ranging from £100 to £250 per month depending on call volume. TextBack Pro is £47 per month flat with no per-call charges, regardless of call volume up to your plan limit.
Does Face for Business work outside business hours?
Face for Business primarily operates during business hours. TextBack Pro works 24/7 with no human involvement: if a customer calls at 10pm on a Sunday, they still get an instant SMS reply. Night and weekend calls are often the most important ones to capture.
Can TextBack Pro handle appointment booking like a receptionist?
Yes. On Pro and Scale plans, TextBack Pro connects to your Google Calendar and can book appointments directly in the two-way SMS conversation with your caller. The AI handles the booking automatically, without any input from you.

Same outcome. A fraction of the cost.

Instant SMS reply, 24/7 automation, Google Calendar booking. From £47/month flat.

Start 14-day free trial →See pricing

No credit card required