AI cold calling
AI cold calling that keeps going until someone answers
Most leads don't pick up the first time, and a human rep gives up around the second try. An AI caller doesn't. Here is how AI cold calling works with Sara, what it costs, and the rules you need to follow.
How an AI cold call works
- You tell Sara who to call and why: a list you uploaded, leads from one of her campaigns, or a single number.
- She drafts the call as a proposal (who, why, and what she'll open with) and waits for your approval.
- Once approved, she calls during business hours (9:00am to 4:30pm your time, weekdays), introduces herself as calling on behalf of your business, and has a real back-and-forth conversation.
- If she reaches voicemail, she either leaves a short message or hangs up, instead of talking to a machine.
- If the person is interested, she books the meeting on your calendar. Either way, the call is logged so the next touch picks up where this one left off.
Why AI calling beats a dialer
Auto-dialers and robocalls play a recording at whoever answers. An AI caller listens and responds, so it can answer a question, handle "I'm busy, call me Thursday," and know when to stop. And because it never gets tired, the third and fourth attempt get made, which is where most conversations actually happen.
You can hear what it sounds like before committing: the Sara homepage has a test drive where she calls your own phone.
What it costs
Calls cost 31.7¢ a minute in credits (about $19 an hour of talk time). Plans start at $35 a month (4,500 credits), and new accounts get 500 free credits. Calls cost about 31.7¢ a minute, texts 5¢, emails 3¢, a decision-maker lookup 15¢ and each lead found 4¢.
The rules for AI calls
This is the part to read twice. The FCC ruled in February 2024 that AI-generated voices count as "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. That means:
- Calling a cell phone with an AI voice needs the person's prior consent, and prior written consent if the call is selling something. That includes business owners' cell phones.
- Calling a home landline with an AI voice to sell something also needs prior written consent.
- Calling a business's main line isn't covered by those federal consent rules, but some states have their own.
- Penalties are $500 to $1,500 per call, so this isn't a technicality.
In practice: use AI calls for people who asked to hear from you (form fills, quote requests, past customers, leads who replied to an email), and lead with email for everyone else. Full guide, with sources →
Built-in guardrails
- Nothing goes out until you approve it. Sara drafts every call, text and email as a proposal; you approve or reject each one (or a batch).
- She only reaches out on weekdays, inside business hours in your time zone: calls 9:00am to 4:30pm, texts and emails 9:00am to 6:00pm. Approve something at 9pm Friday and it waits for Monday morning.
- Text replies like STOP, "remove me" or "do not contact" are caught before any AI reads them, and that number is never texted again.
- Emails go out from your own Gmail or Outlook, a minute or so apart, with a daily cap per mailbox to protect your sending reputation.
- She recognizes voicemail on calls and keeps it short or hangs up instead of talking to a machine.
Common questions
Is AI cold calling legal?
It can be, if you have the right consent. AI voices count as artificial voices under the TCPA, so calling a cell phone or home line with one needs prior consent, written consent for sales calls. Calling businesses' main lines is far less restricted. This isn't legal advice; see our guide for the details.
Does the person know they are talking to an AI?
Sara introduces herself by name as calling on behalf of your business. Some states require disclosing AI or recording; set her greeting to match the rules where you call.
How much does AI cold calling cost?
With Sara, about 31.7¢ per minute of call time (roughly $19 an hour), drawn from credits. Plans start at $35 a month.
What happens if nobody answers?
She recognizes voicemail and either leaves a short message or hangs up, and the lead stays in the follow-up rotation so the next attempt happens.
Put Sara on your list
She finds the leads, drafts every call, text and email for your approval, and books the meetings.