Do I have to change my number to use an AI receptionist?

Short answer: no. You keep your existing business number and your current phone provider. Setting up an AI receptionist doesn't touch either one — you simply forward your line to Merit, and he answers. No porting, no new SIM, no new hardware.

Here's what that actually means — and what changes (almost nothing).

You keep your number and your provider

This is the part most owners worry about, so let's be clear: there's no number porting and no switching carriers. Your business number stays exactly where it is. Merit is software that answers calls forwarded to it — it doesn't replace your phone line, it sits behind it.

How forwarding works

Call forwarding is a setting on your existing phone line. You point it at Merit, and it takes a few minutes. You've got options for which calls he answers:

• →Forward every call — Merit is your full-time receptionist.
• →Forward only the calls you don't pick up — you answer when you can, and Merit catches the rest so nothing goes to voicemail.
• →Forward after hours — you handle the day, Merit covers nights and weekends.

Those are settings with your phone carrier, not a rewire — and they're reversible any time. Turn forwarding off and calls ring your phone exactly like they do today.

What actually changes

Almost nothing on your end. You keep your number, your provider, and your phone. The one new thing: when a call is forwarded, Merit answers in a natural voice, tells the caller he's your assistant, captures their name, number, and reason, and texts you the lead the second the call ends. No hardware, no app to babysit.

The bottom line

You don't change your number to use an AI receptionist — you forward it. Keep everything you already have, and add a receptionist that answers 24/7. Merit starts at $99/month.

Try Merit free for 7 days — no charge until the trial ends, and cancel before then to avoid being billed. Get set up in minutes at mavrick.pro/onboarding.