A receptionist is the first point of contact for your business - managing incoming communications, greeting visitors (in-person or virtually), routing inquiries, and supporting general administrative functions.
A great Receptionist does not just complete tasks. They own a function that directly frees you to grow. Here is what that looks like in a scaling business:
01Answer and route incoming calls and emails professionally
02Manage visitor coordination and virtual front desk functions
03Schedule appointments and manage meeting room calendars
04Handle mail, packages, and general administrative tasks
05Support the broader administrative team with coordination tasks
How this hire moves your business forward: A receptionist ensures every person who contacts your business has a professional, organized first experience. This protects your brand and frees your team from constant front-desk interruptions.
Why LatAm
Why LatAm Produces Great Receptionists.
LatAm receptionists provide professional, English-fluent front desk support, often handling calls and scheduling for US-based businesses.
The timezone overlap with the US is strong. LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time, so there is no async lag, no late-night handoffs, and no communication gap.
Skills & tools
Know What a Great Receptionist Actually Brings to the Table.
Beyond the resume, here are the skills, tools, and traits that separate strong performers from strong interviewers.
Hard Skills
Professional phone and email communication
Scheduling and calendar management
Visitor and inquiry management
Administrative coordination
Multi-tasking
Common Tools
Google Workspace / Microsoft 365
Zoom / Google Meet
Slack
Calendly
RingCentral / Grasshopper
Soft Skills & Traits
Warm and professional presence
Calm under pressure
Organized
Quick learner
Reliable
Compensation
What You Can Expect to Pay.
Based on Sur market data and regional benchmarks. Figures reflect total cash compensation.
Seniority
US Annual
LatAm Annual
You Save
Entry
$35,000
$18,000
$17,000 / yr
Mid level
$45,000
$24,000
$21,000 / yr
Senior
$55,000
$30,000
$25,000 / yr
Spot the right hire
What to Look For, and What to Watch Out For.
Green Flags
Warm, professional phone manner that reflects your brand well
Organized system for routing inquiries accurately
Calm and unflappable when call volume is high
Proactive about keeping the schedule and calendar accurate
Red Flags
Warm but disorganized - drops follow-through on routing tasks
Professional in writing but struggles on live calls
No experience with business phone systems or scheduling tools
Our process
Our Process for This Role.
We do not post and wait. Every Receptionist search we run is built from scratch around your business, your stage, your team, and your goals. And at every step, we are thinking about how this hire helps you grow.
1
Onboarding Call
We start by understanding what you actually need.
2
Role Scoping and Assessment Design
We build a precise role profile and design the custom skills assessment before we search for anyone.
3
Sourcing
We source actively across LatAm and the Caribbean and through our network.
4
Prescreening and Phone Screen
Every candidate is internally screened then put through an English phone screen.
5
Your Shortlist
3 to 5 candidates delivered early in the process with background, audio clip, and our team's recommendation.
6
Skills Assessment
Shortlisted candidates take a custom assessment built to replicate the actual work of the role.
7
Hire and Guarantee
We support the offer, help structure compensation for retention, and back every placement with a 90-day guarantee.
1-3 weeks typically. Most placements are made within 21 days of the onboarding call.
Most LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time.
All Sur placements speak fluent English. We screen for language ability on every search. Moderate English acceptable depending on exposure.
A LatAm virtual receptionist delivers the same professional front-of-house experience as a US-based hire at significantly lower cost. Strong spoken and written English is standard for this role through Sur.
If your hire does not work out within the first 90 days for any reason, we replace them at no additional cost.
Yes. Sur screens for strong spoken English and professional phone presence on every receptionist search.
Yes, this is the most common structure. Most receptionists also handle scheduling, mail, and basic admin coordination.
Ready to Hire a Receptionist Who Actually Moves the Needle?
Let us design the role together and find you the right person from LatAm.