Should You Buy Live Transfers per Call or per Hour?

Per-call pricing usually suits agents who want a predictable cost per transfer, while hourly or seat-based models suit floors that can absorb steady volume all day. The right pick depends on your closing capacity, licensed states, and how you measure cost per sale. See our Final Expense live transfers for options that fit this workflow.

How does per-call pricing work?

With per-call pricing, you pay for each qualified transfer delivered to your agents, so spend rises and falls with the calls you actually receive. That makes your transfer budget easy to forecast per call and easy to tie to cost per sale.

Per-call pricing is usually the simplest model to evaluate because the unit you buy is the unit you work. Here is what to confirm before you agree to it:

• What counts as billable: a clear definition of a qualified transfer, including minimum call length and live-agent connection.
• Qualifiers: which screening criteria apply before a caller reaches you.
• Returns: a written process for disputing calls that do not meet the definition.
• Caps: daily limits so a busy day does not outrun your floor.

When do hourly models fit?

Hourly or seat-based models fit floors that stay staffed and ready to answer every transfer, because you pay for reserved capacity rather than individual calls. They work best when your agents are consistently available and your closing process is dialed in.

Hourly pricing shifts volume risk toward you. If transfers arrive slowly during your paid hours, your cost per transfer climbs. If they arrive fast and your agents are busy, you may miss calls you already paid for.

Hourly models tend to fit when:

• You have enough licensed agents to answer back-to-back calls.
• Your hours of operation are stable and predictable.
• You track answer rate and talk time closely.
• You are comfortable with variable cost per transfer in exchange for steady flow.

If your staffing changes day to day, per-call pricing is usually the safer starting point.

How do you compare true cost?

Compare models by cost per sale, not cost per call or per hour. Take total spend, subtract credited returns, and divide by policies written. That one number shows which pricing model actually fits your close rate and floor capacity.

A low rate on paper can hide a weak outcome. Track these inputs for each model over the same period:

1. Total spend, including any minimums or setup terms.
2. Transfers received versus transfers answered.
3. Returns requested and credited.
4. Policies written and premium produced.

Run both models side by side on a small test before committing your full transfer budget.

Which model should a small or growing agency choose?

A small or growing agency usually does better starting with per-call pricing, because it caps downside while you learn your answer rate and close rate. Once your floor is consistently staffed, you can reassess whether an hourly arrangement lowers your cost per sale.

Start where risk is lowest, then adjust with data. Ask the vendor whether you can change models after a trial period, and get that answer in writing. Also confirm that your licensed states and daily capacity will shape delivery, whichever model you pick.

How Tele Leads Agency handles this

Tele Leads Agency builds live transfer delivery around your licensed states and daily capacity, so the pricing model you choose matches how your floor actually operates. You get exclusive Final Expense, Medicare, ACA, or Auto live transfers rather than shared leads.

We start by learning your licensed states, staffing, and daily capacity, then scope a model that fits your floor instead of forcing one structure on every agency. You get a clear definition of what counts as a billable transfer, the qualifiers applied before a caller reaches you, and a written process for disputing calls that do not meet that definition. Request a quote and tell us how your floor runs; pricing varies by product and state, and we will outline the options that fit.

Frequently asked questions

Is per-call pricing always cheaper than hourly?

No. Cheaper depends on your close rate and how many transfers you receive. Per-call spend can exceed hourly if volume is high, while hourly can cost more if your floor sits idle. Compare cost per sale.

What should be in a per-call billing definition?

A written definition of a billable transfer, minimum talk time, required qualifiers, and a return process. Without these, you cannot verify what you are charged for or dispute poor calls.

Can I set a daily cap with either model?

Usually yes, and you should ask. Caps keep delivery matched to your agents and licensed states, so you do not pay for transfers your floor cannot answer.

How long should I test a pricing model?

Test long enough to capture normal variation in staffing and call flow, then compare cost per sale. A very short test can mislead you in either direction.

Tele Leads Agency · teleleadsagency.com · (888) 603-5358

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