What does outsourced telemarketing cost? Compare outbound call center pricing by the hour, the lead and the appointment, then get free quotes.
Outsourced telemarketing typically costs $25 to $65 per agent hour with a U.S.-based call center, or $8 to $25 per hour nearshore and offshore. Results-based programs run about $15–$75 per qualified lead or $75–$300 per booked B2B appointment, and dedicated B2B calling programs usually cost $1,000–$12,000+ per month. Simple high-volume campaigns can be priced at about $0.35–$2 per call.
Outbound telemarketing is a different service from inbound answering. Instead of waiting for the phone to ring, trained agents call prospects, customers or members for you to set appointments, qualify leads, make sales, run surveys or send reminders. Pricing depends on how you pay (by the hour, by the result or by the call), where agents are located and how complex your campaign is. This guide breaks down outsourced telemarketing cost, outbound call center pricing and plans so you can budget and compare quotes. For inbound call coverage, see our answering service cost guide.
Outsourced Telemarketing Pricing at a Glance (2026)
| Pricing model | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Per agent hour (U.S.) | $25–$65/hr (up to ~$75 for senior B2B) | Complex B2B sales, high-value products, regulated industries |
| Per agent hour (nearshore / offshore) | $8–$25/hr | High-volume B2C, surveys, reminders, lead qualification |
| Per qualified lead | $15–$75 per lead | Lead generation with clear qualification rules |
| Per booked appointment | $75–$300 per meeting (B2B) | Sales teams that only want to pay for meetings |
| Monthly retainer / program | $1,000–$12,000+ per month | Dedicated B2B appointment-setting teams |
| Per call / per dial | $0.35–$2.00 per call | Simple, scripted, high-volume campaigns |
| AI outbound calling | $500–$2,000 per month | Reminders, follow-ups and simple qualification |
| Setup & onboarding (one-time) | $0–$5,000 | Script, training, list prep and dialer setup |
Outsourced Telemarketing Pricing Models Explained
Telemarketing companies charge in five main ways. The right model depends on whether you want to pay for effort, results or volume:
Pay-per-appointment isn’t always cheaper. Providers price the risk into each meeting, and you need a clear definition of a qualified appointment. Hourly pricing often costs less per meeting once a campaign is working, but you carry the risk while it ramps up.
Telemarketing Rates: U.S. vs. Nearshore vs. Offshore
| Agent location | Typical hourly rate | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $25–$65/hr (up to ~$75) | Native English, cultural fit, easier compliance oversight | Highest cost |
| Nearshore (Latin America) | $12–$25/hr | Same time zones, bilingual English/Spanish | Accent and fit vary by provider |
| Offshore (Philippines, India) | $8–$16/hr | Lowest cost, large teams available | Time-zone gaps; can be harder for complex B2B |
| AI voice agents | ~$0.10–$0.50 per minute or flat monthly | Huge volume at low cost | Limited for complex or relationship sales |
Example: 2 agents calling 30 hours a week each is about 260 hours a month. At $40 per hour with a U.S. call center that’s $10,400 per month; at $14 per hour offshore it’s about $3,640.
Outsourced Telemarketing Cost by Campaign Type
Monthly Outsourced Telemarketing Budgets by Program Size
| Program size | Approx. agent hours/month | U.S.-based cost | Offshore cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot (1 part-time agent) | ~80 | $2,000–$5,200 | $640–$2,000 |
| 1 full-time agent | ~160 | $4,000–$10,400 | $1,280–$4,000 |
| 3-agent team | ~480 | $12,000–$31,200 | $3,840–$12,000 |
| 10-agent team | ~1,600 | $40,000–$104,000 | $12,800–$40,000 |
Outbound Calling Cost by Call Volume
For simple, scripted campaigns priced per call, per-call rates drop as volume rises. Typical monthly pricing:
| Calls per month | Estimated monthly cost | Effective cost per call |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $500–$2,000 | $0.50–$2.00 |
| 5,000 | $2,250–$7,500 | $0.45–$1.50 |
| 10,000 | $4,500–$12,000 | $0.45–$1.20 |
| 25,000+ | $8,750–$25,000+ | $0.35–$1.00 |
What Telemarketing Companies Charge in 2026
Published or reported pricing from well-known B2B calling and appointment-setting firms:
| Company | Reported pricing | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit Rate Solutions | ~$640–$2,500/mo | Retainer | Lower-cost U.S. B2B calling |
| Quick Cold Calls | $695–$5,000/mo | Retainer | Month-to-month reported |
| Callbox | ~$4,500–$5,300/mo | Retainer / program | Multi-channel B2B lead generation |
| SalesHive | $4,500–$12,000/mo | Retainer | U.S. and Philippines teams; month-to-month reported |
| CIENCE | ~$4,000–$15,000/mo | Retainer | Outsourced SDR teams |
| Belkins | ~$5,000–$14,800+/mo | Retainer | 3–6 month minimums reported |
| SalesRoads | From ~$9,950/mo | Retainer | U.S.-based; 3-month pilot reported |
The takeaway: B2B appointment-setting firms often cost $4,000–$12,000 a month, while hourly call centers can run smaller campaigns for $2,000–$5,000. Quotes vary widely for the same goal, so compare at least three. Get free quotes.
Outsourced Telemarketing vs. Hiring In-House SDRs
| Outsourced telemarketing | In-house SDR / telemarketer | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost per caller | $1,300–$10,400 (by location and hours) | $4,700–$7,300+ fully loaded ($45k–$65k salary + 25–35% taxes & benefits) |
| Tools & data | Usually included or bundled | Dialer $150–$300/seat/mo + data $500–$5,000/mo |
| Hiring & training | Provider handles it | Weeks to recruit, train and ramp |
| Management | Provider supervises and reports | Your sales manager’s time |
| Scaling | Add or remove agents quickly | Hiring and layoffs take time |
| Best for | Testing markets, seasonal pushes, steady lead flow | Long sales cycles needing deep product knowledge |
A three-person in-house team typically costs about $15,000–$20,000 or more per month once salaries, benefits, tools and data are included. Outsourcing usually costs less, especially for pilots and campaigns with variable volume.
Hidden Costs in Outsourced Telemarketing Pricing
- Setup and onboarding — $0–$5,000 for scripts, agent training, list prep and dialer configuration.
- Data and calling lists — $500–$5,000 per month if the provider sources contacts.
- Minimum commitments — 3–6 month terms or minimum monthly hours are common.
- Dialer and technology fees — $150–$300 per seat per month if not bundled.
- DNC scrubbing and compliance — list cleaning and registry access may be billed separately.
- Management and reporting fees — some charge for account managers, QA and call recordings.
- Unclear appointment definitions — on pay-per-appointment plans, agree in writing what counts as qualified and whether no-shows are replaced.
Telemarketing Compliance Costs and Rules
Compliance is part of the price. U.S. outbound calling is regulated by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule and the National Do Not Call Registry, plus state rules. Reputable providers build these protections in, which is one reason U.S. providers charge more.
- Scrub lists against the National Do Not Call Registry and your internal do-not-call list. Telemarketers pay an annual fee for registry access.
- Call consumers only during permitted hours (generally 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient’s time zone, with stricter windows in some states).
- Get the required consent before using autodialers, prerecorded messages or AI voices to call or text cell phones for marketing.
- Check state telemarketing registration and bonding requirements where you call.
- Ask the provider how they record consent, honor opt-outs and handle compliance audits.
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk with a lawyer about your specific campaign.
Is Outsourced Telemarketing Worth the Cost?
Judge it by cost per result, not cost per hour. Compare your cost per booked appointment or sale with what each new customer is worth:
Monthly program cost ÷ appointments booked = cost per appointmentExample: $6,000 per month ÷ 30 appointments = $200 per appointmentIf 20% of appointments close at $8,000 each, 30 appointments produce 6 deals and about $48,000 in revenue for $6,000 spent.
How to Choose a Telemarketing Company
- 1Define the goalAppointments, qualified leads, direct sales, surveys or reminders. Each is priced differently.
- 2Choose the pricing modelHourly for control, per-appointment or per-lead for predictable results, retainer for ongoing programs.
- 3Pick agent locationU.S. for complex or regulated B2B, nearshore or offshore for high-volume, simpler calls.
- 4Start with a pilotRun a 30–90 day test with clear targets before committing to a long contract.
- 5Compare 3+ quotesInclude setup, data, minimums, reporting and compliance in each comparison.
Questions to ask every provider:
- Do you price per hour, per lead, per appointment or per call? What’s included?
- Where are your agents located, and are they dedicated to our campaign?
- Who provides the calling list, and what does data cost?
- What is the minimum term, and is there a setup fee?
- What counts as a qualified lead or appointment, and do you replace no-shows?
- How do you handle DNC scrubbing, consent and calling-hour rules?
- Can we listen to call recordings and see daily reports?
Need inbound coverage too? See 24 hour answering service pricing, call center scheduling and compare answering service prices.
Get Free Outsourced Telemarketing Quotes
Tell us about your campaign once. Outbound call centers and telemarketing companies that fit your goals send pricing so you can compare rates, models and minimums side by side — free and with no obligation.
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Outsourced Telemarketing Cost FAQs
How much does outsourced telemarketing cost?
Outsourced telemarketing typically costs $25 to $65 per agent hour with a U.S.-based call center and $8 to $25 per hour with nearshore or offshore agents. Results-based pricing runs about $15 to $75 per qualified lead or $75 to $300 per booked B2B appointment, and dedicated B2B programs usually cost $1,000 to $12,000 or more per month.
How much do outbound call centers charge per hour?
U.S.-based outbound call centers usually charge $25 to $65 per agent hour, with senior B2B callers reaching about $75. Nearshore agents in Latin America typically cost $12 to $25 per hour, and offshore agents in the Philippines or India about $8 to $16 per hour.
How much does a telemarketing appointment cost?
Pay-per-appointment B2B telemarketing typically costs $75 to $300 per booked meeting. Prices rise with deal size, how senior the decision-maker is and how hard the audience is to reach.
How much does outsourced telemarketing cost per lead?
Pay-per-lead outbound programs usually cost $15 to $75 per qualified lead. B2C leads generally cost $15 to $40, while B2B leads cost $30 to $75 or more.
What does telemarketing cost per call?
Simple scripted campaigns such as surveys and appointment reminders are often priced at about $0.35 to $2 per call, with lower rates at higher volumes. Sales and appointment-setting calls are usually priced by the hour or by result instead.
Is it cheaper to outsource telemarketing or hire in-house?
Outsourcing is usually cheaper. An in-house SDR typically costs $4,700 to $7,300 or more per month fully loaded, plus dialer and data costs, while outsourced agents cost about $1,300 to $10,400 per month per full-time caller depending on location, with hiring, training and management included.
Are offshore telemarketing services worth it?
Offshore agents cost much less, often $8 to $16 per hour, and work well for high-volume, scripted B2C campaigns. U.S.-based or nearshore agents usually perform better for complex B2B sales, regulated industries and calls that need strong cultural fit.
Do telemarketing companies require a contract?
Many do. Retainer-based B2B programs often require 3 to 6 month minimums or a paid pilot, while some hourly and smaller providers offer month-to-month terms. Always ask about minimum hours, setup fees and cancellation terms.
What are the hidden costs of outsourced telemarketing?
Common extra costs include setup and onboarding fees of up to about $5,000, calling data at $500 to $5,000 per month, dialer fees of $150 to $300 per seat, minimum commitments, and charges for Do Not Call scrubbing, reporting or account management.
What laws apply to outsourced telemarketing?
U.S. outbound calling is governed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, the National Do Not Call Registry and state telemarketing laws. These cover calling hours, consent for autodialed or prerecorded calls, opt-outs and registry scrubbing. Consult a lawyer for your specific campaign.
How do I get outsourced telemarketing quotes?
Submit a free request on AnsweringServiceCost.com with your campaign goal, target audience, call volume and preferred pricing model. Outbound call centers and telemarketing companies respond with pricing so you can compare quotes side by side with no obligation.
How we research pricing: AnsweringServiceCost.com is an independent buying guide that has tracked call center pricing since 2017. Outbound pricing on this page combines published rate cards, quotes submitted through our request form, and pricing reported by U.S. and offshore call centers and industry publications in 2026. Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Actual prices vary by provider, location, campaign and contract terms. Compliance information is general and is not legal advice. About us
