Tariffs Are Rising. Your Costs Are Too.

If hardware, supplies, or labor costs have gone up in the last 6 months—you’re not imagining it.

New tariffs are quietly jacking up the cost of doing business across the U.S., and most local business owners are being left to figure it out on their own.

We’re talking 25%+ price hikes on tech equipment, tools, phones, servers—basically anything imported. Many U.S. businesses are now paying significantly more to run the same operations they did last year. Whether it’s your VOIP phone system, your scheduling software, or just ordering more materials for a job site, these tariffs are squeezing the margins of honest, hard-working companies.

And in moments like this—the businesses that adapt fastest, win.

As of 2025, the U.S. has ramped up import tariffs across the board, especially on electronics, cloud infrastructure, and communication tech. That means prices are rising on things like:

• • Business phone systems
• • Servers and networking hardware
• • Software subscriptions (as those providers pass costs on)
• • Tools and machinery with overseas components

You may not see a line item called “tariff fee”—but you’ll feel it in your rising costs, especially if you rely on imported tech or services.

For most local businesses, this has two effects:

1. 1. You’re paying more to do the same work
2. 2. You’re under pressure to raise prices (and risk losing customers)

That’s why many business owners are turning to automation—not in some “futuristic robot” way, but in simple, practical ways that cut overhead and boost profit.

One of the biggest overhead drains for service businesses is answering the phone—whether that’s to book appointments, answer FAQs, or just handle reschedules.

If you’re paying staff to cover the phones, or missing calls when you’re busy, you’re bleeding money. AI-powered phone agents—like the ones we build at OpenCall—fix that.

Here’s how it works:

1. 1. A customer calls your business
2. 2. The AI answers instantly, 24/7
3. 3. It books, reschedules, or cancels appointments directly into your system (we integrate with platforms like NexHealth, Housecall Pro, etc.)
4. 4. It handles common questions (pricing, availability, policies) with no hold music, no transfers, and no missed calls

And it costs a fraction of a human receptionist—no benefits, no sick days, no training.

Let’s say tariffs increase your backend phone system costs by 15%. That’s out of your control. But if you can reduce your receptionist headcount—or eliminate call handling entirely—you’re taking back control.

Even if you keep your staff, AI can handle after-hours calls, offload basic questions, and let your team focus on the high-value jobs (not answering “how much is a cleaning?” for the 100th time this week).

That’s the move businesses are making right now. Not just tech startups—contractors, dentists, exterminators, roofers, med spas, lawyers.

Tariffs might raise your costs. But AI gives you a lever to lower them somewhere else.

A year ago, AI phones were still clunky. Customers could tell. Now? They’re shockingly natural. We’ve trained our agents to sound like real people—not robots, not scripts.

That’s why businesses that adopt AI early are saving 30–50% on call handling and booking more jobs than ever.

It’s not just about cutting costs—it’s about capturing opportunity:

• • Customers can book immediately, no wait
• • You never miss a lead after hours
• • Your business runs leaner, even as expenses rise

In a world where costs go up for everyone, only the businesses who adapt quickly will grow while others stall.

OpenCall helps traditional businesses save money, book more jobs, and never miss a call. In a tariff-tightened economy, automation is no longer optional. It’s your edge.