Questions, answered
The stuff everyone asks.
Do I have to change my phone number?
No. You keep your number and your phone exactly as they are. Ottomate adds a smart business line alongside it — missed calls to that line get the instant text-back, and everything routes to your existing phone. Most clients forward their existing number in one setting.
What happens to the tools I already use — Xero, my calendar, Facebook?
They connect. Ottomate plugs into your existing Xero, Google/Outlook calendar, Facebook and Instagram pages, and your Google Business Profile. Nothing gets replaced or migrated — Otto just makes them talk to each other.
What if Otto sends something I wouldn't say?
He can't — not without earning it. Everything starts in approval mode: every message waits for your OK. As you approve without edits, Otto offers to automate that category, one at a time. And anything heated is different again — strong language or an unhappy tone in an incoming message means no auto-reply, ever. It's flagged to you with a calm draft ready to approve or reword. Reviews under four stars work the same way.
How does the 1% pricing actually work?
You pay 1% of the invoices Otto raises and collects for you each month — whatever the payment method. Quiet month? You pay the $39 floor. Monster month? Capped at $160, it never costs more. All 25 systems included from day one. The 1% only applies to money that moves through Ottomate — if Otto didn't help collect it, you don't pay on it. Fair's fair.
How long does setup take, and how technical do I need to be?
Not technical at all — we set it up for you. One call about how you work (your services, your voice, your rhythm), we connect your number, calendar and payments, and you're live within the week. Your job is to answer a few questions and then watch the feed.
Am I locked into a contract?
No. Month to month, cancel anytime, and your data — clients, invoices, history — is yours to export whenever you like. We'd rather keep you with results than paperwork.
What if it doesn't work for my business?
30-day money-back guarantee. If Otto hasn't visibly earned his keep in your first month — jobs saved, invoices collected, hours back — we refund it, help you export your data, and part as mates.
Is my data safe?
Your client data lives on established, secure cloud infrastructure with encryption in transit and at rest, and we operate under the NZ Privacy Act. We never sell data, and nobody but you (and Otto) touches your client list. Full privacy policy linked below.
"I spent years as a photographer losing evenings to invoices, follow-ups and unanswered messages — the work behind the work. Ottomate is the thing I needed and couldn't find: a fair-priced offsider that just handles it. If you run your business solo, this was built for you."
— Jessie, founder of Ottomate