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?
On the Core plan you pay $39.99/mo minimum plus 1% of what Otto collects for you, capped at $160/mo — quiet months stay cheap, big months never surprise you. Growth (with the full marketing engine) is $160/mo plus 1%, capped at $500. Teams run flat at $200/person (five minimum) with no 1% at all. The 1% only applies to money Otto actually helped collect — if Otto didn't help collect it, you don't pay on it. Every plan includes a monthly communication credit for typical call/text/email usage; beyond it, usage bills at standard rates and only ever with your approval. All +GST. Fair's fair.
How long does setup take, and how technical do I need to be?
Not technical at all. Signing up takes about five minutes — fill in your details, tune your pre-loaded prices and replies, and link the accounts you want connected (skip any of them and sort it later). Then we build your setup by hand over the next few days — your business number, channels, calendar and payments — and jump on one quick call to confirm everything's locked in. Live within the week, and your only job after that is watching 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 guarantee on the performance fee. If Otto hasn't visibly earned his keep in your first month — jobs saved, invoices collected, hours back — the 1% performance portion comes back in full, we help you export your data, and we part as mates. The base subscription ($39.99 on Core) and any communication usage already spent aren't refundable — so trying Ottomate for a month risks about the price of a takeaway dinner.
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