---
title: "How to get quotes from several businesses at once with AI"
description: "Have your AI agent call several shops, contractors or groomers at once, ask the same questions, and give you a side-by-side table of prices and availability."
url: https://callforme.tel/guides/quotes-from-several-businesses
updated: 2026-09-29
---

# How to get quotes from several businesses at once with AI

> Ask your agent to find several businesses, then call each one with the same goal and questions. With CallForMe it uses find_business, places one call per shop with place_call, collects each call's answers with get_call, and puts them in a comparison table. Each answered call costs $1 for the first 5 minutes.

## The short answer

Tell your agent what you need, where, and what you want to know. It looks up several businesses, calls each with the same questions, and hands you one table. You pick.

This is the kind of call that saves the most time. Five calls to five auto shops is an afternoon of hold music. Your agent can have them all going while you do something else.

## The prompt

Be specific about the job and the questions:

> Call 5 auto shops near 75024 and get a price and earliest slot for front brake pads and rotors on a 2019 Toyota RAV4. Ask if the price includes labor and whether they use OEM or aftermarket parts. My name is Chris. Don't book anything yet.

## What your agent does

1. **Finds the businesses.** `find_business` with `query: "auto repair"` and `near: "75024"` returns names, phone numbers, ratings, and whether each is open now. Your agent picks five that are open.
2. **Plans one call.** `plan_call` shows the opening line and flags questions shops usually ask, like mileage or whether you need the rear brakes too. Your agent adds answers to `details`.
3. **Places the calls.** One `place_call` per shop, each with the same `goal`, `details`, and `questions`:

```json
{
  "phone": "+19725550118",
  "business_name": "Legacy Auto Care",
  "goal": "Get a price and earliest appointment for front brake pads and rotors on a 2019 Toyota RAV4. Don't book.",
  "details": "About 48,000 miles. Customer name Chris. Rear brakes not needed.",
  "questions": [
    "What's the total price for front pads and rotors?",
    "Does that include labor?",
    "OEM or aftermarket parts?",
    "What's the earliest appointment?"
  ],
  "on_behalf_of": "Chris",
  "constraints": "Don't book or commit to anything."
}
```

4. **Collects answers.** `get_call` returns an `answers` object keyed by your questions, plus an `outcome` with `price_quoted` and `next_steps`.
5. **Builds the table.**

## Example result

| Shop | Price | Labor incl. | Parts | Earliest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Auto Care | $389 | Yes | OEM | Thu 8am |
| Frisco Brake & Tire | $329 | Yes | Aftermarket | Wed 2pm |
| Main St Garage | $410 | Yes | OEM | Fri 10am |
| Quick Stop Auto | No answer | | | |
| Parkway Motors | "Need to see it" | | | Tomorrow |

Quick Stop didn't pick up, so that call cost nothing. Your agent might suggest Frisco Brake & Tire for price or Legacy for OEM parts, and offer to call back and book.

## Why the same questions matter

If one shop quotes pads only and another quotes pads and rotors with labor, the table is useless. Putting the exact same `questions` list on every call makes the answers line up. Your agent should reuse one list for every call in the batch.

## When to call back and book

Keep the quote calls quote-only. Add "Don't book anything" to `constraints`. Once you've picked, ask your agent to call the winner and book. That second call has a clear goal and is usually short.

## Other things this works for

- [Contractor quotes](/use-cases/contractor-quotes): plumbers, electricians, handymen
- [Pet groomer](/use-cases/pet-groomer): prices and openings for your dog's size
- [Check product stock](/use-cases/check-product-stock): who has it today
- [Price check](/use-cases/price-check): same item, several stores
- [Event venues](/use-cases/event-venues): private rooms and minimum spend

## What it costs

Each answered call is $1 for up to 5 minutes, then $0.25 a minute. Quote calls are usually short. Five answered calls under 5 minutes each is $5. Unanswered calls are free. See [pricing](/docs/pricing).

## Keep it friendly

Each business can get at most 3 calls a day from your account, and CallForMe caps calls to any one number across all users. That keeps batch calling from turning into a nuisance. If a business asks not to be called, CallForMe stops calling it for everyone.

## FAQ

### How many businesses should I call?

Three to five is usually enough to see a spread of prices and find the earliest opening. Every answered call is at least $1, so more calls cost more.

### Do calls to places that don't answer cost anything?

No. Unanswered, busy and failed calls are free. You only pay for the ones that pick up.

### Can the calls run at the same time?

Your agent can place each call and then check on them, so they don't have to wait for each other. Each call is its own place_call.

### Is there a ready-made prompt for this?

Yes. The CallForMe MCP server includes a quotes prompt that walks your agent through calling several places and comparing them.

### Will they give a real price over the phone?

Many will give a range or a starting price. Ask for what's included and whether it's an estimate, so your table compares like with like.