Phone Services Tips For Small Businesses
If you are a small or large business or even a home-based business, business phone services can cost you a lot. If telecommunications services such as long distance, Internet, local service, and wireless are important to your business, the best tip is to be knowledgeable of costs and what each phone service can do to your bottom line.
Small Office / Home Office (SOHO)
If you have 1 to 5 employees, many times you can take advantage of the low rates offered to consumers for long distance, local services, wireless, and Internet. Many times costs and services are dependent on local tariffs and regulations in your state.
Local Small Business Phone Services
If you have many phones in one location, you should consider T1 or fractional T1. A T1 can support up to 24 simultaneous calls or a combination of calls and high-speed Internet service. Visit our Small Business Phone Services Site for featured providers.
Outbound / Inbound Toll Free
Long distance continues to drop as well as 800-service. Carriers, such as PowerGlobal Network (PGN) offer outbound and inbound toll free service starting as low as 3.49 a minute. Visit our 800 / Toll Free Service Site for the latest rates and toll free carriers.
Long Distance Small Business Phone Services
Long distance rates for small business phone services are always changing and rates are different depending on your location. It is best to review your rates at least yearly and use an online long distance rate comparison tool such as our Long Distance Best Rate Calculator.
Mobile Work Force
More and more companies have people work at disperse locations or they have telecommuters that work from home. Instead of relying on one carrier, it is best to review rates and new business phone services at least yearly. For cellular plans and phones, you can use online comparison tools such as our Cellular Comparison Site. Here you can instantly compare wireless plans, phone, and special offers instantly for all major wireless carriers. Other business phone services for a mobile workforce include 800 / Toll Free Service, Conferencing, Phone Equipment Such As Walkie-talkies and Headsets, and high speed Internet for the home office.
Dispersed Offices
Businesses that have several offices in different areas of the country should consider such business phone services as T1, frame relay, and point-to-point. These services can replace your local dial-tone service with Voice Over IP (VOIP), long distance call charges between offices, and provide high-speed, secure Wide Area Network (WAN) between your offices.
International Calling
International calling rates continues to drop where carriers are offering rates lower than U.S. long distance rates from a couple of years ago. For some countries, such as Canada and Western Europe, the rates can be the same as the U.S. Long distance rates today. Depending on your needs, your international calling may be best supported by your long distance carrier, calling cards, or dial-around service. An online comparison tool such as our Best Rate Calculator can provide you recommendations and a choice instantly from dozens of carriers. Again, check your rates at least yearly to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.
Phone Equipment
Shopping online can save you big on phone equipment and small business phone services. If you have many phones in one location, you may want to consider a PBX phone system. With a PBX you can route your phone lines within the building, turn off or on long distance for different phones, setup greetings, assign telephone numbers and 800 numbers, etc. In many cases for a medium to large office, a PBX phone system can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Saving is achieved by avoiding existing equipment charges and premium phone company charges not to mention the extra convenient and enhanced customer service. Additionally, there are also many types of phones equipment and accessories such as headsets and walkie-talkies that can make you and your employee more productive. Visit our Phone Systems and Equipment Site for featured vendors.
