Business phone lines

If you own a business, no matter how big or small, you probably make and receive tens to hundreds of phone calls every week. In an era where customers expect tip top telecommunication services, having a business phone line that caters to your needs will save your day. There are several benefits that you will only profit from if you have a business phone line with well-designed features that make your business more effective. Since every dropped phone call is a potential lost customer, having a business phone line that works towards your specific needs is undoubtedly a necessity.

What to consider?

There has never been a better time to switch to a business phone line. Why? Because providers in the market are becoming increasingly adaptable to businesses' demands, which means that competition is rising, and prices are dropping. However, there are a few things you should consider within the context of your business and its necessities before you sign with a provider.

It's imperative that before anything else you understand the needs of your business, so consider asking yourself: Do you have a high influx of calls? Do you need fast and reliable assistance in case of emergencies regarding your phone line? Will you want to keep your old phone number when moving premises? If you have an international business will you need free roaming? If so, in which areas? Keep in mind that the more countries in which unlimited calls are available, the more expensive it will be.

Which brings us to the next point - money. The cost of a business phone line depends greatly on the provider you sign with, how sophisticated the system is, and how many features it will offer you. You will probably be charged on a monthly basis, and this cost will most likely decrease slightly over long contracts.

One option that businesses are faced with in terms of money is whether they will purchase a toll-free number or be randomly assigned one. If you purchase one, you can choose an easy vanity number that will probably stick with clients and represent your business well, but it comes with a small charge.

With all this under consideration, it makes sense that business phone lines can cost 75% to 120% more than home phone line systems. However, this may be the necessary small price you have to pay in order to maintain efficiency among your employees.

Business vs. home phone lines

If you are a small upcoming business considering whether to stay with a standard home phone line or switch to a business phone line, there are a few key differences between the two that you should be aware of. It's important that you understand the needs of your business and find a phone line plan that will work best for you.

If you have a phone line at home you probably use it occasionally to catch up with family or friends, book the eventual doctor's appointment, or order takeaway. However, if you own a business it's essential that you communicate with clients, employees, vendors, contributors, etc., and that's where having a phone line will probably become a necessity that is used constantly. Because of this, business phone lines are more powerful and can handle larger amounts of traffic than a standard home phone line.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that business phone lines will probably have a much better level of customer service and support. Firstly, you are going to be paying a higher price than standard home users. And secondly, phone companies understand that most businesses rely on a constant and open communication channel between employees and customers.

Additionally, tax is deductible with a business phone line. This means that small businesses can deduct costs from a turnover period, which includes utilities such as a business phone line and business call charges. This is much harder to achieve if you have a domestic phone line because business use and personal use would need to be manually separated on a call-by-call basis.

Lastly but most importantly, home phone lines only come with a standard set of call features, which might include an answering machine, a speakerphone and a caller-ID. However, these may not be enough for the smooth running of a business that requires constant communication.

Exclusive call features

Having a business phone line will grant you the benefit of having a handful of call features that otherwise wouldn't be available to you. With a business phone line, you will most likely have access to call forwarding, automated call handling, extension dialling and much more. It's worth highlighting the call diversion feature which means that you can divert calls to any other employee, and the ring back feature which means that you will get a call to let you know when an engaged number has become free.

Furthermore, your business phone will be able to handle multiple lines at once, which is extremely useful if you have a high influx of calls throughout the day, especially at peak times. To see if this would be useful for your business, consider estimating the volume of calls you expect to receive at any given time. If this is a high number, a business phone line will most definitely suit you.

Another incredible benefit that is exclusive to business phone lines is the ability to hold conference calls over the phone with multiple people. Keep a look out for the 3-way calling feature, which will allow you to set up a conference call with two other callers. All of these features can help you save time and money in the long run.

The price to pay for profits

It's no secret that business phone lines are more expensive than home systems. However, this may be the small price that you as a business owner will have to pay in order to have an efficient and productive business. Installing a business phone line will not only benefit your employees, but also your customers, and consequently your profits.