The right business phone service providers will support your growth with advanced communication features that help you stay competitive. Look for the essential elements of your team and use demos or trial periods to test drive a provider before committing to their plans.

Whether you prefer traditional phones or cloud-based VoIP, your business has plenty of options. The following are the key considerations to keep in mind:

Cost

The type of business phone system you choose will affect your overall costs. Do you want to use desk phones, or will employees work from home or mobile devices? Will you need to upgrade your network infrastructure to support the new system?

Costs also depend on whether you want your provider to house its PBX equipment at your location (on-premises) or in their data center (cloud-based). If you're choosing a cloud-based phone solution, you should know the per-user monthly fees that vary between providers. Many advertised prices preselect many users and an annual payment plan.

It's also important to consider the type of telephone services your company needs, such as local area codes or voicemail-to-text transcription. The best business phone service providers offer various features to help businesses make their communications more effective. In addition, some phone systems provide the ability to customize the functionality of their platform with add-ons.

Features

Business phone systems offer a wide range of features that are beneficial to businesses. Whether you need to make calls from a desk telephone, cordless phone, or even your mobile cell phone, these systems can provide your business with local and toll-free numbers, voicemail transcriptions, call routing, auto-attendant services, and more. Depending on your business’s needs, you may also want to consider features like conference calling, video calls, and chat capabilities.

Many providers have different pricing tiers for their business phone systems, so be sure to find one that fits your budget. You should also consider the number of users using the system, as some providers have different plans for smaller teams versus larger ones. List your critical requirements for a business phone system and compare that to the various vendors’ pricing plans. You should avoid providers that have hidden fees or add taxes to their base subscriptions. Look for independent reviews of different business phone systems to determine which provider best matches your business needs.

Reliability

There are a lot of business phone system providers out there, from legacy brands that have been around for decades to relative newcomers. Each provider has its own set of features at various price points. It's worth looking at a few vendors to see how their plans match your needs.

For example, some providers charge more for advanced calling features like custom caller ID and automatic voicemail transcription to email. Others include these in their base plans. You should also ensure that your chosen system will be compatible with your existing infrastructure and network setup.

For instance, if you have an office full of analog desk phones, look for a business VoIP provider with an adapter to plug your phones into. It's also essential to look for a provider that will let you keep your existing local or toll-free number when you switch to them. Some providers will even allow you to transfer your numbers for free – including toll-free ones – regardless of how many lines you have.

Customer Service

Choosing the right business phone service provider is a crucial decision that impacts your team’s productivity and the bottom line. It would help if you had a solution that is affordable, reliable, and easy to use for your employees.

Start by listing your requirements. This will help narrow your options. Consider whether your team needs desk phones or smartphones and if there are specific features you require like conference calling. It’s also essential to determine if your hardware needs will change.

Many vendors offer tiers of plans to suit different business needs. Make sure you compare plans side-by-side to understand the cost and features. You should also check for hidden fees or charges, such as one-time activation fees or a per-line cost. If you’re not sure, contact the company directly to ask questions. Getting answers to these questions can help you avoid surprises down the road. Many providers also offer free demos and trials to assist with your selection process.