Before you start shopping around for a new phone system for your business, it helps if you know what you need. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself about your business plan, model and needs before you start calling up local companies and inquiring about phone systems. These three questions will help you identify what you really need and will help you more effectively find a company that can provide you with those services.
Question #1: Do You Want Your Phone System To Be Located On Or Off Site?
In order to host your own business phone system, you will need to have extra space for all the equipment that this requires. You will also need to have someone on staff who can address and fix any maintenance and technology issues that come up on a regular basis.
If you don't have the space or staff to host your own phone system, then you need to look into a company that will take care of the necessary equipment off-site. This method can save you a lot of money, since you only need to pay the company for the use of your phone lines. You will not have to take up valuable business space with equipment or keep a full-time staff member on hand to deal with maintenance and technology issues.
Question #2: Do You Have The Staff Necessary To Address All Phone System Needs?
If you currently have the staff on hand who can address all your phone system needs, then you don't need a phone system that comes with added technology support. However, if you don't have employees who can address those needs, it can be beneficial to get your phone service through a company that offers complementary IT support or offers IT support for a small fee. Paying for the support you need when you need it is often a more affordable option than keeping someone in house to address those issues.
Question #3: Do You Need A Phone System For One Location Or Multiple Locations?
Finally, where you do business will affect the type of phone system that you need installed and managed. If you are working out of a single office, then you probably just need a traditional phone line. Traditional phone lines work great if you only plan on using basic functions such as call waiting and voicemail.
However, if your business is operating from multiple sites, a traditional phone system may not be the way to go. If you are working from multiple sites, you should look into installing a voice over IP or VoIP phone system. This allows you to program all of your business phones, regardless of their physical location, through the internet. This allows your employees to work at different locations, or even from home, and access your business phone interface.
Before you start calling up phone companies in search of a new phone service, make sure you know what you are looking for. If you have the right support staff and space, you can install and manage your own phone system. If you don't have the right staff or space, you need a company that can handle all your equipment and IT needs. Finally, you need to decide if a traditional phone system will work, or if you want the flexibility that a VoIP phone system provides. Once you know what you want, you will be able to more easily navigate the different options that the phone companies you contact provide you with.
For more information on business phone options, visit Hi Country Wire And Telephone.
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