Things You Should Know About a Small Business Phone System

If you find that a small business phone system is important for your business then it’s wise to get one. But before you actually buy a small business phone, it is important that you do your own research and explorations. It is better you get yourself accustomed with the small business phone system before you start using one. Though most of the service providers share quite a few common features of a small business phone yet there can be some significant differences as well. So do your research and familiarize yourself before you invest in a small business phone:

Cost Efficient

A virtual small business phone system does not need to be installed with any particular telephone connection. It can, in fact, work with any telephone connection. It also does not need any hardware or software. So it is capable to save considerable amount of dollars for any business. But this is especially important for a small business, start-up or home based business that works in limited financial boundaries. Nevertheless, it saves money for big firms as well and is equally pertinent for all businesses during turbulent economic times.  Moreover, most of the virtual small business phone service providers offer flexible service levels. There’s no contract to be signed and most of the plans include considerable number of free minutes.

Makes You Available All the Time

The auto attendant of a virtual small business phone system completely eliminates the need for an office receptionist. This is an automated receptionist that is capable of receiving any number of calls. You can record the message that the auto attendant will play as soon as a customer calls you. Hiring a professional for recording your auto attendant is not a bad idea. The auto attendant greets your customers and routes him to the right person or department. It works 24 hours a day forwarding and transferring calls to the right person or department. So you are never far from your customers and prospects.

A Few Features

You get all the features and benefits of a traditional phone system in a virtual small business phone system.  You can transfer calls to your employees and colleagues located in the same office or may be across the country. You can also forward calls to your personal cell phone, residential phone or office phone.  If you are unable to answer your customer’s call he/she can leave a message in your voicemail box and you can reply them back at your convenience. Moreover, it allows these voice messages to be read in emails. So you do not lose out any time checking your voicemail box and your email separately.

A Few Extra Features

A virtual small business phone system also offers certain extra features over a traditional phone system. For example, you can send and receive fax online using your small business phone. This is the most modern way of sending and receiving fax without a fax machine and paper. You can also program your phone system in a way that you set days of the week and even hours when you are available on each number and the auto attendant will forward calls accordingly. You can also use a toll free number with this phone system. Toll free numbers are especially known for its success in attracting customers and influencing the sales of a business.