When it comes time to start searching for an 800 number service for your small business, it is important to have a basic understanding of how they are setup, the services involved, and the cost. Small businesses uniquely benefit from having an 800 number because it makes them look more legitimate and instills a sense of confidence in the consumer. Here is some helpful information that you will need in order to make the best choice for you small business.

1.Setup

Setting up a new 800 number is easy. Many of the most popular 800 number services can be found online. Using their website, you can have a new number in less than 10 minutes. Transferring a number can take anywhere from 1 day to almost a month depending on your provider. While setting up your 800 number, you will also need to set up the auto-answer assistant as well as the “ring to” or “call forwarding” number. The auto answer assistant is the custom greeting attendant that will present a list of options to your caller. This will be used to direct your call to the right phone or fax. The ring to or call forwarding number is the number of the actual phone that will ring. For example, if you want the 800 number to ring directly on your cell phone, then your cell phone number is the ring to number.

2.Service

There are a variety of additional services that often accompany an 800 number. Some of the most common features include Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Voicemail, Call Screening, Call Blocking, Music on Hold, Call Allow Lists, and No Busy Tone. All of these features are fairly universal and can be found with nearly every 800 number service provider. There are a number of other services that can added to your 800 number service, however they will vary by provider.

3.Cost

While any small business can get an 800 number from their current local/long distance provider, they are rarely the cost-efficient option. There are a number of providers that almost exclusively cater to businesses in need of an 800 number service. There are two basic price formats. The first, and most common, is where businesses pay a per-minute fee as well as a small monthly maintenance fee. The second is simply a flat monthly fee. It takes constant monitoring to determine which option is the most cost effective for your business. The lower the call volume, the more likely it is that a pay-per-call pricing structure will be the best.

It doesn’t matter if you want an 800 number that will be used on a limited basis, or one that will get a large volume of calls every month, there is a solution that is right for you. It is important to balance the cost and the features that you need. An 800 number can make any small business appear more legitimate and increase the amount of calls coming into your business. An 800 number can instantly lend your small business a big business image.

Author Bio: Find and compare 800 number services for small business use.

Category: Business Management
Keywords: 800 number service, toll free service