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Small Business Phone Systems
A Small Business Must Keep the Lines of Communication Open for Clients
Written by Steve Bryan
Nothing can kill a potential sale faster than a busy signal, especially for a small business owner. Customers want and need to talk to an employee during normal working hours, which is why effective small business phone systems can mean the difference between success and failure.
Keeping the Lines of Communication Open
During his tenure at the investment firm A.G. Edwards, the late Benjamin F. Edwards III insisted that every client be able to talk to a human being between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If an employee was in the office and on duty, he did not want the call to go automatically to voice mail. If a staff member was on vacation, on sick leave or away from the phone, the call was supposed to be transferred to a department secretary.
Edwards' policy and philosophy about phone calls applies to small operations as well as publicly traded companies such as A.G. Edwards. Some of the more critical features of a phone system for small business include:
- Automatic answering outside of normal business hours
- Voice mail
- Call waiting
- Multiple extensions
- Conference calling
Modern Small Business Phone Systems
When talking about the best small business phone systems, abbreviations and acronyms tend to enter the conversation, especially PBX (private branch exchange) and VoIP (voice over Internet protocol). Instead of establishing a separate landline for each employee, a PBX allows you to set up a series of extensions within your office or business suite. Staff members can call each other directly and also access a set number of outside telephone lines. When employees join your company or leave for other opportunities, you can easily add or remove extensions.
One way to add functionality to your phone system without drastically increasing costs is by using VoIP. As the name indicates, voice over Internet protocol allows you to use a broadband connection for both data and voice transmissions. Because this is a digital connection, the quality and clarity of the calls tend to be exceptionally good.
Choosing the Best System for You
Selecting a small business phone system could be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make. The first thing to do is look at your past and present employee head counts to determine your future needs. If the staff remains fairly stable, you can use a PBX that handles less than 64 extensions. If your head count has increased over the years, however, you may want to invest in a more robust PBX system.
Authorized dealers can outline your choices and help you customize a phone solution that meets your needs. No matter what small business phone system you choose, make sure that you can make use of VoIP now or in the immediate future.
Are you ready to review phone system prices for your small business? Submit a free request for price quotes and get matched to multiple dealers who will try to get you the best deal for your business.