Small Business Smarts: Tips for Comparing VoIP Providers to Find the Best Fit

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology is becoming an increasingly popular option for businesses that want a powerful and flexible phone system without having to pay the often high costs involved in setting up a traditional landline system.

VoIP systems have many benefits over traditional systems, but choosing the right system for your business is not always easy. Here is a guide to VoIP systems including factors to consider when you start to compare providers.

Benefits of VoIP for Your Business

First, it’s a good idea to look at some of the benefits of VoIP to help you decide whether it is a suitable option for your business. There are a number of key benefits, and some of the most important include the following.

VoIP is generally considered an affordable alternative compared to landline systems. Because it is often cloud-based (although not always), it does not require specialist equipment. If you already have high-speed internet, you can get started immediately simply by signing up with a VoIP provider.

You also have many options when you choose a VoIP service. Technology has come a long way, and VoIP is more sophisticated than it has ever been. That means you can now take advantage of features that before were only available for landline systems. With improvements in technology, you can now expect excellent sound quality and a reliable service.

One of the benefits is that there are so many services now providing VoIP, giving you more choice than ever before. Here are some of the things to consider when you are comparing providers.

Cloud Hosting vs. Hosting On Your Premises

The first thing to decide before even looking at providers is whether you want your VoIP service to be hosted in the cloud, or whether you want it to be hosted on your premises.

Hosting in the cloud has certain advantages. This means there are no hardware costs or maintenance costs, which can often be expensive. You can simply pay a monthly fee and set up your VoIP system immediately, which can be very convenient. However, you will have less control over the system because you will be relying completely on the provider. This just makes it more important to choose a reliable provider.

If you host the system in your premises, you will have to pay for equipment yourself, which includes the private branch exchange (PBX) hardware, as well as the maintenance costs. However, you will have more control over the system.

Features to Consider when Comparing Providers

When you start comparing business voip service, you will find that there are a number of features that may be included. You can use the availability of these features to help you decide which provider is most suitable. Some of these include:

– Free calls

– Voicemail

– Caller ID

– Virtual receptionist

– Call forwarding

– Mobile apps

These are all quite basic and expected from most providers. However, there are other more advanced features you may require.

– Assistance with planning your system

– Paperless fax

– Call bridging

– Voicemail transcription

– Transfers to mobile for when you cannot answer the phone in the office

– Customizable greetings

– Email notifications

– Integration with other services like Outlook and Dropbox

Work Out the Overall Price

VoIP providers will usually provide a price per user, and this price may go down if you have more users. So look at this price, but also take the amount of free calls you get into consideration.

You should also consider the hardware you will need. For example, you will need to purchase handsets. Does the provider have their own handsets? If so, how much are they, and can you use third-party handsets instead?

Search for a Reliable Provider

Reliability is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when you choose a provider, whether you are looking for a basic service or a more comprehensive service.

Use a comparison service that provides reviews of popular business VoIP providers, and you will quickly see which services have the best reviews from customers. You can then pick out any possible negatives, and this will help you to narrow down your search.

Also consider the overall simplicity in getting the system up and running. If you are a small startup without much time on your hands, you will just want it to get going, so this is an important consideration.

Find Your Perfect VoIP Provider

These are the main considerations you should keep in mind when you start looking for a VoIP provider for your business. There are many providers available these days, but they are all differ in price, features, simplicity, and more. It is therefore well worth your while taking some time to go over your options to enable you to find the most suitable service for your business.

Tony Campbell is a founder and managing partner at WhichVoIP.com, a leading resource for information and advice on technology solutions. Tony is an Internet/tech entrepreneur and has spent over 20 years working in networking and telecommunications. Keep up with Tony on Twitter.