Whether you are building a new call center or simply creating multiple office inbound/outbound lines, you will need to do more than just plan for the network and hardware, you will need to plan for the cost of provisioning. Many factors can come into play when seeking business phone service providers. Here we will discuss some important points in finding the right provider for your company.

POTs Local Calling:- There are various carriers along with plans and it is important to recognize your current use, projected use, and projected growth to decide which option may be suitable for your needs. If you are a smaller borderline micro business with fewer than 10 employees you may not need to look further than your local carrier to install lines. Costs can be somewhat high so you will want to make sure you aren’t expecting any significant growth during the period of your contract.

T1 Local Calling:- If you are planning to include many business features (auto attendant, dial prompt, etc.) and have a larger employee base of at least 20 employees accessing phone lines then a T1 local loop may make sense especially since T1 pricing has seen significant drops in leasing prices in recent years.

VoIP Local Calling:- Many savvy smaller businesses are now using their broadband connections to utilize VoIP technology with hosted PBX solutions where the end user requires little or no hardware and pay very little for local access on a monthly basis. Depending on call traffic volumes and bandwidth costs to handle call volumes, this can be a cost effective solution and great substitute for a T1 local solution as well as is easily scalable to business growth, but remember that your bandwidth may not be which can be an added cost.

Switched Long Distance:- If you have current lines installed via local carrier for your small business phone, switched long distance services can be a good economical way to save. Beware though of switching fees and Intralata rates which often vary from the stated Interlata rates advertised. If you project your long distance call volume increasing you may need to find another solution to save on the costs.

Dedicated Long Distance:- Dedicated long distance phone services are a T1 voice product and have it’s pros and cons. While starting costs can be higher than switched, the savings can easily outweigh the initial price for higher long distance call volumes depending on carrier, contract, and other variables.

VoIP Long Distance:- VoIP phone services typically have lower international rates than other long distance services. For a flat fee many providers offer unlimited or packaged amount of domestic minutes and can save a business however even unlimited calling plans can have it’s restrictions and eventually you can end up paying per minute for overage usage.

Making the Decision Easy:- As you can see, the decision of setting up the right business phone services can differ as well as the carriers with their various plans, set up fees, and other expenses unforeseen at times. By using a good telecommunications broker the decision process can be as simple as letting them know what you use your phones for, what growth is predicted, and how many monthly minutes you plan to use. Telecommunications brokers usually do not charge any fees and work off of commission from carriers and providers but while still saving your business more than if you contacted the carrier yourself. It is their job to locate services suitable for your needs and to keep you within or below your budget.