How To Find the Best Phone System for Your Small Business

If you really want to grow beyond being a solopreneur or freelancer, you’ll need a legitimate phone system for your small business. A professional unified communications solution serves as the backbone of your team’s collaborative tools.

In fact, the quality of that service can make or break your productivity and competitiveness. Studies find that collaborative tools can boost productivity by 30% and support higher talent retention.

The question remains: How do you go about selecting the right phone system for your small business? Use this handy guide to determine what to look for in a provider.

Key Takeaways:

• A small business phone system gives you better technical support, security, advanced features, and flexibility.
• With a service-oriented provider, you can get uncomplicated pricing and a full suite of professional features.
• Read reviews to determine the quality of a unified communications provider.
• Top providers also offer deals on high-quality equipment.

Understand Why You Need a Phone System for Your Small Business

Nearly everyone walks around with a phone in their pockets, so why do you need a phone system for your small business? A business phone system offers unique features that make your communications smooth and efficient.

Additional Capabilities and Channels

A critical difference between a small business phone service and your smartphone or landline is that the best business lines rely on Voice over Internet Protocol technology. These VoIP phone systems offer you additional channels beyond voice calls, including text messaging, video, and faxing.

UC systems also let you integrate your productivity software, such as workforce management and customer relationship management programs. You will speed up your data collection and retrieval to save time and money.

Greater Flexibility

Since VoIP phones operate over the internet, you can use your company’s internal system anywhere you’re online. Just connect with a smart device using your provider’s app.

As you expand your team, you don’t need to invest in an office or pay for an expensive installation. Workers can be remote or hybrid and enjoy full connectivity with the rest of the team.

Better Support and Security

Landline and mobile phones pale in comparison with a professional phone system for your small business when it comes to customer service and security. Your provider keeps everything in secure data centers and backs it all up to make sure you don’t lose vital information.

You can also count on 24/7 support and award-winning customer service from a leading provider, such as Intermedia. You’ll have untouchable reliability and worry-free onboarding and migration.

With a secure solution, you can rest easy knowing that your communications have protection from multiple angles. This support guards you from the constant threat of cyberattacks and scams.

Check the Pricing

As a small business, you can’t afford to deal with any budgeting surprises. Your provider should have easy-to-understand pricing and customizable solutions for your phone system.

A key advantage of your unified communications as a service subscription is that you can scale up or down as you see fit. You can easily get a solid phone system for less than $30 a month per line, and add or remove more features à la carte as your company needs.

Look for Key Features

Your UCaaS solution can only deliver if it has all of the critical features that support your team. Look for the following features.

Automated Attendants

A phone system for your small business lets you present a professional presence 24/7 through an automated attendant with an easy-to-follow menu. Callers can contact the correct department or individual quickly, and you don’t even have to hire a receptionist.

Ring Groups

Help callers reach an appropriate person more rapidly with ring groups. You can set rules so that specific selections with the auto attendant ring everyone in a given department for a quick response.

Unlimited Calling

Online phones with VoIP give your team unlimited calls domestically and free or low-fee international calling. As a result, you won’t have to worry about your bill spiking unexpectedly when your interactions increase.

Call Recording

A record of interactions might be a compliance requirement in your industry. Even if it isn’t, you can use recordings for training and security purposes. A quality phone system for your small business offers recording as a standard feature, and can even provide advanced archiving.

Toll-Free Numbers

Many residences still use landlines. With toll-free calling within your unified communications solution, you encourage that demographic to reach out to you without an extra expense to themselves.

Video Conferencing

Employees and clients alike enjoy having access to video conferencing. You can more easily collaborate and improve sales calls by adding the visual element, and you won’t require an additional app or service.

SMS and Chat Messaging

More customers want the ability to text or message the brands they use. Keep any instant text communications within your company’s system by using a UC platform with SMS messaging and web chat functionality.

Consider What Other Customers Are Saying

A successful phone system for small business enterprises will have abundant positive reviews. Read testimonials and case studies that demonstrate the ease of use and cost-effectiveness of a potential phone service.

Find Out About Pro-Level Equipment

One of the best things about a unified communications system is that team members can bring their own devices to connect to your company’s phone service. With a simple app download, workers have total access to the permissions and features you grant them.

However, investing in professional plug-and-play devices can simplify things for team members and ensure high-quality connections. Compare the internet phones, conferencing equipment, headsets, and gateways you can use to upgrade your service.

Get Started With the Top Phone System for Your Small Business

Intermedia provides everything you need in a phone system for your small business. Are you ready to learn more? Schedule a call with our team to set up a plan that’s right for you!