VoIP for Business: 6 Things You Should Know

Posted on April 14th, 2010
A blog post by DN (No Comments)

VoIP telephone systems have become a popular and cost-effective communications solution for many small to mid-sized businesses since essentially in a single move, businesses can outsource their communications and subsequently save on their monthly phone bills. If you are one of the many small business owners contemplating the switch to VoIP, here are six things you should know that will make your switch to VoIP a success.

1. Know Network Capacity – Before making the switch, make sure you have the proper LAN (Local area network) setup designed for VoIP and that the network is designed to handle the increase in data a VoIP system will incur.
2. Consider Bandwidth – Since VoIP runs through an Internet connection, it’s important to know the bandwidth available to your business and that your current connection can handle VoIP in addition to regular Internet use.
3. What’s Your Phone Traffic? – Before choosing a VoIP provider, make sure you know the calling habits and phone traffic of your business. How many daily calls on average does your business handle? Do you make a lot of long-distance and international calls? Knowing the answers to such questions will ensure you choose the right VoIP provider, one that can handle your call traffic and maximize your savings.
4. Plan Time to Research – There are literally hundreds of VoIP providers out there and finding one that meets your needs requires time and research. Do extensive and intensive research to compare services, features, and pricing options.
5. Determine Equipment Options – When it comes to VoIP equipment, there are a variety of different options that can fit virtually every budget. Knowing what features you want will help determine what kind of equipment you need. In addition, there are certain VoIP adapters that allow you to use existing phone equipment with a VoIP service or you can purchase used equipment.
6. Don’t Neglect your Bottom Line – It may seem blatantly obvious but make sure you adequately budget for your switch to a VoIP for business system. When researching potential providers, take note of startup fees in addition to how much monthly charges will be. If you don’t want to pay a single, upfront payment, find out if the provider offers financing – can you setup a monthly payment? Make a down payment and finance the remainder of the bill? It is imperative that you find a solution that works for you financially.