These Are 5 Factors You Must Consider When Choosing Your 800 Number Provider

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The reach of the internet today has made it significantly more manageable for small business owners to compete with larger corporations. One of the most useful tools a business can leverage to gain the trust of your target audience and boost business is through a 1-800 number. Toll-free or vanity numbers are no longer a luxury only for large companies, but is now quite an affordable service that even smaller businesses can efficiently utilize.

However, it can get confusing with so many service providers offering 800 numbers. To make it easy for you, we’ve analyzed some of the top leading companies in Grasshopper, Phonebooth.com, and Phone.com. The analysis and comparison focused on five of the most crucial factors to consider when selecting the top 800 number services: cost, extension numbers, voicemail management, conference calls, and online management.

Cost

All three service providers provide numbers starting with 855, 866, 877 and 888 free of activation charges. While Phone.com will charge a $10 activation fee for an 800 number, both Grasshopper and Phonebooth will only charge an activation fee on the 800 number if you subscribe to one of the traditional plans.

For businesses on a budget, Phone.com has a great plan that offers a single number with 300 minutes of call and one voicemail for just $8.88 a month. If you need more than the 300 minutes, you’ll have the option to pay $0.049 for each additional minute, or upgrade to the unlimited extension plan that will run you about $22.

Grasshopper also offers a range of affordable plans for varying needs, starting at just $12 a person per month, and topping out at $199 which has been deemed the Max Pack.

Phonebooth.com also provides customers with a very competitive plan, charging just a flat $20 for every user every month. Although this is more than twice as much as the lowest Phone.com option, and almost twice as much as Grasshopper, the marginal increase in cost provides you with unlimited features, as well as two additional numbers free of charge.

Extension Numbers

A key feature to look out for when deciding on the best 800 number service provider for your small business is whether or not the provider offers extension numbers. Such service will allow you to direct calls to specific extensions, no matter the location. Although each of the mentioned providers offer the service, Grasshopper goes above and beyond by offering an application that makes it easy to make calls from a specific extension. Phone.com will provide you with an outgoing caller ID that will cloak your original phone number.

Voicemail Management

Communication is key for businesses, and so being able to access your voicemail from anywhere is a key service that top 800 number services offer. Fortunately, all the mentioned service providers offer voice to text and voice to email features that make it easy for you to access messages from any location.

Conference Calls

Conference calls are very useful for business relations, and as such, are offered by all three providers. Phone.com’s conference call feature is capable of handling up to 500 people in attendance, while Phonebooth will only allow up to 8 callers. Although Grasshopper is known to support this feature, it has not been disclosed how many callers its service can handle.

Online Management

Every service provider offers an online platform where you are able to manage your 800 number account. This support allows you to perform simple alterations such as the customization of caller IDs and adding extension numbers.

The addition of an 800 number, and a reputable provider to service it, is a critical step in increasing the competitive edge of your business. Each of the three service providers suggested offer their own unique plans, also with their own unique features. In order to find the most suitable provider and plan for you, it’s best to pay attention to the pricing, and make sure the plans encompass all the needs of your business.