Many business owners shy away from using toll free numbers because of the additional fees they will incur. However, these numbers are often not incredibly expensive, and the overall return on investment makes them a commodity that no business owner should be without.
Cost of Toll Free Numbers
The overall cost of a toll free number depends upon the company providing it. A landline company’s options will often be much more expensive than the options provided by a virtual phone system provider. As an example, business owners who use a landline service will typically pay a per-minute rate for all of the incoming toll-free calls; this is usually between $0.02 and $0.10 per minute from anywhere in the nation. With a virtual phone system, the business owner can purchase a bundled package that includes a certain number of minutes at a set price. If those minutes expire, purchasing additional minutes is a snap. There are never any surprise bills or unrecognizable charges.
Local vs. Toll Free
Another thing to consider about the cost of toll free numbers is how it compares to the cost of standard local landline telephone numbers. One telephone line with features and long distance capabilities is likely to cost a business owner around $60.00 per month after taxes and fees. If more than one line is needed, these costs can grow out of control—and the cost of the toll free calls is not even included. With toll free numbers from a virtual phone system, business owners will typically pay only $30.00 a month for a bundle that includes multiple extensions, hundreds of toll-free calling minutes and all of the features that a business owner could want or need.
Benefits of Toll Free
There are multiple benefits associated with using toll free numbers as opposed to their local counterparts. First, it allows businesses to gain a nationwide reach with a relatively small investment. By using a personalized number, business owners can add to their marketing campaigns in an extremely effective and affordable manner. Consumers will be provided with a sense of professionalism when they see that the business is associated with a toll free number; they are more likely to do business with a company that seems well-established and reputable. Finally, the sheer volume of calls that these numbers will generate is enough to justify the costs of establishing and maintaining them.
Making the Switch
Business owners who are currently using local numbers are often fearful of switching to toll free numbers because they feel that their loyal customers will not be able to reach them via the traditional means. This can be easily remedied through the help of a feature known as call forwarding. With just a few clicks of the mouse, the business owner can ensure that all of the calls that come through the local telephone number are routed to the communications system without interruption.
It is evident that all of the benefits of using toll free numbers completely outweigh the associated costs. Most plans that include these numbers are completely customizable to a business’s needs, so business owners will not need to pay for more than what they absolutely need.