What are some good ways to cut my telephony costs in my start-up business?

Many start-ups view telecommunications as a necessary evil. You need to be able to communicate with potential customers, partners and suppliers, but you’re also spending your capital on it instead of on other revenue-generating activities. So how can you cut your telephony costs?

Some business owners just use their mobiles to cut costs, but I’d caution against that. A recent ACMA survey revealed that 97% of businesses still consider a landline critical to communicate with customers.

Having a business landline not only gives you a better work/life balance, it also portrays a more ‘professional’ image.

‘Cloud’ is the latest buzzword and with good reason.

Very basically, the ‘cloud’ refers to applications delivered over the internet – it makes things simpler, more convenient and more importantly, cheaper.

An easy way to dramatically cut your telephony costs is to switch to a cloud-based phone system – commonly known as ‘VoIP’ (Voice over IP) or ‘hosted/virtual PBX.’

Instead of using a traditional landline, VoIP delivers your calls over an internet connection (the cloud). It is a more affordable alternative as it has lower rental, negligible call costs, lower setup fees and no contract pre-paid options available.

A VoIP solution delivers all the features of a traditional phone system and gives your business the credibility of a landline number instead of a mobile.

Plus, because everything is in the ‘cloud’, your business isn’t limited by geography, allowing for additional numbers in any state to give your business a ‘local’ presence in your desired market.

Consider looking into a Naked DSL internet service as well, instead of traditional DSL.

Naked DSL gives you the same connectivity, but without the need for a traditional landline, meaning you can eliminate line rental costs completely.

As with any new service, finding a credible provider is vital. There are many out there from large telcos to smaller specialist VoIP providers, but the key things to consider are a provider who’ll work with your needs, a local support team, service guarantees and a good reputation, which you can gauge from reviews or customer testimonials.

A provider that offers ‘number porting’ is also an important consideration to give you the flexibility to keep your phone number should you need to switch providers if required.

Telecommunications doesn’t have to be a burden on your business, but can be used as a tool to improve your business’ productivity, credibility, and image in the marketplace.

Find a reliable provider that offers the flexibility, features and simplicity that suits your business needs and you could cut up to 60% off your telephony costs.