As a small business, choosing the right telephone system can be a huge task. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is best for your business.
We know how difficult it is to find the right solution, which is why we’ve put together this short guide, helping you find the best phone system for your small business. The first step is to understand what the different options are available to your business.
The different types of phone system for small business
There are two main types of telephone system, they are:
1. On-premise
On-premise telephone systems have long been the standard for business communications. An on-premise telephone system, often referred to as a PBX, is a physical device in your office that controls all of your incoming and outgoing telephone calls.
2. Cloud-based VoIP phone system
Cloud based telephone systems, often called hosted phone systems, are a newer alternative to the on-premise PBX. Hosted in the cloud, VoIP phone systems require no on-premise telephone equipment. All of your calls use your broadband connection, and are controlled in the cloud.
While there are other different types of telephone system that we haven’t covered, on premise and cloud VoIP are the two main kinds.
Now that we know what the different types of phone system are, we can decide which is the best for a small business.
Which phone system is best for small business?
Out of the two different types, the best phone system for small business is a hosted VoIP telephone system.
Hosted VoIP fits great with small businesses up and down the UK, and has been adopted by thousands of small businesses.
Why is VoIP best for small businesses?
Now we know that hosted VoIP phone systems is the best option for small businesses, we can understand why they’re the best and how they can help your business.
- Price
Comparing the price between on-premise and VoIP shows you why VoIP is such a good choice for small businesses. Unlike on-premise, VoIP has no costly installation, no upgrade fees, no line costs, no call charges and no leasing. VoIP uses a subscription based service, to provide your business with all of its communications, which means that you’re only paying for the exact number of users you need.
- Features
Many small businesses are concerned that VoIP phone systems do not offer the same level of features that you get in an on-premise solution. But this is not the case. VoIP systems offer a plethora of features to small businesses, from extensions to hunt groups, auto attendants, voicemail to email, mobile apps and more.
- Scalability
When you choose a telephone system for your small business, it is important to choose one that is easy to scale. VoIP is exactly that. With a VoIP phone system, you can easily add users to your system. These users can have their own extension, and be added to the relevant groups such as ‘sales’ or ‘support’.
- Future-proof
Another thing to consider when upgrading your small business telephone system is the longevity of the solution. With the switch off of the UK’s ISDN network in 2025, ensuring your business is ready for it is vital. With a VoIP phone system, you can rest easy knowing that your communications are future proof.
