Keeping Connected In a Small Business

Food, water, shelter, clothing and oxygen are necessities to live, but one other thing is becoming an absolute necessity to have if you plan to be successful at small business ownership.

You need a phone. It’s really not an option, especially if you own a business. Your business needs a phone so that people can contact you when they need to. Owning a personal phone is a great start, but you also need a business phone.

Why You Need a Business Phone

The bottom line is people will not take you seriously if you don’t have a business phone. Try contacting a business without a phone number. Sure, you may be able to email the company, but when you need an immediate response email won’t cut it. You could also use your personal phone, but a business phone will be something you can list as a tax write-off, a monthly expense write-off and it will save you from having people know your personal number.

If you’ve ever dealt with an angry customer, you know the importance of being able to separate your personal life from your business life and unplug from work for a while.

[alert-note] Inexpensive Business Phones [/alert-note]

Having a business phone does not have to be expensive. There are many small business phone plans available that cater specifically to small businesses. What’s more is many of these aren’t just phones. Some of these offer email, texting and web access. You can either get a new phone for your business phone or you can use your existing phone and have a business phone number that shows up only when you use it in a business capacity.

You can purchase apps that will change your phone number and ringtone for business use, or go with a company that specializes in business phone plans and have them help you develop a comprehensive package that syncs and includes all your needs.

[alert-warning] Issues With Business Phones [/alert-warning]

The No. 1 issue with business phones is going to be the additional cost to have one. This is a necessity, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. You can find plans that fit within your budget, and remember that they can earn you money back when it comes to claiming taxes. Another issue is the service, especially if you go with mobile service.

Not all mobile companies have poor service, though, and most are good about telling you up-front if they can offer you the service and coverage you need. Just ask thorough questions when choosing a provider and you can pick one that works for you. If a provider does not willingly answer all your questions, look for another.

Owning a small business isn’t easy, but staying connected just got easier. Many companies offer business phone plans that are affordable, easy to use and reliable. While they do have their issues, like most products and services, the issues aren’t enough to say they aren’t worth using.

When the company saves you money and provides you with a service you absolutely need for your business, it’s hard to say it’s not a good product.