per user / month
per user / month
per user / month
USERS AND LOCATIONS
Number of users
up to 10
Unlimited
Unlimited
Regional Location
None
Unlimited
Unlimited
Domestic Location
up to 10
Unlimited
Unlimited
International Locations
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None
Unlimited
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Calls between Google Voice numbers included
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Calls to most European countries from within Europe included
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Google Fi Compatible [US only]
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Voicemail transcription
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Support
24/7
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Usage and activity reporting
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Call forwarding
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eDiscovery for calls, voice mails and text messaging records
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per user / month
Up to 10 users
Up to 10 Domestic Locations
Calls between Google Voice numbers included
Calls to the US from any Google Voice number included 2
Calls to Canada from a Canadian or US Google Voice number included 2
Calls to most European countries from within Europe included 2
Google Fi Compatible [US only]
Voicemail transcription
Google Calendar Integration
Google Meet Integration
Mobile apps: Android & IOS
Web Application
24/7 Support
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Usage and activity reporting
Call forwarding
Unlimited number of users
Unlimited Regional Locations
Unlimited Domestic Locations
Unlimited text messaging in US
Multi level auto attendant
Ring Groups
Desk phone and ATA support
eDiscovery for calls, voice mails and text messaging records
Ad-hoc user call recording
Unlimited International Locations 1
Advanced reporting (BigQuery)
Automatic Ad-hoc user call recording
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2 Refer to the Voice rate card for a complete list of calling rates for your Voice number.
Learn how VoIP phone emergency features differ from traditional emergency calling service .
Our sales team now uses Google Voice to call and text customers from their smartphones, tablets, and the web. And because it is considerably more affordable to operate than our legacy VoIP systems, we continue to steadily expand our usage of Google Voice.
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Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 11:59am
Brainstorm an executive summary, create a company description, brainstorm your business goals, describe your services or products, conduct market research, create financial plans, bottom line, frequently asked questions.
Every business starts with a vision, which is distilled and communicated through a business plan. In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and long-term goals, budget and whatever else you might need to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a business plan that you can stick to and help guide your operations as you get started.
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An executive summary is an extremely important first step in your business. You have to be able to put the basic facts of your business in an elevator pitch-style sentence to grab investors’ attention and keep their interest. This should communicate your business’s name, what the products or services you’re selling are and what marketplace you’re entering.
When drafting the executive summary, you should have a few different options. Enlist a few thought partners to review your executive summary possibilities to determine which one is best.
After you have the executive summary in place, you can work on the company description, which contains more specific information. In the description, you’ll need to include your business’s registered name , your business address and any key employees involved in the business.
The business description should also include the structure of your business, such as sole proprietorship , limited liability company (LLC) , partnership or corporation. This is the time to specify how much of an ownership stake everyone has in the company. Finally, include a section that outlines the history of the company and how it has evolved over time.
Wherever you are on the business journey, you return to your goals and assess where you are in meeting your in-progress targets and setting new goals to work toward.
Goals can cover a variety of sections of your business. Financial and profit goals are a given for when you’re establishing your business, but there are other goals to take into account as well with regard to brand awareness and growth. For example, you might want to hit a certain number of followers across social channels or raise your engagement rates.
Another goal could be to attract new investors or find grants if you’re a nonprofit business. If you’re looking to grow, you’ll want to set revenue targets to make that happen as well.
Goals unrelated to traceable numbers are important as well. These can include seeing your business’s advertisement reach the general public or receiving a terrific client review. These goals are important for the direction you take your business and the direction you want it to go in the future.
The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you’re offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit in the current market or are providing something necessary or entirely new. If you have any patents or trademarks, this is where you can include those too.
If you have any visual aids, they should be included here as well. This would also be a good place to include pricing strategy and explain your materials.
This is the part of the business plan where you can explain your expertise and different approach in greater depth. Show how what you’re offering is vital to the market and fills an important gap.
You can also situate your business in your industry and compare it to other ones and how you have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Other than financial goals, you want to have a budget and set your planned weekly, monthly and annual spending. There are several different costs to consider, such as operational costs.
Rent for your business is the first big cost to factor into your budget. If your business is remote, the cost that replaces rent will be the software that maintains your virtual operations.
Marketing and sales costs should be next on your list. Devoting money to making sure people know about your business is as important as making sure it functions.
Although you can’t anticipate disasters, there are likely to be unanticipated costs that come up at some point in your business’s existence. It’s important to factor these possible costs into your financial plans so you’re not caught totally unaware.
Business plans are important for businesses of all sizes so that you can define where your business is and where you want it to go. Growing your business requires a vision, and giving yourself a roadmap in the form of a business plan will set you up for success.
When you’re working on a business plan, make sure you have as much information as possible so that you can simplify it to the most relevant information. A simple business plan still needs all of the parts included in this article, but you can be very clear and direct.
The most common mistakes in a business plan are common writing issues like grammar errors or misspellings. It’s important to be clear in your sentence structure and proofread your business plan before sending it to any investors or partners.
When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business, an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.
Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.
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Simplify team communication with the top-rated phone system for small businesses. Save hundreds over landlines.
A powerful phone service with voice, SMS, and video conferencing built in. Take calls on the business communication channels you prefer.
Auto attendant.
Direct incoming calls like a pro. Route customer support and sales phone calls reliably to the right team members.
Record business calls on your terms. Cloud-based call recording lets you provide feedback to your team for up to six months.
Talk as much as your small business needs. Enjoy unlimited calls across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico using VoIP phones.
Join HD video meetings from your computer and mobile phone. Screen sharing enhances your business communication in real time.
Skip dialing into your voicemail. Smart voicemail transcripts let you see a caller's voicemail message and reply over SMS.
Our business VoIP phone solution solves inbound call management. Route callers using any criteria your small business needs.
For startups.
Omnichannel digital customer sales & service to connect and engage with customers on the channels they prefer and track social engagement and customer reviews.
Digital features:
Turn prospect and visitors into customers and provide customer service on your website by engaging with them in real-time through live chat . Start with automated prompts to gather essential information, then seamlessly transition to a live-agent interaction for a personalized experience or use AI Chatbot to interact with prospects or customers.
Support and sell using social messaging platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more. All messages route to a single inbox so you won’t miss a thing.
Monitor, respond, listen, and publish on the most meaningful social platforms including: Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, Linkedin, YouTube, and your Google Business profile.
Protect your brand and control your reputation by automatically keeping tabs on key review sites. Set alerts so high-importance comments are handled immediately.
Sell more and support efficiently by routing all conversations to a single inbox. Channels include email, webchat, messengers, SMS, social media and review sites.
Connect and engage with customers on digital, voice, video, and SMS. Never miss an interaction with AI-powered voicemail transcription. Empower all workers with desktop, mobile, and browser-based apps for customer conversations, collaboration, and contact management.
Core features:
Connect with customers and your team using award-winning, reliable voice conversations within the U.S. and CA*. Get a new number or bring over your existing number for free.
Send and receive SMS text messages from your business phone number using the desktop and mobile app.
Collaborate face-to-face with video meetings . Share your screen, engage in sidebar chats, share files, and record for future reference.
Ensure all calls are professionally answered and properly routed using a virtual receptionist recording that directs callers to, for instance, “press one for Sales and two for Service.”
Create amazing customer experiences across all channels with AI-powered intelligent routing, AI chatbots, analytics, insights, and integrations with CRM systems.
Everything in Core, plus:
Advanced IVR enables customer engagement inside your IVR to quickly and efficiently route customers to the right place, the first time. Enable CRM/CDP integrations to offer high-touch customer experiences.
Give your business a professional edge by offering a universal, non-local, toll-free number.
Move your business forward with insight gained from data found within your advanced IVR and queueing metrics.
Sync data between your core software, such as Salesforce HubSpot, and Zendesk.
Offer 24/7 support and efficiently manage responses to FAQs with web chatbot automation.
For sales & service teams.
Everything a small business needs to run a successful sales & service organization and to operate like a Fortune 500 company — including inbound voice, advanced routing with an AI-powered interactive voice bot, agent skills-based routing, data dips, and supervisor assist.
Everything in Engage, plus:
Manage high-volume inbound calls, use voice prompts and AI to route calls to best-fit agents. Queue calls and surface caller history for quick resolution.
Process high-volume inbound calls by auto-answering and prompting callers to ask questions or provide routing requests using an Intelligent Virtual Assistant.
Route callers to best-fit agents based on demographic, language, affinity, hard skills, etc.
Increase efficiency and collaboration by connect agents and supervisors in a single inferface.
Focus on what metrics matter most with a customizable real-time dashboard for supervisors.
Add business phone numbers as you grow your team. Nextiva add-ons offer enhanced productivity and built-in customer support tools.
Manage your small business phone system with confidence. Get Amazing Service® from real pros, not bots. Call, web chat, or submit a ticket 24/7/365.
Free your business from the limits of traditional phone lines.
Our award-winning business phone services work over any internet connection, unlike traditional landlines. Team members can take calls on their mobile phones and desk phones. Easy setup — no IT staff needed.
Connect your VoIP phone system with popular business applications: Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and many more.
The answer is clear: Nextiva provides the best overall value for business owners. We guide you through every aspect of your phone system for your company. Our 99.999% uptime has you covered around the clock. If you ever have a question, our customer support is ready to help you 24/7. Plus, you'll save up to 60% over analog phone service.
Amazing service®.
24/7 support from real people. Browse our help center to learn more about small business VoIP. Or call, chat, or submit a ticket.
We provide outstanding network uptime and security. Eight highly redundant points of presence power our VoIP service.
Worried about choppy audio? Our VoIP phone system provides voice calls in crystal-clear HD quality. It just works.
Choose any local number or toll-free number and download our mobile and desktop apps. Team members place calls right away.
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All your business communications solutions in one place — phone, video, chat, contact management, and team collaboration. It doesn't get easier than Nextiva.
How do i set up a business phone system.
Unlike some business phone services, there’s practically no technical setup you have to do to configure Nextiva. Out of the box, it works — and if you have a mobile device or computer (bet you do!), just sign in with your username and password to begin calling.
Business owners choose Nextiva because it’s so easy to use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service:
We've tested everything and hand-picked a catalog of high-quality desk phones and hardware.
Our basic small business VoIP plan starts at $18.95 per month. It has all the features a growing business needs — business text messaging, local and toll-free numbers, voicemail transcription, 99.999% uptime, and more.
Yes, it's easy to transfer phone numbers to Nextiva through a process known as porting. Porting lets you assign your number to a VoIP service provider like Nextiva.
You can transfer any number you use, including:
Nextiva handles everything related to moving your phone numbers over. Our porting team will inform you of the port-in date. From there, you can begin placing and receiving unlimited calls through Nextiva's cloud phone system.
Transferring business phone numbers will take approximately 2–4 weeks, depending on the previous carrier. In the meantime, you can use temporary phone numbers.
Watch this short video to see how to transfer your phone numbers to Nextiva:
The short answer is business phone services are very reliable, so long as you don’t have a power outage.
You might also want to consider other factors like:
Many businesses prefer to use a toll-free phone number instead of a local number to handle inbound phone calls.
Most business phone service providers (Nextiva included) offer different types of phone numbers:
The upside of using a toll-free number is that team members can dial out with a shared caller ID on behalf of the company. Incoming calls go through an auto attendant to ensure they reach live agents.
Yes, we do both! Nextiva lets you buy or rent many top-rated VoIP phones and headsets that work perfectly with your phone system .
We offer many VoIP devices to purchase or lease, including desk phones, cordless phones, conference phones, and analog adapters.
The best part is that we pre-configure the devices so that you can use them instantly.
Yes, you can direct calls to your after-hours answering service with Nextiva. Incoming calls are routed by a third-party answering service that enables people to work from home with its audio conferencing and VoIP solutions.
Nextiva supports employees working remotely and in the office as one of the top unified communications solutions. Here are some essential features included with its business phone system:
When you get a small business phone service, you'll want to know a few things about Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). You should be keen on exactly what your VoIP service includes.
You’ll also want to be mindful of the advantages of cloud phone systems for small businesses and enterprises.
While they may sound similar, a small business phone system and a business phone service are actually two different but related aspects of business communications. All companies, small and large, need phone service to communicate with customers, vendors, suppliers, and employees. A business phone system provides a business phone number and helps you stay connected with all the right people through unified communication functionality.
Small business phone service comes full of benefits to allow your business to grow. Switching to a cloud-based phone service can save up to 60% of your phone bill. Traditional phone service is vulnerable to outages, while a business phone service has considerably better uptimes and is resistant to risks like bad weather. Call quality and security both maintain integrity in the eyes of your customers.
Nextiva delivers a VoIP phone service solution designed to provide small businesses with the tools they need to manage their voice communications. It includes the ability to scale through fully integrated business communications that allows you to plug in tools to improve customer management and employee productivity.
The best time to switch to business VoIP is before you buy on-premises telephone equipment, or get locked into lengthy maintenance agreements. Why? VoIP can save businesses over 60% versus their local telephone provider — and you get all the advanced calling features the pros have.
Nextiva’s award-winning VoIP phone system uses the internet rather than analog landlines, making setup turnkey and allowing users to seamlessly switch between desk phones or mobile devices to communicate with each other and with customers.
Nextiva provides small businesses with the ability to increase productivity by making everything available all in one tool, from business SMS to chat and from video conferencing to customer experience tools . The top business phone service for small businesses includes:
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Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing **With contract
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With business VoIP services, you don't have to worry about limited numbers of physical phone lines. VoIP services offer tons of perks that small business owners love . Some of these include being able to place VoIP calls from your desktop or cell phone using your VoIP phone number. What is especially great about it, is that when you call, your business phone number will show up on caller ID instead of your cell number or whatever you are using to make that call. This goes for incoming calls as well. They will dial the VoIP number and you can answer on whichever phone you want to use.
Bottom line: We searched through the market for the top services and found the 13 best VoIP providers out there—with RingCentral at the top offering price matching and a wide feature range at a low cost. Ooma is also great for remote workers because of its ease of use and phone system flexibility.
For a full-service business phone solution that also provides reliable services for your growing business, RingCentral is a great option.
$20* | |||||||
$19.95** | |||||||
$18.95** | |||||||
$15.00 | |||||||
$19.99 |
We love that RingCentral offers such a wide range of product features. And the plans are fairly affordable, with price matching available and a generous allotment of toll-free minutes. Just look out for a so-so customer service experience.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing
RingCentral offers a well-rounded work-from-home solution that includes integrated messaging, unlimited video conferencing, and cloud-hosted VoIP service right out of the box. The service includes a lot of features that other providers charge extra for (such as generous toll-free minutes). And small businesses don’t have to worry about whether they’re getting raked over the coals for their cloud-hosted VoIP service because RingCentral offers price matching on plans with less than 50 lines.
$30 | $20 | Unlimited calls in the US and Canada, 100-person video calls, 100 toll-free minutes | ||
$35 | $25 | Unlimited calls in the US and Canada, 1,000 toll-free minutes/mo., 100-person video conferencing | ||
$45 | $35 | 10,000 toll-free minutes, 200-person video conferencing, unlimited storage*** |
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Retention period applies
Another thing we love about RingCentral is its reliability. RingCentral promises a 99.999% uptime, meaning both your in-house and remote employees can rely on your VoIP system to work whenever they need it. Plus, RingCentral plans include unlimited internet faxing, phone conferencing, and video conferencing for up to 200 participants. Video meetings can even last up to 24 hours — just in case.
Here are a few other features business owners are sure to love:
And if you ever experience trouble with your VoIP system, RingCentral’s customer service team is available 24/7 via online chat or via phone during standard business hours. Keep in mind, though, that usually only larger enterprises get US-based support — small businesses usually get outsourced to overseas customer service representatives. If that doesn’t work for you, though, RingCentral also offers ticket service, an extensive online knowledge base, and weekly webinars to answer common questions.
If your business has transitioned to remote work, Ooma offers affordable services that are easy to use and can easily grow with your company. While some customers have complained about dropped calls, we think Ooma’s still the ideal VoIP service for businesses working remotely.
Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
With its scalable solutions, Ooma is one of our favorite small-business phone services. But Ooma’s Office and Office Pro plans also stand out as some of the best VoIP phone service offerings for businesses with remote employees.
Ooma phone systems are flexible, so you can use your office phone while working at home, place and accept work calls on your cell phone, and even use the Ooma desktop app to place calls on your computer. And Ooma’s plans stay affordable even with an upper-tier plan.
$19.95 | Unlimited calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, 3-way calling | ||
$24.95 | Call recording, enhanced call blocking, voicemail transcription | ||
$29.95 | CRM integration, hot desking, call queues |
Ooma’s remote features can help your business stay up and running no matter where your employees are. For starters, Ooma’s mobile and desktop apps allow remote employees to make and receive unlimited calls within North America using your business number.
We also like Ooma’s Ring Groups feature, which lets you group extensions together in your phone system so they all ring simultaneously. Then it transfers the call to whichever employee answers first. This allows your customers to get through to a representative as quickly as possible and provides a backup in case one of your employees has to step away to deal with childcare or move the laundry along.
Businesses working remotely should keep in mind, though, that Ooma offers video conferencing only on the Ooma Office Pro and Pro Plus plans. Otherwise, you get a conference line that lets remote employees collaborate over the phone. That puts Ooma a pace behind some of the other providers on our list, but with providers like Nextiva currently offering their video collaboration tool to businesses for free, it shouldn’t be a major issue.
If you operate more than one office or have employees scattered around your areas working from home, Nextiva is easy to scale without breaking your budget. However, this option may not be best for companies that need low-cost international calling features.
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Nextiva is great for midsize businesses on a budget because it delivers an impressive balance of pricing and features. Nextiva’s mobile app and desktop app allow your employees to ditch the clunky office phones of the past, and the service’s online management platform makes it easy to juggle multiple lines—even when your employees are all working from different locations.
$18.95 | 1,500 toll-free minutes, unlimited internet fax and voice calling | ||
$22.95 | 3,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited video conferencing, team messaging | ||
$32.95 | 12,500 toll-free minutes, advanced business integrations, audio/video recording |
Nextiva service also provides a number of helpful features for businesses working from home. For starters, there’s the Nextiva app, which lets you use your business phone number to make calls remotely from your desktop or mobile devices. Nextiva’s team collaboration tool, Cospace, also lets your team collaborate via video chat, so you can keep everyone one the same page.
If you need a way to video chat with your team, but aren’t interested in a full-blown VoIP service, we have good news. Right now, Nextiva is offering video and team collaboration for an unlimited number of users—completely free. See the Nextiva website to learn more about their Video & Collaboration service.
Word to the wise, though: Nextiva’s pricing can be a little complex, so make sure you click around the website’s pricing page to find the accurate pricing for your business. The website lists the Essential plan at $18.95 per month, for example. But if you click the tiny question mark next to the price, you find out that price is only for prepaid 36-month contracts on plans with 20-99 users. If you’re a small business on a month-to-month plan, you’ll actually wind up paying $30.95 per month for the same package.
That being said, we think it’s impressive that none of Nextiva’s plans cost more than $45 per month—especially considering all the VoIP service features you get. And for businesses with remote employees, features like unlimited video conferencing (with a Professional plan or higher), screen sharing, and team messaging make it easier to get work done even when everyone’s physically distant.
8x8’s claims to fame are its incredibly low pricing, cheap international calling rates, and crowdsourced customer service. This VoIP provider offers limited mobile access, but it’s a good pick for any business trying to save a buck without sacrificing quality.
Data as of 7/7/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Given all the economic uncertainty faced by small businesses today, choosing a low-cost VoIP phone service makes a lot of sense.
Fortunately, 8x8 offers three simple, feature-loaded plans that can help you keep your expenses low while also getting all the VoIP features you need. 8x8 even offers integrations with third-party business apps like Salesforce, Zendesk, Netsuite, and Microsoft Dynamics. That way, your business can build out a complete enterprise resource planning solution that allows your inventory, accounting, point-of-sale, and customer service to work together seamlessly—all without having to shell out big money for it.
$15.00 | Unlimited calling in the US and Canada, auto Attendant | ||
$24.00* | Unlimited calling within 14 countries, single sign-on, video meetings with up to 500 people | ||
$44.00* | Unlimited calling within 48 countries, operator switchboard, call analytics |
Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *When billed annually
All 8x8 plans include team messaging, HD video conferencing, and screen sharing, you you can easily keep all your remote team members engaged and collaborative. And contact centers that have transitioned to remote work can still enjoy features like omnichannel routing, which allows your employees to engage with customers via chat, social media, text, and phone—all in one platform.
And of course, you can’t ignore the fact that 8x8 offers full internet phone services that start at just $15 per month. The company’s introductory plan even offers an auto-attendant to help transfer calls to the appropriate extension without you needing to pay a receptionist to answer the phone—a feature other internet and phone providers don’t offer except on upper-tier plans.
That being said, 8x8’s plan upgrades are not the cheapest on our list. But considering the number of features you get for the price, we think it’s a good value for most companies looking for a VoIP phone system that offers a lot of bang for your buck.
Sure, Vonage has dealt with bad press and technical issues in the past. But these days, the service’s easy setup, impressive 99.999% uptime, and scalable business phone system options make it a top-notch VoIP choice for businesses with an eye toward growth.
Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Up to 99 users
As one of the earliest VoIP services on the market, Vonage is one of the most well-known PBX solutions currently available. And for good reason.
Vonage phone service can easily grow with your company, so you don’t have to worry about difficult transitions to new systems as your needs expand. Vonage integrates with everything from Salesforce to Slack, so you’re covered if your business ever outgrows its current customer relationship tools. And Vonage offers VoIP communications features that make the service easy to use even when you’re at home.
$19.99 | Team messaging, unlimited calling and texts, mobile and desktop apps | ||
$29.99 | Video conferencing, multi-level auto attendant, CRM integrations | ||
$39.99 | Call group, visual voicemail, 15 hours of call recording |
Vonage plans offer great features for remote employees, including unlimited team messaging, unlimited calls, and unlimited business text messages on every plan. However, if video conferencing is important to your business, you’ll need to upgrade to the Premium plan.
We also like that Vonage offers 20 third-party integrations through the Vonage App Center, which is available even on the Mobile plan. This feature allows you to sync your VoIP phone system with select accounting, inventory, and CRM software so you can build out a completely interconnected business.
Furthermore, all Vonage customers get 24/7 customer support and IT solutions. Between that and all the other features included on Vonage’s basic phone system plans, it’s a great solution for small businesses that want advanced features at a budget price. And Vonage can definitely keep up when it’s time to upgrade your devices or add more lines, so your business can easily grow within your existing VoIP system.
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$28.00** | 1 number, up to 3 extensions, Voicemail to Email, virtual fax | ||
$35.00 | Simultaneous mobile ring, Auto Attendant, Voicemail to Email | ||
$24.00* | Fax to Email, custom greetings, custom schedules | ||
$11.99* | 300 minutes/mo., unlimited extensions, call queuing, Voicemail to Email | ||
$14.95 | Call queuing, call routing, supervisor dashboard | ||
$14.97 | Digital call forward, auto attendant, virtual fax |
While Grasshopper may suffer from minor audio quality and transcription problems, the service is a major contender for businesses that operate from multiple locations. It’s easy to set up and easy to use, and it includes toll-free vanity numbers.
Now more than ever, businesses are discovering that they don’t need their employees to work in an office environment to be successful. But Grasshopper is an especially great VoIP software for mobile businesses like food trucks and pop-up stores.
Like many other VoIP phone services, Grasshopper offers iOS and Android apps that allow you to make and receive business calls on your cell phone. But unlike the competition, it allows you to customize call forwarding rules for each phone extension on your plan. That way, each of your employees or business locations can manage calls in whatever way works best for them.
$28.00* | 1 number, up to 3 extensions, Voicemail to Email, virtual fax | ||
$46.00* | 3 numbers, up to 6 extensions, Voicemail to Email, virtual fax | ||
$80.00* | 5 numbers, unlimited extensions, Voicemail to Email, virtual fax |
Grasshopper is great for small businesses, so why didn’t we name it our top small-business phone service? To be honest, we think Grasshopper is a little expensive compared to other options on the table. Grasshopper plans start at $26 per month (assuming you sign up for annual billing), which is pretty pricey considering you get only one business phone number with up to three extensions.
Grasshopper also offers fewer unified communications features than other PBX solutions. You also have to provide your own devices. That’s not a big deal if your employees are all working from home and using their cell phones or desktop phones to place calls. But it may pose a problem if you need to upgrade your office’s old analog phones.
Oh, and Grasshopper only offers service to businesses in the US and Canada.
On the upside, though, Grasshopper offers the same features across all its plans. Unlike other business VoIP solutions, you don’t have to upgrade your plan just to get business texting (for example). That means your business can enjoy the same high-end VoIP phone system features as a large company, even if you have only a couple of lines.
Right now, Grasshopper is offering $75 off when you sign up for a 12-month prepaid plan. That way, you don’t have to break the bank to stay connected. See Grasshopper’s home page for more details.
Verizon is definitely one of the most expensive VoIP options on our list. But given the company’s reputation for reliable mobile solutions and full-service fiber-optic connections, it may be worth the extra cost for some businesses (assuming you live in an area with Verizon’s fiber-optic options, of course).
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With two-year contract
Verizon’s mobile solutions and ultra-fast fiber-optic internet connections (named Fios) have made the company the current gold standard when it comes to reliable telecommunications. And frankly, Verizon doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its bring-your-own-device (BYOD) VoIP service.
Verizon’s appeal ultimately comes down to its reliability. The telecommunications giant offers both fiber-optic and DSL connections nationwide. And say what you want about Verizon’s customer service—the company is one of the few internet and phone providers with a reputation for maintaining a state-of-the-art network with few to no dropped calls on its internet phone
$35.00* | Unlimited nationwide calling, 45+ call management features, secure VoIP network |
Unfortunately, that reliability doesn’t exactly come cheap. Verizon’s Business Digital Voice VoIP plan starts relatively high, and if you need more than 5 lines, you'll need to call them for additional information. Keep in mind that Verizon isn’t a budget choice for small businesses: it’s a reliability choice.
If you’re located in one of the 8 states (plus Washington, DC) that currently enjoy Verizon Fios service—which are mostly in the northeast—you’ll have access to one of the fastest internet connections available, which is perfect for VoIP. If your remote employees don’t have Verizon Fios internet or your business is in DSL-only country, the speed will be slower, but uptime is still guaranteed at 99.9%. Either internet option will support steady VoIP service, and if your business is more medium-sized than small, Verizon could add up to a better value in the long run (especially if you’re in Fios territory).
Since Verizon is a massive company, customer service ratings are in line with what you’d usually read in the comments section—meaning, people are far more motivated to complain than praise. Navigating Verizon’s bundling plans for businesses may be like a choose-your-own-adventure odyssey, but its support lines are segregated well, with separate contacts for small, medium, and larger businesses. Verizon also offers competitive SLAs (service level agreements) for quality and service and 24/7 VoIP phone services support via phone, email, and tickets.
Verizon Business Digital Voice isn’t necessarily budget friendly for a smaller business, but it should be attractive to medium and larger outfits that demand reliable uptime, or at least prefer an all-in-one telecom provider.
GoToConnect offers all its features on every plan—the only difference is the number of users you get. That makes it easy to choose a feature-rich plan that’s easily customized to suit your business needs.
GoToConnect has nearly as many glowing reviews as the Radiohead discography, minus the pretentious lyricism. GoToConnect has established a positive industry reputation since its launch as Jive in 2006, thanks mostly to its interface simplicity, focus on small businesses, and large array of telephone features that are available to all pricing tiers.
$24.00 | Up to 20 users, video meetings with up to 4 participants, toll-free numbers, basic integrations | ||
$29.00 | Unlimited users and auto attendants, conferencing with up to 150 participants, CRM integrations |
All these tiers deliver top-notch phone service features, which include the following perks:
In addition, GoToConnect plans deliver unlimited video conferencing for up to 250 participants. That makes company-wide meetings a lot easier while your employees are based from home. Plus, GoToConnect offers virtual international numbers in more than 50 countries—though you’ll have to pay a $19.99 setup fee, plus a charge per minute for the basic plan (you won't have to pay this in the upper tier plans if it's one of the 50 countries).
We also like that GoToConnect’s phone systems are easy to set up and come with US-based 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support (with specific help for small businesses, large businesses, government agencies, and education clients). Overall, it’s a simple and feature-loaded VoIP phone system that works for all kinds of businesses.
Curious to find out more about the small business phone systems near you? Answer a few questions to find out more about the options in your area.
Since VoIP is a relatively new technology that differs from traditional copper-line telephone systems, there may be a bit of a learning curve before you dive into adopting it for your business. Here are a few elemental points to get started.
RingCentral has the best VoIP due to it's fair pricing and wide range of features. It also offers price matching for plans with less than 50 lines—making it even more affordable.
Yes, VoIP is good for small business. It is an easily scalable, cost-effective way to communicate.
A VoIP phone number is just like a regular telephone number, but it’s assigned to a user rather than a specific physical phone line.
When landline providers set up your telephone system, they map your new number to the physical copper connections that are hardwired into your home. But with VoIP phone systems, your number is assigned to your internet phone services account. That allows you to access your VoIP phone number (and make VoIP phone calls) from any device with an internet connection. That gives you the flexibility to use your VoIP phone number at home, in the office, or even from your smartphone.
If you’ll be switching to a VoIP business system, will you want to keep your current phone number? Most VoIP services offer number porting, which lets you transfer—or port—your number to a new service. Check for number porting in a VoIP service’s features; some will apply it for free, while others may charge a one-time fee.
A SIP (session initiation protocol) trunk carries voice, data, and video through a “trunk” that replaces copper telephone connections through the conventional PSTN (public switched telephone network), consolidating phone and internet service into a single digital line.
In plain English, SIP trunking allows you to physically disconnect from your phone company, opening the door for digital, internet-powered options (read: VoIP). And unlike hardwired telephone lines, digital lines allow you to scale your phone solutions as your business grows.
A private branch exchange (PBX) is the closed telephone network within a business, which employees share for outbound, inbound, and interoffice phone calls. VoIP systems manage PBXs off-site through cloud PBX hosting, eliminating the need for costly (and space-hogging) on-premise equipment and maintenance.
BYOD stands for bring your own device . This term refers to employees conducting company business on personal laptops, tablets, and phones instead of on company-owned gear. Most VoIP companies offer BYOD features and solutions within their plans, either included or at additional cost. However, extra IT security layers and company guidelines for BYOD are on you.
As mentioned earlier, VoIP is entirely reliant on a high-speed internet connection—and is also entirely at the mercy of power outages. Telephone lines may be archaic, but they still work in a blackout—internet equipment and connections, not so much. If your business requires 24/7 uptime, make sure backup power sources are in place.
Unlike traditional telephone lines, VoIP numbers can’t be traced by 911 operators. This doesn’t mean you’d be helpless in case of a natural disaster or Sasquatch attack, however. Upon initial setup at a location, you simply need to enter your info manually through the system’s E911 (Enhanced 911) feature, which will attach a physical address to your VoIP number.
Just as a smartphone can do more than a landline phone, a VoIP phone system for business can perform all the expected tasks of standard business phone plans and then some. They’re a great choice for small businesses that need full functionality, and the VoIP systems we’ve reviewed include most, if not all, of the following features:
Landline providers are almost a thing of the past—like it or not, VoIP systems may soon be your only business phone choice. Moreover, VoIP phone systems may be the best method to adjust to an increasingly home-based work environment.
Fortunately, you have plenty of VoIP home phone and business telephone systems to choose from, with more digital features and affordable pricing than ever before. Even so, it’s an increasingly competitive market, so don’t sell yourself short—do your homework before settling on a small-business VoIP system.
Not convinced VoIP is right for your business? Check out our guide to how VoIP differs from other options, or click over to our summary of the different types of phone systems for business.
Just how crucial is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in 2023? According to small-business owners, very —and getting more and more important all the time.
That’s good news for the VoIP industry, which saw an 8.3% growth in 2020 amid stay-at-home orders and public health concerns. 1 That growth should continue, and multiple studies project that the VoIP industry will earn a US market revenue of at least USD $55 billion in 2025. 2
Based on a survey conducted by Business.org, predictions of the VoIP industry’s continued expansion are right on track. Per our survey results, over 64% of surveyed small businesses added VoIP services during the pandemic. And a full 85% of surveyed business owners said VoIP kept their teams more connected throughout 2020.
So apart from the fact that business owners in 2020 switched to or added VoIP in increasing numbers, what else did we learn? For one, more small-business owners with one business location added VoIP this year than businesses with multiple locations—61% of respondents had businesses with one location while 39% had businesses multiple locations.
Additionally, surveyed business owners value VoIP for more than its connectivity:
And our survey respondents also have a few concerns about the future of VoIP:
VoIP is an essential part of an ever-increasing number of businesses. And with global 5G availability on the horizon, VoIP is perfectly positioned to become the next multi-billion-dollar industry. We’re interested to see whether the VoIP industry hits that number in 2025—or, thanks to the new work-from-home norm, much sooner.
We partnered with Pollfish to conduct an anonymous survey of 650 small-business owners who currently use VoIP. Business.org analyzed the results and compiled this report. To learn more about Pollfish and how it organically finds respondents, check out its methodology .
At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
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Learn how to get a free business phone number in just a few easy steps, so you can get quickly get your business an easy point of contact.
Get a FREE business phone number as part of a cloud communications solution trusted by 400,000 businesses. Choose the ideal number for your business.
Let's break down how to get a phone number for your business in three simple steps: Choose a business phone number provider. Purchase your telephone number for your company. Assign your phone extension and set up optional features.
Discover the four easy steps on how to get a business phone number, and explore the advantages when you get it from a VoIP provider.
Discover the best free business phone number app providers and the additional features they offer as professional phone systems.
Call the shots with feature-packed Verizon Business phone plans. Imagine holding crystal-clear conversations with your customers while easily managing the rest of your tasks throughout your workday. With Business Digital Voice—a VoIP phone service from Verizon—multi-tasking over the phone becomes a reality. Streamline every connection with over 30 calling features, including: Three-way ...
Though Verizon business phone plans don't include cell phones, with business VoIP you'll be able to forward calls that come in to your desk phone to your smartphone. You can't put a price on the security of knowing you can keep your business running and take care of your customers' needs when unavoidable situations come up. Call 1-855 ...
In today's business landscape, having a dedicated phone number is crucial for establishing a professional presence and effectively communicating with customers. Whether you're a small business owner or a growing enterprise, a business phone number offers a range of benefits over traditional landline or personal smartphone numbers. In this guide, we will explore the different types of business ...
A business phone number provides credibility, increases brand recognition, and keeps personal telephone numbers private. It makes it easier for customers to find--and remember-- how to contact your business, differentiates your company from competitors, and builds consumer trust.
Are you looking to get a business phone number? Read our guide to learn the steps involved when choosing a business phone number.
With the right free business phone number provider, you're not just saving money but investing in your business's future success. Benefits of a Free Business Phone Number. In today's competitive market, securing a free business phone number can be a game changer for your startup or small business.
Getting a business phone number is as simple as selecting a business phone service provider and placing an order with them. To get a business phone, follow these steps: Decide why you need a business phone line. Decide what type of business number (toll-free, local, vanity, etc.) Order a business phone line through the chosen provider.
Many established and small business owners use virtual business phone number apps to get a custom phone number. It's easy to choose your own local or toll-free business number, upgrade to a vanity number to improve brand recognition, and transfer existing numbers to a new service.
Verizon® business-class services include Fios internet and Business Digital Voice. Get some of the fastest and most reliable speeds with matching upload and download times and the clearest calling connection with Verizon business plans. Call 888-506-0370 to check internet/phone plans and prices in your area today.
Get a Dedicated Phone Number for Your Business Start making and receiving business calls using your virtual phone number right away.
See how Google Voice, our business phone system, offers an easy-to-use solution that organizations of any size can add on to their Google Workspace.
Need to know how to get a business phone number? Our guide explores what to consider when choosing a provider and gives provider recommendations.
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The top business phone service for small businesses includes: Complete phone service that includes mobile and desktop apps, voicemail, toll-free numbers, number porting, and online faxing. More than phone service. Nextiva delivers chat, audio and video meetings, auto-attendant, texts.
Explore T-Mobile's business phone plans, including unlimited data, text, and talk. Join us and discover the best wireless business plan to fit your needs.
The 5 Best Business VoIP Providers in 2023 Looking to revamp your business's VoIP phone service? We cover the 13 best VoIP providers out there to help you pick and choose the best option. Best for most businesses RingCentral 5.0 Starting from $20*/mo Wide feature range at a low cost Price matching View Plans 877-891-4664 Read Review Best for remote work Ooma 4.4 Starting from $19.95 ...
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