Toll Free Telephone Numbers for Home Businesses

The Dabbling Mum: National Parenting Publication

You are here...

eMagazine
Business Center

Ads & Marketing
Affiliate Marketing
Business Ideas
Customer Service
Direct Sales
Domain Names
General Business
Publicity
Search Engines
Social Networking
Toll Free Numbers
WAHM Book
Web Design

More Centers

Art Center
Parenting Center
Review Center
Writing Center

Shop With Us

e-Books
e-Products
Original Art
Licensed Art

Social Media

Get eMag Updates
Twitter
Art Blog
Facebook Fan Page
Zero Dollar Reprints

Office Info

Author
Alyice Edrich

Sponsor Ad

Ad Disclaimer

We Recommend

Your purchase
supports this site.

Toll Free Telephone Numbers
For Home Businesses
All materials copyrighted

Ad Disclaimer

Home businesses are just as professional as any brick ‘n mortar business, but sometimes, it helps to look a little more "professional" to the public and toll free telephone numbers (along with post office boxes) can do this!

We all know how toll free telephone numbers work; the business owner pays the telephone company a fee for every call the business gets and the callers gets to make the call for free. But did you know forwardable toll free telephone numbers are a smart business decision?

Toll Free Numbers Level The Playing Field
Whether you have two telephone lines or just one, a forwardable toll free number can benefit your home business by offering you the chance to compete with large corporations by leveling the playing field. In other words, using your toll free number in national advertisements, on your website, in brochures, and wherever you’d include your business contact information, can help your company look as though it’s one of the big guys.

Use Forwardable Toll Free Numbers
Another benefit to owning a toll free number is the ability to forward your calls. Let's say, for example, you live in a remote area where you can only get dial up Internet access and you decide it won’t stop you from running a professional home business. But since you’ve just started your home business, you don’t have the funds to support a second phone line and your cell phone. What do you do? Do you wait until after business hours to use the Internet? You could, but you don’t have to.

If you have a cell phone plan with a great weekday rate, you could redirect your toll free number to your cell phone. That way, when you are on the Internet checking customer orders, answering customer-related emails, working on your website, doing business-related research, or placing online advertisements, you won't miss an important business call.

Choose The Right Toll Free Plan
Once you decide to use a forwardable toll free number for your business, it’s time to choose a toll free number that meets your business needs. There are literally hundreds of companies offering toll free service, but only one is going to be the right one for your company.

T-1 line from your local phone company -- Unless you have to have a traditional brick and mortar business and it brings in several thousand dollars per month, this option can be very expensive, costing anywhere from $500 to $2,500 in set-up fees, plus monthly maintenance and usage fees.
"Stand Alone" toll free telephone numbers -- Adding a “fixed” toll free number means adding another phone line to your home and can cost as much as your regular phone bill. But, you’ll know any calls from that phone are business calls and your customers will never know you’re a homebased business.
"Forwardable" toll free telephone numbers – Adding a forwardable toll free number means you’re leasing a telephone number and routing it to your existing phone line. The downside is that you’ll never know whether someone calling you is a business client, or a relative, unless your phone company can include a special ring or you forward your toll free number to your cell phone during normal business hours.

About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is a freelance writer, mixed media artist, and aspiring photographer. She enjoys creating things that bring joy to others. Visit her blog, Coming Home, to check out her latest art. Or stop by her resume site, AlyiceEdrich.net to learn how you can hire her for your next project.

Reprint Rights
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author. For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.