Are Toll Free Numbers a Good Choice for Small Business Owners?

Toll Free

A toll-free, or 800 number, can be a key asset to any small business. It’s another option besides giving out a cell phone or landline phone number, and it comes with a several of benefits and features. If you’re weighing the value of getting an 800 number for your company, get a comprehensive view of what it entails first.

What is a Toll Free Number?

A toll-free number gets its name because the person who calls the number can do so free of charge. So if your customers contact you from a landline phone, they will not have to worry about paying long-distance charges for the call. Instead, the 800 number account holder must pay all fees associated with the phone call. The phone number works similar to any standard phone number except for this one major distinction.

Generic Toll Free vs. Vanity Toll Free number?

You have a number of different toll-free number types from which to choose. They differ by the code at the beginning of the number. In most cases, you can purchase a number that begins with “800,” “877,” “888,” or “866″ from the toll-free services provider. Numbers that start with 800 tend to be more expensive than the other types because they are more common, and not as freely available for new business owners to select. You also have the option of choosing what is called a “vanity” toll-free number, which translates to a set of words (for instance, 1-800-MATTRESS, with the second “S” added for branding).

How it works?

After you choose your toll-free number, you can assign it to ring to another phone number, usually a landline or cell phone. When the customer calls the toll-free number, is routed directly to the number you’ve chosen. You have the option of picking up the line, or allowing it to go to voice mail. You must pay a per-minute fee as the account holder for as long as the call lasts.

Benefits of having a Toll Free number

A number of benefits come with toll-free numbers, but two stand out for business owners. For example, giving out a toll-free number can make the business look more professional and established. Secondly, an overwhelmed business owner can better manage calls from customers and other business contacts using this separate line.

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