How can I choose a Business Phone System that's right for my business?

Home » Information Technology » Business Phone Systems » How can I choose a Business Phone System that's right for my business?

As you research your business phone system options, you’ll want to start the process by considering the size of your business and your current number of employees. Those considerations will help you arrive at the number of lines and extensions you’ll require from your business phone system. You’ll of course need as many extensions as you do phones, but your calculation of extensions should also include your fax machines, dial-up modems, or any other item that might require an extension. If you have very few employees and need only a few phones, then a KSU-less system might be more than adequate for your needs. Alternatively, a business with 75 employees and a high volume of phone traffic might require a PBX system. After examining the size of your business, consider the following as well:


• Functionality: Even the KSU-less systems will in many cases offer standard business phone services such as conferencing or voice mail. On the other hand, if you’re interested in features such as an auto-attendant or automatic forwarding it’s likely that you’ll need to examine one of the more expensive systems.


• Future expansion: Even among those systems which offer a wide range of attractive features, it’s important to investigate the future scalability of each system if you foresee significant expansion within your business. You’ll pay more upfront for a business phone system that is easily upgraded and enlarged, but that initial payment can result in significant savings if compared to the cost of completely retooling your phone system in the future.


After you’ve narrowed the field of potential systems, make sure that you and your employees test your top choices before making a decision. Potentially, at least, a business phone system is a large investment for your business, and a field test offers you the opportunity to know with certainty that you’re confident with the product.



Next Page: What should I look for in a Business Phone System vendor?

Related Business Phone Systems Articles