VoIP for Small Business: Benefits and Best Practices

Are you a small business owner looking for a cost-effective phone solution? A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system might be the answer. Unlike traditional phone solutions, an internet business phone system offers many useful features at no additional cost. In this article, we will compare the best business phone services and internet telephone systems to help you decide which one is best for your business needs.

Before diving into the comparison, it's important to understand what a VoIP solution is and the benefits it can offer. VoIP technology allows users to make or receive calls using the internet, instead of traditional phone lines. This means that the sound of your voice is converted into a digital signal that can be sent over the internet. Many small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups use VoIP services because they typically come with extra features and can cost less than traditional business phone services. Internet business phone systems offer features beyond just calling, such as caller ID, call forwarding, call management, voicemail, call waiting, conferencing, video calls, and more.

What Is the Best VoIP for Small Business?

When it comes to choosing the best VoIP service for small business phone systems, there are many options available. In this section, we will take a look at some of the top VoIP providers in the market and compare their features and pricing to help you make an informed decision.

1. Nextiva

Nextiva is a reliable and trustworthy business VoIP service that offers many powerful features. You can get unlimited calling, auto-attendant, unlimited internet faxing, advanced call management, and more. You’ll also get a toll-free number for free with all their plans. Nextiva is suitable for startups, small businesses, and even mid-level to enterprise businesses. They also offer an on-premise office phone system that works on existing handsets.

Features:

• Complete unified communication system with voice, video, text messages, mobile, and web connectivity

• Easy setup

• Reliable and trustworthy service with HD voice call quality

• Fast and knowledgeable customer support

• Unlimited calling (no per-minute charges)

• Instant conference calls (including real-time video conference calls)

• Manage voicemails from your email

• Keep your local number

• Share business phone numbers with remote teams or add extensions

• Dedicated Nextiva app to manage calls from your mobile devices, tablets, cell phone, or laptop computers

Price: Their Essential plan starts from $18.95/month per user.

2. RingCentral

RingCentral is a powerful yet easy-to-use VoIP service provider. They offer reliable, secure, and hassle-free Internet phone service suitable for small businesses and large businesses. You can easily set up and activate their service within a few minutes. They offer useful features including call monitoring, call forwarding, call routing, automatic call recording, call logs, video meetings conferencing, and screen sharing. You can also integrate it with 3rd party apps and services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Zapier, Salesforce, Office 365, and more.

Features:

• Unlimited inbound and outbound phone calls in the US and CA

• Choose a toll-free or local number

• Voicemail to text feature

• Reliable cloud-based phone system

• Automatic call recording

• Unlimited audio and video conferencing

• Robust API and third-party integration ecosystem

• Glip Pro team messaging is included for free which makes it easy for teams to collaborate

Price: Starting from $19.99 on a monthly basis depending on the number of users. You can also pay annually and save up to 33%. You get unlimited calls in US and Canada, but international and toll-free minutes vary based on plan.

3. Ooma Office Phone

Ooma Office Phone is a popular small business VOIP phone provider that has affordable 1-800 toll-free phone numbers. They offer a toll-free number for free with all their plans. Ooma is well-loved because of its ease of use. Plus, you can get some great features with Ooma like on-hold music for call queues, a virtual receptionist, extension dialing, mobile phone apps, and more.

Price: Ooma has plans starting at $19.95/month. Their Office Pro plan costs $24.95 per month and comes with additional features like video conferencing, call recording, and more.

4. Phone.com

Phone.com is one of the most affordable VoIP services for small businesses. They offer different features like call forwarding, call waiting service, caller ID, voicemail, text messaging, and more. You’ll also get at least one local or toll-free number with all their plans. Phone.com is a cost-effective service with their plans starting from $11.99 per month. However, there is a limit of 300 minutes and 3000 SMS with their basic plan. You need to upgrade to a higher plan to increase that limit.

Price: Starting from $11.99 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is one of the best VoIP phone services and virtual phone systems in the market. It comes with the most essential calling features including incoming call control, call transfers, custom greeting, simultaneous call handling, VoIP calling, and voicemail with all their plans. To make outgoing calls, you can use their mobile or desktop apps. And there is no restriction on the number of minutes that you can use, unlike Phone.com.

Price: Starting from $26 per month. It also offers a free trial to test its service.

6. GoToConnect

GoToConnect, formerly Jive, is a popular business VoIP provider for small businesses. They offer unlimited calls, unlimited extensions, and a free local or toll-free business phone