Your Business Phones: What to Check Before, During and After a Switch

Most small business owners only think about their phone system twice: when they sign up, and when something goes wrong. The time in between is when a little attention saves the most money.

In my work overseeing managed VoIP and telecommunications services at DirecTech Connect, the same few questions come up again and again. Here is the short version, with links to the full articles.

Before you sign anything

Price per line is the easiest number to compare and the least useful. Ask who answers when something breaks, what happens to your calls during an outage, and what it costs to leave. I go through all six questions in Before You Switch Business Phone Systems, Ask These Six Questions.

When you move providers

Your number can come with you. The biggest mistake is canceling the old service before the new provider confirms the move. The step-by-step order is in Switching Phone Providers Without Losing Your Business Number.

Every day after that

A missed call rarely shows up as an error message. It shows up as a slower month. A Dropped Call Is a Missed Job covers how to find the leaks you can’t see.

More of my writing for small business owners is at daniellelemons.com/writing.