What is the Best Phone System for a Small Business?

We live in an increasingly connected world. Customers expect instant access to your business at all times of the day, and that makes reviewing business phone systems more important than ever.

Small business owners are spoiled for choice in the modern marketplace. There are dozens of phone systems and technologies to choose from. The only challenge is deciding which system is right for your business.

The best phone system depends on how you use your phones, the size of the business and whether you want additional features such as instant messaging. In this article we’ll look at the best phone systems for small businesses and some of the features you can access.

Reviewing The Best Phone Systems for a Small Business

1. Hosted PBX

Hosted Private Branch Exchange (PBX) phone systems are the best solution for small businesses.

Hosted PBX is a cloud-based phone system that allows you to make and receive calls through the internet. Calls are routed to desktop handsets and other internet-connected devices (including computers and smartphones). That ensures you’re always connected to suppliers, customers and other employees.

The true benefit of Hosted PBX phone systems lies in their simplicity. They work using your existing internet connection, which offers several major benefits:

• Little to no hardware requirements
• Infinitely scalable for 2+ users
• Compatible with handsets, smartphones, computers, laptops and tablets
• Provides features such as voicemail, call recording, automatic routing and more
• Real time analytics showing employee and team performance
• No maintenance costs, no management requirements

Hosted PBX phone systems are provided on a subscription basis. You pay a small monthly fee and a third party provider takes care of all the hard work. This can dramatically reduce your communication costs while still allowing you to access a fully featured phone system!

2. Small Business SIP Lines

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a technology that’s used to connect traditional landlines to the internet. If your business already has a traditional phone system installed, Business SIP Lines can help you get connected without having to upgrade your equipment.

Business SIP Lines allow you to make and receive calls, video chats and instant messages. This reduces the need for standalone software packages while making the most of your existing infrastructure.

If you already have a phone system, or if you aren’t ready to commit to a Hosted PBX package, SIP Lines are a great alternative for small businesses.

3. Softphones

VoIP technology means phone calls can now be made from any internet-connected device. 

This is possible thanks to Softphones. With a Softphone, employees can make and receive calls through computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, handsets and more.

Softphones are a type of software application that makes calls over the internet. These apps are typically paired with hosted PBX technology to make calls available on every device in your business.

Softphones also do much more than simply making calls. Depending on the application you use, your softphone may support instant messaging and video conferencing. This is ideal for businesses that want to streamline their software stack and provide the tools employees need to stay connected.

4. Inbound Business Numbers

Staying connected with customers can be a challenge as your business grows. This becomes a serious problem as you open more locations and expand to new areas.

Instead of having multiple phone numbers, most businesses opt for a single Inbound Business Number. Inbound numbers (1300 and 1800 numbers in Australia) can be shared by every phone in your business. Customers can call one number, and it will be routed according to the instructions you set.

Inbound Numbers are a flexible option. You can choose where, when and how to route inbound calls. For example, if your small business has multiple locations, you can route calls based on where the call is coming from.

That simplifies connectivity and makes your business seem more professional.

While Inbound Numbers are commonly used by businesses with multiple locations, they can also be used by small businesses that don’t have a dedicated phone system. For instance, a team of plumbers could share an Inbound Number, rather than using a mobile number as the business’ main point of contact.

5. Microsoft Teams Phone

Microsoft Teams is already one of the world’s most popular collaboration tools. It provides messaging, video conferencing, file sharing and much more.

But did you know that Microsoft Teams can also serve as a business phone system?

Microsoft Teams Phone uses VoIP technology to make and receive calls between employees and external numbers. It provides many of the same features as standalone phone systems, but it’s built into the software package you already use.

This is an ideal solution for teams that use Microsoft applications. Microsoft Teams Phone is compatible with a range of internet-connected devices (including handsets, computers, laptops and mobile phones), so it’s suitable for most workplaces.

6. Mobile Phone Plans

Finally, one of the best phone systems for small businesses is the humble mobile phone.

Many small businesses have limited need for dedicated handsets and landlines. Especially for companies where staff are on the road or working remotely, staying connected with traditional systems is a challenge.

Instead, many small businesses choose to use mobile phones instead. Providing mobile phones to employees is a good way to keep them connected with suppliers, customers and each other. Better yet, mobile phones are compatible with other hosted phone systems, such as softphones and PBX technology.

This allows you to turn mobile phones into a serious phone system that’s suitable for small businesses and environments where you don’t have access to desktop handsets.

Get the Right Phone System for Your Small Business with Telair!

Phone systems can make or break a business. When customers expect seamless connectivity, investing in the right small business phone system can make all the difference. At Telair, we offer a range of small business phone solutions, so we can tailor a package for companies of every size.

Telair is one of Australia’s most trusted telcos. We work with small, medium and large businesses across the country. Our solutions include Hosted PBX, Business SIP Lines, Inbound Numbers, mobile phone plans and much more. We are carrier-agnostic, meaning we can offer the best plans from every provider in Australia.

Whether you’re a small business operating in the local neighbourhood, or a large business with locations all over the country, we can provide a solution to suit your scale and budget.

Explore our products online, or contact us for a consultation!