Businesses have used toll-free numbers since January 1966. It has been a few years since they were first introduced, but many companies still use toll-free 800 numbers as a primary way to communicate with customers and conveniently offer support. Due to popular demand, toll-free numbers have continued to be added, so besides 800 numbers for your business, there are other options like those beginning with 833, 844, 855, 866, and so on.
In this article, we will discuss the advantages of securing a toll-free number for your business and how to get one for yourself.
What Exactly Is a Toll-Free 800 Number?
A toll-free number is a telephone number that a customer can call without worrying about incurring any additional charge to their bill. The business will foot the bill for any applicable fees like long-distance charges. Toll-free numbers can be used through various channels, from optional add-ons within popular phone service providers to independent platforms like 800.com.
The cost of a toll-free number often depends on the type of service you choose or prefer. For most voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) platforms, the price typically begins at around $5 to $15 monthly plus usage for a toll-free number. While this may be a slight increase in cost compared to a free local phone number, the investment may be worth considering the benefits that the 800 number can provide to your business.
Why a Toll-Free Number?
A toll-free 800 number can be an excellent way for businesses to serve customers that may be outside of their local area. While many phone service plans offer unlimited domestic calling, there may be times when calls outside of the local area mean hefty long-distance fees for the caller.
In our technologically advanced era, toll-free numbers reverse the billing and enable the business or callee to cover the cost of the call and not the caller. This has become increasingly common with larger, nationwide organizations, customer support teams, and other environments where it is crucial to make communication as easy and convenient as possible for your client base.
These days, toll-free numbers are still actively used for their original purpose to accommodate users on limited phone plans. However, they are also popular with businesses that want to mimic larger organizations. Consumers typically associate them with larger corporations since they were the first to begin using them back in the day.
Toll-free 800 numbers can also help boost your customer engagement. Because these phone numbers are so widely recognized as belonging to businesses, calls coming from them are less likely to be silenced than those coming from an unrecognized area code.
How to Get Your Own Toll-Free Number
Obtaining a toll-free number could make a significant difference to your business. It will enable you to engage more with your current, new, and prospective customers and establish trust and credibility with your audience. Here’s how to get a toll-free number.
Find a Service Provider
Once you decide to invest in a toll-free number, contact your current phone service provider. You might be able to add one to your existing service and obtain a better rate on a number directly from them. If not, you can take a look at other business phone systems (like VoIP) and assess their rates.
Selecting the right business phone system is critical as communications are the foundation of most businesses’ service delivery and, ultimately, their success. Unfortunately, this task can often be tedious and complicated. Unless you are in the telecom industry, this is not your primary area of expertise, and you may need some help.
Check out our checklist to help you assess the needs of your business and navigate through
the many VoIP providers available to find the best one to support your company’s
goals.
Each service provider will have differing rates and packages. Some will require a minimum monthly payment, have limitations or quotas on minutes used, and many others have no monthly fee, but opt to charge per minute used. Or you may find a provider that offers a hybrid option of a monthly fee plus usage. Every telephone service provider will also offer a specific number of extensions and other features.
Calls coming in from different areas can cost different amounts. When a consumer from Europe calls a business in the United States, it will cost more than having a customer who is also located within the United States. Compare the rates and plans of providers before you commit to one.
Check Other Features
Almost every telephone service provider will offer basic features like caller ID, voice mail, voice-to-email, call forwarding, auto-attendant service, and more. Check out all the features and find one best suited for your business’s budget and communication needs. Be sure to ask questions like:
- Can I efficiently use this for inbound and outbound purposes?
- How many local numbers will I get with this service?
- Are the features worth what I will be paying each month?
- Does the service include video conferencing?
Choose Your Prefix
Once you’ve decided on a provider, you’ll then want to choose the prefix for your toll-free number. Although 800 is the most popular and seemingly reliable, there are other options too, including 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, or 888. It is also worth mentioning that toll-free numbers are first-come, first-serve. You may have to research a few different numbers before finding one you like the most or best suits your preferences.
Set Up Your Account and Assign the Number
After selecting the service, simply set up your account and choose the package that best suits your business’s needs. Most service providers enable you to select your own number should it be available. You can also customize it. Next, assign the number to your existing phone line.
Does My Business Need a Toll-Free Number?
Toll-free numbers are ideal for businesses that serve or wish to serve customers all across the nation. It helps them to have a central, singular, dedicated phone line for support, sales, etc. It’s also beneficial for contact centers, sales teams, and other environments where you want your team to be as easy to call as possible.
However, there are some scenarios where a toll-free number may not be the most ideal. If you do most of your operations within one specific region, it might not be worth it or even necessary to accommodate callers throughout the country. Furthermore, a local number can also communicate to your audience that you are part of their community and help support your business locally. It is essential to weigh your options and do your research before choosing to invest in a toll-free number for your business.
Still have questions?
Our customer success team can help you decide which VoIP solutions are right for your business based on your specific communication needs. Contact us below, and a team member will be with you as soon as possible.
