What are the Best Phone Systems for Startups?

Being in a startup company means you’re facing some special circumstances. Your budget is tight, your income is fluctuating and uncertain, and the office space always seems to be more “space” than “office.”

But there are ways to stay lean in these cases, and one of those solutions for cutting office expenses is to use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems for your phones. Not only will this technology often be cheaper than traditional phones, but it will be easier and more flexible to manage.

If you’re already sold on the idea of VoIP, however, one question remains. What are the best VoIP phone systems for accomplishing just that?

Let’s take a look at a few.

Best Phone Systems for Startups

• Nextiva

Starting at just around $21 per month, Nextiva is built for businesses and not just for residents, making it an ideal choice for any start-up. But there are plenty of those around, so let’s ask a deeper question: why is Nextiva so ideal compared to other providers?Well, with Nextiva you’ll get plenty of the usual features such as an auto-attendant, a toll-free number, and on-hold music. Essentially, you’ll sound like a Fortune 500 company in a jiff.

• RingCentral

RingCentral has similar pricing (about $25 per month) as Nextiva, and though the price is a little higher, the benefits and features are just as nice to have at a startup.You’ll also like the unlimited long-distance minutes you get through RingCentral, which is important for a startup that uses technology to talk to clients in every location.

• Aptela

With a price in the area of RingCentral’s and a test drive feature that allows your company to temporarily have free VoIP service, Aptela is another provider worth checking out if you’re a start-up.Lots of features, like integrating remote workers, are available for instant usage and you’ll also find a handy web interface with which you can manage it all.

More Than Just Price 

Do you have to listen to us and choose one of the VoIP service providers above? Of course not. There are plenty of high-quality VoIP providers out there; but what we ask is that you take a little time to discern which is best for you.

Don’t only weigh price, but features: you may find that paying a couple of dollars for a few extra features really helps your start-up in the long run.

Stay tuned for a follow up post that will outline the best IP phones for startups to use with hosted VoIP systems.