When you have an exciting startup that’s just trying to get off the ground, you’re probably on the lookout for ways to maximize the capital you have. You want to have the functionality of a full office, but at an efficient cost that’s just right for your fledgling business. To be able to make the most of your capital and still be able to deliver good services and a great first impression, you may want to get the following:
- VoIP phone services.
A great alternative to landline phone systems, internet telephony may be more suited to startups because VoIP-based phones are cheaper to maintain and easier to set up. You can have the same functions for a cheaper price each month and possibly expanded phone capabilities. A basic business telephone package can normally cost only $20 a month, which already includes a full suite of features like voice mail, caller ID, call filtering, call waiting and many more. Service providers like RingCentral also offer online faxing.
- File sharing.
Email may be a great way to send and receive work files for collaboration, but file sharing may be more efficient especially if you work through a virtual office. Sometimes, the email threads get too congested or confusing, with revisions all over the place. When you use a file sharing application, you can keep track of all the updates and revisions made by you and your staff while at the same time keeping the accessibility very easy.
- Virtual PBX.
Take your VoIP phone services one step further by implementing a call management system. When you’re working purely from virtual offices and your staff is located all over the country, being able to manage calls may be a lifesaver. You can make sure that the right calls are directed to the right people yourself. If call management may be too tedious for you, you can always ask your service provider to host your switch at their location and manage it for you.
- Toll free number.
Yes, you read it right. You may think that acquiring an 800 number is simply too extravagant for a startup but you’re totally discounting the great benefits it gives your business. Larger companies just acquire one to maintain a status quo but smaller operations can gain advantages like expanded marketing reach, increases ad response and more customers in general. Talk to VoIP phone service providers for cheaper options when acquiring numbers like these.
- Virtual office.
Setting up and maintaining the startup takes a lot of work. When things get toxic, you might want to stay at home and finish your work there. When you have a virtual office, your time gets more flexible and you can work on your own terms.
Henry Conrad is a 29-year-old game developer from Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to his gaming and being a tech junky, Henry also dabbles in creative writing, which allows him to create great storylines and backgrounds for his characters. Follow Henry on Twitter and join me in Google +
