How many extensions will our company need?
One of the first things to consider is how many telephone users are currently employed within your company? Once you know this number, you will be able to determine how many extensions you will need a phone system to support and how many incoming phone lines.
How many incoming lines from your service provider (AT&T, Verizon) will be needed?
The rule of thumb is 3 incoming lines for every 8 extensions. This is the minimum number incoming lines. However, if the company has heavy phone usage e.g. real estate or mortgage offices, then usually you have 1 incoming line for each extension.
Will the amount of telephone users increase?
The very next thing to consider is whether or not the number of people using telephones within your company is likely to increase in the next five to seven years and if so, by how many? This is because on average, businesses change their phone system every five to seven years and so it would be wise to account for this and buy a system that your business will not outgrow too quickly.
Which applications do you want?
One of the most important considerations is do you know what applications of a phone system you require for your business. Some features like group hunting, pick-up, transfer and speed-dial come as standard with most systems but applications such as automated attendant, call recording, and voicemail are additional features that can greatly improve customer service and staff efficiency. So, it is best to consider the benefits that these features can offer to your business.
Always know your budget!
The cost of telephone systems will vary depending on a number of factors and so a prospective buyer should know their budget. Factors range from the number of users required to any enhanced applications that you may want to implement. Applications could be anything from voicemail to an auto-attendant and so on.
Purchase or lease finance?
Another thing to consider is whether you will purchase a phone system outright or lease finance it. For example, leasing offers tax benefits and allows you to spread the cost over a period of years. When looking into this, be sure to ask your potential suppliers of the leasing arrangements and the finance terms that are available.
In summary
A used phone system with at least a 1 year warranty is a great choice to obtain all the required features of a 21st century phone system at a fraction of the cost of new.
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