Today, most businesses have some kind of answering system in place. It might be as uncomplicated as a machine connected to a telephone or a voice mail system from the phone company. However, these options only work for personal use and very small businesses. If you run a local business you want your callers to get the information they need, and have the opportunity for after hours contact. When it comes to answering services, you have two major choices for fee structures. You can go with a company who charges you according to usage or a flat rate phone answering service. Here are some of the many advantages a flat rate service can provide.
What’s the Difference?
A flat rate service charges you one fee every month. This is very easy to understand. However, a usage based system may charge you by the minute or the number of calls you receive. They also may have additional charges for email, text messages, and other features.
Cost
Are you concerned about your monthly expenses? Just about every business these days wants to keep costs to a minimum. On average, flat rate services are much cheaper. This will help keep your operating costs down, and make your business more efficient.
Volume Doesn’t Matter
A usage based answering service may charge you by the call. If you have an unusually large amount of phone calls in a month, you may get a bill which is very high. This can’t happen with a flat rate phone answering service, because your bill is the same amount no matter how many calls you receive.
No Hidden Fees
When you have a flat rate service, you know what your charges will be every month. There is no way your answering service can add hidden or extra charges or surcharges to your bill. This is another way to keep your costs low.
Simple to Budget
It’s not always easy to figure a budget for a business, especially for medical professionals. When you have an item in your budget which is fixed, you can depend on it and this makes budgeting a little easier.
Less Stress
A good flat rate phone answering service will make your office more efficient, lower costs, and provide fewer unpleasant surprises. This can make life just a little bit simpler and easier to cope with. In today’s business world, stress levels are very high, and once you lower stress you can increase your quality of life.
