Pay Per Minute
The old standard method was that a company would be charged per minute. At the end of each month, the telephone company would bill them and charge them for each minute of connection time. Often, an 800 number phone service will offer this type of billing option. Prices range from a few cents a minute to over a quarter a minute, depending on the provider. These plans are good for companies that don't expect very many calls on their 800 numbers.Monthly Plans
These days, you can get a plan from an 800 number phone service that offers a flat monthly rate which includes a set number of minutes. This is a better deal if you expect more calls on your 800 number. These plans are usually the cheapest, especially for a high volume of calls. As long as you're under the allowed number of minutes, you pay the simple flat rate. There is then a per-minute rate for all minutes above that number.Package Deals
You can also save money by taking advantage of package deals. Online providers offer more than just toll-free numbers; they have special features that allow you to use voice-mail, integrate your phone with email and other tools, teleconferencing, VOIP and much more. If you put everything you need together into one package, you'll save some money on your toll-free number.Comparison Shopping
In the old days, it was much easier to get an 800 number. You simply called the telephone company and they set one up for you. There were few options to choose from. Of course, in those days it also cost quite a bit more. Today, there are so many companies to choose from that it can be overwhelming.Before you contact an 800 number phone service to set up your toll-free number, it's important to decide a few things. First of all, exactly what do you need it for? Second, what volume of calls do you expect to get? Finally, work out a budget that's reasonable for you and let this help you guide your decision. Finding a good 800 number phone service is not hard to do, but you should spend a little time and shop around.
