As a business owner, having reliable cell phone plans is critical for connecting with customers and employees on-the-go. With the right provider, you can take your small business communication to the next level.
But with so many options to choose from, how do you determine the best cell phone plan for your needs?
In this comprehensive 1600+ word guide, we’ll compare the top 8 business cell phone plans to help you make the right choice.
Contents
Why a Business Cell Phone Plan is Essential
First, let‘s discuss why a dedicated small business cell phone plan should be a top priority:
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Keep business and personal separate – With a separate business number, you can switch off during your personal time and avoid work calls interrupting family time.
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Increased mobility – Cell phone plans allow you and your employees to take calls, access email, and work remotely from anywhere. This greatly improves flexibility and productivity.
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Professional image – A business cell phone number looks more professional and serious than using a personal number. This helps build trust with customers.
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Seamless team coordination – Cell phones make it easy for your staff to communicate and collaborate efficiently via call, text, chat apps, video conferences and more.
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Top-notch customer service – Being accessible via cell phone is key for providing 5-star customer service. This can increase sales and help you stand out.
According to Small Business Trends, 58% of small businesses already utilize a BYOD (bring your own device) policy for cell phones. This allows employees to use their personal mobile for work duties.
However, JSA Research suggests that over 67% of small firms are now choosing dedicated business cell phone plans over BYOD. This keeps work and personal communication securely separated.
Clearly, small business mobile plans are becoming incredibly popular. Let‘s explore how to choose the best solution for your needs.
7 Factors to Consider When Comparing Plans
When researching business cell phone plans, be sure to evaluate these 7 key factors:
1. Features
The feature set can vary greatly between providers. Look for important tools like:
- Auto attendants – Automatically answer and route calls
- Voicemail transcription – Convert voicemails to text
- Call forwarding – Send calls to other numbers
- Conference calling – Host meetings by phone
- SMS/MMS – Send group texts and media messages
- Video conferences – Face to face virtual meetings
- Call recording – Review past conversations
Prioritize features that will best serve your customers and team members.
2. Calling & Data Allowance
Examine the included minutes for domestic calling, number of texts, and amount of monthly data.
Unlimited plans are recommended for most small businesses to avoid overage fees. Individual employee usage can vary wildly month to month.
According to Zipwhip‘s Texting for Business Report, the average business sends and receives around 300 text messages per month. Pick a plan that comfortably covers your texting needs.
3. Number of Users
Determine how many total employees require access to the business cell phone plan.
Some providers charge per user. Others allow unlimited users. Scaling up your plan as your team grows can get costly.
4. Customer Support
You‘ll want to pick a provider that offers exceptional 24/7 customer support.
Connection issues and setup problems can occur. Timely support ensures any problems get resolved quickly, so you can get back to conducting business.
5. Scalability
As your small business expands, your communication needs will also likely grow.
Select a cell phone plan that allows you to easily add more lines, features, and users down the road. This prevents having to completely switch plans as soon as you outgrow your existing one.
6. Price
Calculate the total monthly cost of the cell phone plan based on all required features and number of users.
Some providers offer discounts when bundling multiple lines into a single plan. A family plan-style setup can lower your overall costs.
7. Contract Terms
Most major wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon require 1-2 year contracts for discounted phones and rates.
Alternatively, many VoIP business phone providers like RingCentral are contract-free and charge month-to-month. This offers the most flexibility if your needs change.
Now that you know what to look for in a small business cell phone plan, let‘s explore the top options available and see how they compare.
Top 8 Business Cell Phone Plans for Your Company
Based on extensive research and first-hand testing, we recommend considering these top cell phone providers for your small business:
1. Nextiva
Nextiva tops our list as the best VoIP business phone service on the market.
The cloud-based system offers a robust set of features including unlimited calling, auto attendants, intelligent call routing, CRM integrations, live analytics, conferencing, and more.
There are mobile and desktop apps so calls can be received anywhere across devices. This allows for seamless communication between you, employees, and customers.
Nextiva streamlines and connects your entire business communication ecosystem into one powerful platform.
Pricing starts at just $18.95 per user/month. In our experience, Nextiva provides an unparalleled value. It‘s incredibly easy to set up, manage, and scale as your business grows.
2. RingCentral
RingCentral is another leading VoIP provider that offers strong unified communication features and flexibility.
The wide range of features includes unlimited calling/text, auto-receptionist, voicemail transcription, fax, SMS, video meetings, and team messaging.
There are also integrations with popular business tools like Zendesk, Salesforce, Office 365, Google Workspace, and more.
RingCentral offers mobile and desktop apps so you can connect from any device. Pricing is competitive starting at $19.99 per user/month.
One advantage is RingCentral‘s large network of carrier partnerships which helps ensure quality service and reliability. Overall an excellent business phone system.
3. Ooma
Ooma Office stands out as a top virtual phone service designed specifically for small business needs.
It provides a long list of features like virtual receptionist, ring groups, voicemail to email, call forwarding, toll-free numbers, mobile app, and more.
A major perk of Ooma is the low cost of entry starting at just $19.95 per user/month. It‘s a great option for bootstrapped startups and solopreneurs.
The system works right out of the box and is very easy to set up. Ooma utilizes your existing internet connection to power the phone system.
4. Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone leverages Zoom‘s popular video conferencing platform to also provide a full-featured business phone system.
This allows you to make calls, host meetings, chat, and manage the phone service all within the same Zoom interface.
Benefits include unlimited regional calling, auto-receptionist, voicemail transcription, conference calling, CRM integration, call recording, IVR menus, and more.
If your business already utilizes Zoom for video calls and online meetings, then Zoom Phone is an excellent extension with easy integration.
Plans are affordable starting at just $10 per user/month for metered tiers. Unlimited regional calling is $15 per user/month.
5. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a long-standing provider of virtual phone services for small businesses.
It allows you to instantly get a toll-free or local business number that can be managed online or via Grasshopper‘s mobile app.
Notable features include call forwarding, auto-attendants, voicemail to text, unlimited US/Canada calling, vanity numbers, and more.
Downsides are its limited global availability and lack of video chat options. But for basic call management, Grasshopper is a cost-effective choice with plans starting around $26/month.
6. Phone.com
Phone.com shines through its extremely flexible, customizable business VoIP phone service.
It offers all the standard features you‘d expect like auto-attendants, voicemail, conference calling, call forwarding, call analytics, CRM integrations, video meetings, and more.
The plans are very modular, allowing you to mix and match different components to build the perfect solution for your needs.
Phone.com also provides outstanding reliability and call quality. You can easily manage the phone system via desktop or mobile apps.
Pricing starts low at just $12.99 per user/month for the basic plan. Overall, Phone.com hits a sweet spot between features and affordability.
7. AT&T
As one of the largest wireless carriers, AT&T offers small business plans leveraging its nationwide 4G and 5G networks.
With AT&T, you get awesome mobile features, unlimited domestic calling and data, blazing fast 5G speeds, data sharing across devices, and competitive international options.
There are pooled data plans available to share data across up to 25 phones and tablets. Reliability is also excellent given AT&T‘s substantial network infrastructure.
Downsides are the required contract terms and limited business phone system features compared to VoIP solutions. But for pure mobile connectivity, AT&T is hard to beat.
Unlimited plan pricing starts around $30/month per line. Overall a top traditional carrier pick for cell service.
8. Verizon
Like AT&T, Verizon is a wireless juggernaut that operates America‘s largest 4G LTE networks.
Verizon offers advancements like 5G coverage for incredible mobile speeds and performance. You also get unlimited domestic talk, text, and data.
International coverage is available in over 200 countries. And there are shared data options to spread data across your staff‘s devices.
Phone selection is also immense, and Verizon offers great business support and security tools. Downsides again are contract requirements and limitations for business system features.
But if mobile reliability is king, Verizon is a top contender. Unlimited plans start around $30/month per line.
Recommended Plans Based on Your Needs
With many excellent options available, which business cell phone plan is right for your company?
Here are our top picks based on various small business scenarios:
- Startups / solopreneurs – Ooma, Grasshopper, Phone.com
- eCommerce business – Nextiva, RingCentral, Phone.com
- Professional services firm – Nextiva, RingCentral
- Mobile employees – Verizon, AT&T
- Limited budget – Ooma, Grasshopper
- Advanced features – Nextiva, RingCentral
- Existing Zoom user – Zoom Phone
- Regional business – Verizon, AT&T
We recommend starting with a free trial to experience business phone systems firsthand before committing.
Carefully assess your unique requirements and priorities to determine which solution best aligns with your needs and budget.
Key Takeaways
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With a reliable business cell phone plan, you gain mobility, flexibility, and professionalism to better serve customers.
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Leading small business providers include Nextiva, RingCentral, Ooma, Phone.com, Zoom Phone, Grasshopper, AT&T, and Verizon.
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Compare plans based on features, data allowances, price, contract terms, scalability, and number of users.
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VoIP systems like Nextiva and RingCentral simplify setup without requiring new devices.
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For startups, virtual phone services like Grasshopper provide basic features to get started.
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Assess your needs, industry, and budget to pick the right plan for your business.
Reliable mobile communication is pivotal for small business success in today‘s world. Hopefully this guide makes it easier to find a cell phone solution tailored for your unique requirements.
