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Simply put, virtual phone systems are a necessity for entrepreneurs that seek to capitalize on the effectiveness and efficiency of modern technology. The lower the overhead expenses become, the more profits the entrepreneur realizes. As a new start-up company, managing expenses while maximizing profits is key to beating the bell curve, which estimates that between fifty and eighty percent of all new small businesses will fail within the first five years. First impressions go a long way toward setting the tone for all future business relationships. To succeed in such a competitive arena, the savvy entrepreneur will strive to trade up, adopting the image of an established operation with staying power from day one. Many entrepreneurs are doing just this starting with the way they handle their calls. A virtual phone system puts a professional image on even the newest and smallest of start-ups, without breaking the bank. The benefits of these systems far outweigh the expense, with their capability of forwarding to any phone number (including a personal cell phone), establishing departments and name directories, and giving a business of any size the appearance of an established, multi-level company. Forbes, Business Week, CNN, Fox Business, Inc500, and others have praised the benefits of virtual phone systems for both entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized businesses that want Fortune 500 functionality without the huge expense. Whether the business is local, regional, national, or international, virtual phone systems are a good choice. Virtual phone systems offer options to establish a toll-free number for nationwide calling. For regional businesses that want the appearance of a presence in certain states or regions only, it is possible to select a series of numbers in the states or regions of interest. With an unlimited number of extensions, personalized voice mail greetings, call waiting and forwarding and even call announce for an unlimited number of calls, virtual phone systems eliminate the expense of a receptionist or operator to direct calls. They also offer virtual fax services and integration with iPhone, Blackberry, desk phones, and other mobile and PC devices, allowing the entrepreneur on-the-go to remain in the office even while physically out of the space. For entrepreneurs with conference-calling needs, virtual phone systems are set up to allow for small or very large (200 participants or more) conference calls complete with a full range of moderator controls. Online call management of the virtual phone system account makes maintenance of corporate communications even easier. Online account management allows for filtering and tracking of messages by type and extension. When it is time to add employees, the online management system allows the administrator to track and monitor calls delivered to other employees' extensions. For entrepreneurs that are using virtual phone systems to establish a new presence in other regions, states, or countries by use of local numbers in those areas, tracking features make it possible to identify how well marketing and advertising campaigns are working by analyzing the number of calls being generated. Online call reports offer real-time statistics on average length of calls, traffic to certain numbers, and other useful tools. One of the best features of virtual phone systems is that there is no equipment to maintain, eliminating the hassle of down-time, phone line maintenance or outages, expensive equipment repairs, breakage, loss, or theft. Regardless of what is occurring in the entrepreneur's daily life, it is business as usual over the phone. There are a wealth of options to choose from when selecting from among the many service providers, with many plans starting at about £6 per month depending on areas of operation, international usage needs, and features selected. Additional add-ons are often available free of charge or for nominal additional fees.
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