Choosing the right phone company for your 1300 number

Getting a 1300 number is an advisable course of action for any business, large or small, startup or established. The advantages are myriad. In addition to giving your company a formidable air of professionalism and respectability, a 1300 number makes it far easier for people to remember your business phone number (especially if you get yourself a smartnumber).

Getting a 1300 number is an advisable course of action for any business, large or small, startup or established. The advantages are myriad. In addition to giving your company a formidable air of professionalism and respectability, a 1300 number makes it far easier for people to remember your business phone number (especially if you get yourself a smartnumber).

Moreover, by setting up a dynamic and effective call routing system for your 1300 number, you can rest assured that your customers’ calls are answered in a timely fashion—and that you are building a reputation for exceptional customer service.

Another great thing about 1300 numbers is the range of options they provide. Even the most basic plans allow you to customise your 1300 number service to suit your company’s unique needs. More sophisticated plans include more add-ons and special features (for example, detailed call analytics), and while they cost may more per month, they are still extremely affordable. Considering its ability to lift your business to new heights, the relatively low cost of a 1300 number places it among the safest and wisest investments.

Choosing a 1300 number provider

It is important to exercise great care when choosing the right company to service your 1300 number. “The devil is in the details” applies here. Beware of terms that seem too good to be true (they probably are). Read through the entire contract; then read through it again. The last thing you want is to be surprised by hidden fees or surcharges, or locked into a prolonged service contract that doesn’t do what you thought it would.

Your 1300 number plan should fit your current circumstances. While shopping around and weighing up different options, consider things like your call volume, the locations of your customers, the number of lines you plan to use, and, of course, your budget. More expensive is not always better, and remember that most 1300 providers will allow you to upgrade your plan at any time based on your changing business needs.

Buying vs leasing

A further question: are you going to buy or lease your 1300 number? But to clarify, you are buying or leasing the Rights of Use to the number, not the number itself. 1300 numbers are the property of the Australian government; the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is tasked with overseeing their usage.

If you choose to lease you 1300 number, you will be leasing the number from a company that has already obtained the Rights of Use from the government. That means the price will be marked up. So why do businesses choose to lease? Because if the rights to the specific number you want (whether phone words or smartnumbers) have already been purchased, the only way to get them is via a leasing agreement.

That is not to say that you can’t get a great 1300 number directly from the provider of your choice. Search for all available 1300 Smartnumbers here and see if you can find one that catches your fancy. Prepare to pay at least $250 for your number. Once you purchase the rights, the number essentially belongs to you for as long as you want it. No one else can use it, unless of course you choose to lease it out.

What’s more, you can change providers and/or the location of your business without having to change numbers. Leasing a 1300 number does not give you the same privilege, and for that reason it is generally best to buy the Rights of Use.