Below, we’ll explore what kinds of companies will benefit from an American toll-free number, point out the privileges it entails, and help you choose the best service provider for your needs.

Navigate:

• What Is a US Toll-Free Number?
• What Area Codes Are Available for Toll-Free Numbers in the USA?
• When Do You Need a USA 800 Number for Business?
• How Do You Get a Toll-free Number in the USA?
• Why Buy a USA Toll-free Number From MightyCall?
• Do I Need to Provide Special Documentation to Get an American Toll-Free Number?
• How Do You Transfer Your Existing Phone Number to MightyCall?
• How Do American Toll-Free Numbers Work?
• US Toll-Free Number Format
• Who Pays for a Call to a USA Toll-Free Phone Number?
• What’s the Difference Between Toll-free, Local, and Vanity Numbers?
• Benefits of Getting a 1-800 Number in the United States
• Key Features of US Toll-Free Service
• What Is Required for the Implementation of US Toll-Free Service, Including Equipment?
• Types of Toll-Free Numbers in America
• Important Points About 800 Numbers in USA
• How to Choose Between USA Toll-Free Number Providers?
• Make the Most Out of Your US Toll-Free Number

What Is a US Toll-Free Number?

Toll-free numbers are phone numbers that are free of charge for the caller. The party that receives the call handles the expenses. The US toll-free number list includes “classic” area code 800 as well as 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833. The service is applicable for the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) countries: the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

What Area Codes Are Available for Toll-Free Numbers in the USA?

As the oldest, the 1-800 number is kind of the “Adam and Eve” of toll-free codes. However, as a business owner, there’s no need to think of “800” as a more reliable area code and hunt after it. All of the prefixes mentioned below are perfectly safe, reliable, and free for people making the call.

Here’s a list of nationally free-to-dial area codes:

• 800
• 833
• 844
• 855
• 866
• 877
• 888

Why are there so many toll-free prefixes? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the governing and regulatory authority for US toll-free numbers. When the 800 code, in use since the 1960s, became nearly used up, the FCC created two new options in the 90s: 888 and 877. As their popularity grew, new codes 866,855,844, and 833 were added in the years 2000-2017. These codes are the most widely- available 800 numbers today. New codes 822, 880-887, and 889 are supposedly next in line.

When Do You Need a USA 800 Number for Business?

Secure your professional identity – For decades, these “fancy” telephone numbers were monopolized by large businesses. Today, they are widely available, but customers’ mentality is still the same old – we instantly associate toll-free calls with reputable, professional companies.

Beat the competition – Anyone here doesn’t like free goods? The perk of 800 and other similar phone numbers is that they’re free on the callers’ end. This makes customers twice as likely to dial your number than that of a competitor.

Create a customer base in the USA – Let’s say you’re an overseas online store and need a virtual presence in America. These numbers will make it simple for your customers to contact customer support or other departments just like they would for a business in their own area.

Increase customer experience – Customers love to pay less and get more. That’s exactly what you offer them with this free option. Not only does this help with attracting new clients, but it also retains existing ones who are more likely to contact you again for free.

Keep personal and business numbers separate – With a national phone number, you can route calls to any device. At the same time, you’ll instantly see when someone’s calling your business line.

Get other professional phone features – As part of a business phone system, national free-to-dial numbers come with dozens of team and customer-oriented features that make them an incredible deal for growing a business.

How Do You Get a Toll-free Number in the USA?

How to buy a toll-free number in the USA? It just takes a few steps:

1. Examine the need in your industry/niche – Is your business national or has plans to go national? Are you in e-commerce? Are you a professional practice/firm with a local presence that wants to reach out to clients in neighboring states? All of these are notable reasons to get a toll-free number in the USA.
2. Choose a country – North American Number Plans work with phone numbers with toll-free codes in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. If you need a number for another country, look into international numbers.
3. Register the number – Compare VoIP providers and sign up with the service and subscription plan that best fit your needs. You can also go for a free trial to get a hang of all the features that come with your number.
4. Set up your users and extensions – When you’ve picked a number, don’t forget to add users to your account. These people have access to your company number, and dedicated roles (like user or admin), and are assigned extensions.
5. Share the number with your clients – Now that your professional presence is ensured, it’s time to put it up on those billboards! Don’t forget to make the number visible across all your customer communication channels.

Why Buy a USA Toll-free Number From MightyCall?

1. All-virtual – have your number up and running in minutes, and connect your whole team to the platform, wherever they are located
2. World-class security & reliability: your conversation quality will stand the test of time thanks to our 99.99% uptime, 24/7 network security, data encryption, and protection from robocallers.
3. Other numbers in addition to your 800 number – Competitors often charge extra for adding local phone numbers or vanity numbers, but we know customers need variety and all the tools they can use, so we don’t. You can get these different options with your plan.
4. Great features – get access to dozens of features, none of which are per-month extras. From team-oriented features like call transfer, and conference calls to call recording and voice-to-text, every aspect of the customer communication cycle is covered to help you convert calls to sales.
5. Competitive price – with some of the lowest per-user prices without a drop in call quality or feature set, our packages offer some of the best value on the market.
6. Live Customer support – our customer support consistently gets top reviews because it consists of real people with years of experience. We have numerous ways for customers to reach out if they need help.

Do I Need to Provide Special Documentation to Get an American Toll-Free Number?

National regulations backed by the FCC require all USA toll-free numbers for business to undergo verification to be able to send SMS. This is a recent measure taken to protect users against phone scams. Your provider will instruct you on how to fill out the verification form when you get a new phone number.

How Do You Transfer Your Existing Phone Number to MightyCall?

Some business owners already have an American toll-free number but would like to switch to another provider without losing their company identity – that is, the number already associated with their company and familiar to customers. The reasons for this range from a more cost-effective option to a provider that’s more scalable, team-oriented, or offers more built-in integrations.

Whatever your reasons for switching providers, you can port your number easily. At MightyCall, number porting is completely free and consists of just a few steps, most of which are on us:

1. Collect the information from your current provider – This includes the account owner’s full name, the service address, and the PIN. If you don’t know the PIN, contact your provider.
2. Send the porting request to MightyCall – In addition to the above, we’ll need your email under the MightyCall account, and the LOA – Letter of Authorization.
3. Wait 7-14 days – Most porting requests are completed in around a week but may take longer depending on your current provider.

That’s it! You’re then free to enjoy your old number with a bunch of new benefits!

How Do American Toll-Free Numbers Work?

The post Toll-Free Number in the USA: How to Get One for Your Business first appeared on MightyCall.

• What is a Canadian Toll-Free Number?
• What Toll-free Area Codes are Available in Canada?
• When Do You Need a 1-800 Number in Canada?
• How to Get a 1-800 Number in Canada?
• Why Buy 800 Numbers From MightyCall?
• Do You Need to Provide Any Documents to Get a Toll-free Service in Canada?
• How to Transfer Your Number to MightyCall?
• How Do Such Numbers Work?
• Toll-Free Number Format
• Who pays for a call to a Toll-Free phone number?
• What’s the Difference Between Toll-free and Local Numbers?
• Benefits of Getting Canadian Toll-Free Numbers for Business
• Key Features of Canada’s Toll-free Service
• What Is Required for the Implementation of Toll-free Service, Including Equipment?
• Types of Toll-Free Numbers in Canada
• Important Points About Free Calling Numbers
• How to Pick the Right Provider for Your Company?
• Expand Your Reach With Toll-Free Numbers in Canada

What is a Canadian Toll-Free Number?

Toll-free numbers allow callers in Canada, United States, and the Caribbean to contact your company without incurring any charges. These numbers can have codes such as 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888, 310, and are accessible in all 20 countries in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). This service is highly sought after by customers as they do not have to pay to speak with a business, especially if they have already purchased a product and need to resolve any issues with customer support.

This service is not limited to a specific geographic area or time zone, making it highly convenient for customers. This level of accessibility is important for customer satisfaction, as receiving a large mobile bill after addressing an issue with a fridge that suddenly stopped working, for example, can add frustration and may drive them to seek out a competitor.

What Toll-free Area Codes are Available in Canada?

The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) is a system used to manage the allocation of phone numbers and area codes across the United States, Canada, and other countries in North America. This is because Canada’s phone number list is almost the same as the US’s.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for overseeing this system in the United States. The first three digits of a phone number, also known as the “area code,” indicate the geographical region of the phone number, while the next three digits, known as the “exchange code,” indicate the specific phone exchange. The final four digits of the phone number are known as the “line number.”

Area codes were first introduced in 1947, when the NANP was established. The list of toll-free prefix numbers is constantly growing and expanding to meet the demand.

Some providers allow for 800 numbers in Canada and 310-numbers to be used in a “shared-cost service,” where the call is free for people dialing from landlines but sometimes not free from cell phones.

When Do You Need a 1-800 Number in Canada?

Here are the 5 indications that your company is in need of an 800 number in Canada:

• Increased Call Volume. Your daily call volume has increased and your customers are having issues reaching you. Having this number will help to improve your sales by making it easier for the customers to reach you, since multiple people can take the calls on your end;
• International Market Expansion. You are planning to expand to the international market and want to do so without unnecessary expenses. It will be easier to avoid extra fees with a toll-free service;
• Building Credibility and Professionalism. You want to build credibility and make a professional impression on your customers with a clean-looking business phone number. These numbers are adjustable and can be set to communicate the brand image;
• Call Statistics. You would like to have call statistics by telephone number. Since such numbers are virtual, you will have an easier time organizing your information in a cloud space along with benefitting from other useful advantages VoIP numbers have if you get a toll free number in Canada;
• Multitude of Features. You want to have a multitude of features included with your number: an auto-attendant, communication history, various integrations, custom greeting, call transcripts, business hours, etc. You can obtain a cheap toll-free number in Canada, which will include all of the above at a cheaper price than most regular phone service plans.

How to Get a 1-800 Number in Canada?

Follow the easy step-by-step guide to get a 1-800 number in Canada:

1. Select your country (Canada). Then you can select the city or state relevant to your company.
2. Select the desired option and move on to the next step.
3. Be creative and set up your virtual phone number to make it the most relevant to your company.
4. Decide how many users will be answering the phone on your end.
5. Share this number with your clients and enjoy business calls on a whole new level!

Why Buy 800 Numbers From MightyCall??

• Tool set. Check out the multitude of features included in all plans without any extra fees. Call forwarding, transfer, conferences, recording and voice-to-text are all on your fingertips. Every aspect of the customer-communication cycle is covered to help you convert calls to sales.
• Privacy, security & reliability. Get flawless call quality with the 99.99% uptime and rest assured that your sensitive information will stay with you. MightyCall offers 24/7 network security, data encryption and protection against robocallers.
• Competitive prices. Take advantage of some of the lowest per user prices on the market while enjoying the wide feature set and high quality. With MightyCall, you can buy a 1800 number in Canada in an affordable package that suits your company and enjoy the professional tools.
• User experience. Transition to VoIP service with ease. MightyCall offers one of simplest UI’s on the market, all while making sure any and all your questions are answered by an experienced live customer support team.

Do you need to provide any documents to get a toll-free service in Canada?

Elaborating on how to get a 1-800 number in Canada, you will typically need to provide proof of business ownership or authorization to use the service on behalf of a business. This may include documentation such as a business registration certificate, articles of incorporation, or a letter of authorization from the business owner. 

With MightyCall, however, you will only need to provide contact information and billing details.

How to Transfer Your Number to MightyCall?

Quick and easy. Here are the 5 easy steps you will need to follow:

1. Gather the info: your number, a signed letter of authorization, your contact and payment info;
2. Notify your current provider;
3. Submit a porting request to MightyCall:
4. Wait for up to 15 days (you will still be able to use your number with your past provider in the meantime);
5. Start enjoying your experience with MightyCall.

How Such Numbers Work?

Generally, a 1-800 Number in Canada is connected to a specific phone number, be it personal or corporate. When such a number is dialed, the person dialing is redirected – again, free of charge – to the number it has been programmed to.

Sometimes a business phone system – like MightyCall – offers a vanity number. This is a feature that allows you to customize your number. You’ve definitely seen vanity numbers before: numbers like 1-888-345-CATS or 1-888-22-PIZZA.

Here’s a reminder on how it works:

• For caller: If you’re the person dialing, you’d just dial the number as usual to call the company you want to reach and you won’t be charged for the call.

• For business owners: If you’re a company owner, you’d typically pay for a Canadian 1-800 number from a provider (usually it’s a monthly fee).

Previously these numbers were used only to receive calls from customers, but modern providers allow you to use features such as forwarding, recording, etc.

It is recommended to use a VoIP system that will also give you access to advanced features like cloud space, multiple team members answering the calls, transcription, and more, which gives additional flexibility to your business communication process.

Canada’s Toll-Free Number Format

“Is 1800 toll-free in Canada?” Yes, it even has the same format as the US number. It is a construction of elements that serve as a code that wirelessly connects people. Here are the main components:

• + sign,

• international country code (1),

• toll-free code (800),

• 7 digits local number

For example, here is a break-down of the number the RBC uses:

• +

• 1

• 800

• 769-2511

Who pays for a call to a Toll-Free Phone Number?

The person calling a toll-free phone number does not pay for the call. Instead, the cost of the call is borne by the owner or subscriber of the number, also known as the “Responsible Organization” (Resp Org). This is because these numbers are routed through a special system that allows the calls to be made without the caller incurring any charges. The charges incurred by the responsible organization, which can be the business or individual that owns the number, are usually based on the duration and volume of calls received.

What’s the Difference Between Toll-free and Local Numbers?

Toll-free numbers are phone numbers that start with specific codes (800, 888, etc.) and are free for the caller to dial. The cost is borne by the owner/subscriber of the number. Local numbers, on the other hand, are assigned to a specific geographic area and calls to them are charged to the caller. The main difference is who pays for the call.

Benefits of Getting Toll-Free Numbers in Canada for Your Business

If you are wondering how to get a toll-free number in Canada, you are probably looking at what it can do for your business. These numbers are capable of providing a significant amount of benefits for any company. 

You will:

• Project a strong brand image. These numbers are easy to recognize and remember, they appear more professional and they look great on ads;

• Improve customer experience. Your clients will love to hear a polite custom greeting and to be redirected straight to the person who will be able to assist them;

• Set up and scale your company at ease. Being local is nice, but sometimes expanding the company beyond the starting location is the smart move, so having a universal telephone number for all locations can come in very handy;

• Save on telephony and additional features. With MightyCall they come at an affordable set price that will provide you with all the instruments you may need.

Key Features of Canada’s Toll-free Service

A custom phone number service offers a suite of powerful features that will help you impress and retain customers. With toll-free services in Canada, you can:

• Сustom phone number. With this feature, you can create a memorable and easy-to-remember number that customers can associate with your business. This helps to create a strong brand identity and makes it easier for customers to contact you.
• Call redirecting feature. This feature ensures that all calls to your business are redirected to the appropriate department, so you never miss a call from a customer. Whether it’s during business hours or after hours, all calls will be answered promptly and professionally.
• Working hours feature. With this feature, you can set your business hours, and calls will only be redirected to your operators during these hours. This helps customers to know when they can contact you and lets them know that you’re available to help.
• Custom greeting feature. You can create a custom greeting that welcomes customers to your business, introduces your operators, and provides important information. This helps to create a warm and welcoming environment and makes customers feel valued.

Music on hold feature. With this feature, customers can enjoy a selection of music or messages while they wait for an operator to become available. This helps to reduce the frustration of waiting on hold and keeps customers engaged with your business.

These are just a few available features, MightyCall offers an impressive variety of extras included in all plan packages.

What Is Required for the Implementation of Toll-free Service, Including Equipment?

To implement such a service, you will need to get a toll-free number and the following equipment and services:

• A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) system or a cloud-based phone system to handle the routing and management of the calls.
• An Automatic Number Identification (ANI) service to identify the caller’s phone number and bill the Responsible Organization (Resp Org) for the call.
• A Service Management System (SMS) to manage the routing of toll-free calls and provide detailed usage reports.
• A Provider to provision the number and handle the routing of calls to your phone system.

It is recommended to contact the provider for more details on the specific equipment and services required.

Types of Toll-Free Phone Numbers in Canada

There are 3 main types of telephone numbers to look at if you want to get a toll-free number in Canada:

Domestic toll-free numbers

These numbers will allow your domestic customers to reach you without them having to pay for it. A great marketing tool that will make your clients feel more welcome to give you a call by making it free for them. These numbers do not have a city or state indicator on them, clearing your number from any potential prejudices.

Vanity toll-free numbers

Customizable and on brand. These phone numbers are ideal for companies that want to stand out and focus on the brand image. You can use words to create memorable numbers that will look equally pretty on your website, ads, and your client’s dial pad.

International toll-free numbers

International telephony fees can be pretty high, making your customers question whether giving you a ring is worth the phone service bill they will get at the end of the month. This is why it is important to consider getting an international number prior to expanding your company to overseas customers. That way you will pay a fixed price that will narrow down the customers’ concerns to questions relating to your product rather than their phone bills.

Important Points About 1-800 Numbers in Canada

How much does a toll-free number in Canada cost?

The cost of a toll-free number in Canada varies by service provider and plan. Generally, there is a one-time setup fee and a monthly or annual fee. Additional charges may apply for features like voicemail and call forwarding. The cost of the call is borne by the owner/subscriber of the number. You can be looking at anything from $5 USD to $500 depending on the provider. MightyCall plans start at just $15 per user.

Who owns a phone number after purchasing?

When you purchase a phone number, you are renting it from the service provider that controls the number. They retain ownership and can reassign it. As a customer, you have the right to use the number for the duration of your contract and can transfer it to another service provider. Phone number allocation and management is regulated by regulatory bodies like the FCC.

Can the US dial Canada’s 800 numbers?

Absolutely! US and Canada operate within the North American Numbering Plan, meaning that they often share the number dialing codes. People in the USA will be able to dial numbers from Canada, and vice versa.

How to Pick the Right Provider for Your Company?

There are millions of Canadian toll-free numbers for business and, because of the nature of the NANP, there are tons of providers located all over. Below are a couple things you might want to keep in mind when choosing a Canadian toll-free number provider:

• If you have a small company you may want to look into a VoIP provider. They often have extra tools and open pathways to other possibilities that other kinds of providers do not.
• Look for toll-free service providers that allow simultaneous conversations to be going on at the same time. This will reduce client wait times, which means it’ll be less likely that they’ll end up hanging up on you.
• Having a vanity number option is always a great idea. It will help your number stand out beyond the mass of “800-1234” numbers.
• Make sure that your provider has portability for these numbers. If down the road you decide to move to a different provider, you don’t want to lose your phone number. Having portability as an option means you can take your virtual number with you.
• Prices are tricky. Too high and you’re probably getting ripped off, as the multitude of providers should mean you get a good rate. Too low and you’ll probably get poor service (which means your clients will get poor service too!).

Expand Your Reach With Toll-Free Numbers in Canada

Canadian toll-free numbers are an invaluable instrument when it comes to giving your company a professional look. They project a strong brand image, improve customer experience, aid with scaling up and help you save your funds with a multitude of additional features. It is the logical step in the direction of leveling your company up.
With MightyCall as your provider, you will be able to get your hands on all the above features and more. It has been around for over 10 years, so if anyone knows what virtual telephony is and what small and medium sized businesses are looking for when it comes to telephony, it’s MightyCall. It has one of the best price-value relationships on the market, along with a clean design, excellent flexibility, 7 days customer support and all necessary features on your fingertips even with the cheapest plan available.

The post Toll-free Numbers in Canada: How to Get One for Your Business first appeared on MightyCall.

Here we will talk in detail about these particular digits, including what they look like, how they work, their advantages and their disadvantages. We’ll also be addressing how to understand whether your company needs one and, if it does, how to get a 1-800 number.

In this article we cover:

• What is a Toll-Free (1-800) Number?
• When Do You Need Toll-Free Numbers?
• How to Get a 1-800 Number for Your Business
• Why Buy a Toll-free Number from MightyCall?
• How Does a Toll-Free Number Work?
• Benefits of Getting a Toll-Free Number for Your Business
• Useful Tips for Getting an 800 Number for Business
• Important Points about Getting Toll-free Numbers for Business
• 1-800 Number Providers Overview
• Best Ways to Get Toll-free Numbers for Your Business
• Getting a Toll-free Number is a Step Toward Growth

What is a Toll-Free (1-800) Number?

These numbers, also known as freephone numbers, are used for calls where the caller does not have to pay; instead, the owner pays. This is great for interested clients, as they let them contact a company or individual from afar without paying long distance fees. In addition to 800 codes, these also begin with: 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833.

Company owners typically use these digits for customer service, for increasing sales, and for providing additional information about the company. All three uses benefit greatly from the fact that these digits cost nothing to connect with.

When Do You Need Toll-Free Numbers?

There are many reasons why businesses decide to get a 1-800 number. Here are some following indications that it may be time for you to follow suit:

• It’s difficult for customers to contact you – perhaps you live far away and they don’t want to pay the cost of connecting with you.
• Personal phone calls getting mixed up with business calls – if you have one number for personal and business calls, it can be difficult to handle all incoming messages. But getting one specifically for your work enables you to keep things clearer.
• Your company is rapidly scaling up and you need to reach new audiences – You’ve expanded lately and you’re ready to get more customers. How can you do it? One solid way is with a 800 number.
• Your company operates in a few areas of the country – congratulations! Your company is spread out and booming. But now you can’t stick with the local number you started out with; after all, why would someone in Pennsylvania want to pick up the phone for someone they don’t recognize, calling from California? But when you get an 800 number, you instantly go national- and everyone recognizes those opening digits.

How to Get a 1-800 Number for Your Business

Choose a toll-free number service provider and analyze the offered features

There are a lot of VoIP phone systems out there. Each provider offers their own combination of features, customer service, and of course, digits available for purchase. Analyze each carefully, as each is oftentimes built for a particular type of customer.

Choose your toll-free number prefix

Firstly, you have to pick the first three digits. Oftentimes known as the “area code”, the prefix for a toll-free number for business is something like we previously discussed, starting with something like 888.

Set up the Account

Next, set up your account. Depending on who you went with you may have to do things like input your call forwarding and your caller ID settings.

Set up a 1-800 number

Setting up these sorts of digits doesn’t require anything particularly different from ordinary ones, at least on your end. If your chosen VoIP company allows for extensions, however, you might want to get those situated.

Start using your toll-free business number

Use your newfound national reach to get into contact with folks from sea to shining sea.

Why Buy a Toll-free Number from MightyCall?

1. Unlike bigger name telecom companies that rent out their physical phones, MightyCall is all virtual and can be up and running in minutes.
2. World class security & reliability: your conversation quality will stand the test of time thanks to our 99.99% uptime, 24/7 network security,  data encryption, and protection from robocallers.
3. MightyCall has any number type an entrepreneur could possibly need: toll-free virtual numbers, local, vanity numbers, and international. Competitors often charge extra for these numbers, but we know customers need variety and all the tools they can use, so we don’t. You can get these different numbers with your plan.
4. Great features: get access to dozens of features, none of which are per month extras. From team-oriented features like call forwarding, call transfer, and conference calls to call recording and voice-to-text, every aspect of the customer-communication cycle is covered to help you convert calls to sales.
5. Competitive price: with some of the lowest per user prices without a drop in call quality or feature set, our packages offer some of the best value on the market.
6. Live Customer support: our customer support consists of real people with years of experience. Our chatbot isn’t there for show and we have numerous ways for customers to reach out if they need help.

How Does a Toll-Free Number Work?

If you’re the caller, it’s simple: just punch the digits into your phone and wait for someone to answer. You won’t pay a dime.

If you’re a business owner, you’ll most likely be buying from a business communications or VoIP company. The fee is oftentimes monthly.

Previously, toll-free business lines were used only to receive calls from customers, and of course the owner paid. But now, modern providers allow you to use new and advanced VoIP features along with the standard functionality.

Benefits of Getting a Toll-Free Number for Your Business

• People Are More Likely to Call When It’s Free to Do So: It costs you nothing to call toll-free – that’s why it’s in the name! And everyone knows it. If you have one of these numbers, folks are way more likely to give you a ring.
• Simple Prefixes: Toll-free 800 numbers have simple prefixes. They’re very, very easy to remember, as pretty much everyone has grown up surrounded by ads with them in them. 
• Professionalism: “Serious” companies have these numbers – at least, that’s what people think. If you have one, you’ll be seen as more established and “real,” even if you’re a very small business.
• Be Accessible Across the Country: These numbers are available from Chicago to LA and back to New York. They massively expand your potential for new clients.
• Make it Easier for Employees to Work Remote: With VoIP, your employees can log on and make calls from wherever they are – including, of course, their home or other remote location.
• Divide Your Personal Life from Your Work Life: Using one strand of digits for all aspects of your life can be frustrating. When you buy one of these, however, a barrier can be erected between your work life and your personal life.
• Keep Yourself in People’s Thoughts: By having a number with a prefix people are already aware of, it becomes much easier for people to remember you, instead of thinking of you as a totally random strand of digits.

Useful Tips for Getting an 800 Number for Business

When getting these types of numbers it can at first seem daunting, especially if you’ve never done so before. But don’t worry – if you follow the helpful tips below, you’ll get through the process just fine:

• Start with why you’re buying a new number – why have you decided to go with a new number? You are moving in the right direction if you’re opening up a new hustle (especially online or e-commerce shop), going national with your existing company, or have a national customer base regardless of region.
• Consider a vanity 800 number – these are a great way to get attention and keep your company in your customers’ thoughts, especially if you’re not a local business that they’re used to seeing.
• Use digits which are easy to remember – think about repeating digits, like 5555, or alternating ones, like 1212.
• Be open to prefixes other than the standard 800 – you can use other prefixes, like 888. These still have a national presence but will change it up from the standard.
• Research which companies offer which toll-free phone numbers – some companies don’t offer these, so you want to make sure ahead of time that they do before signing on.
• Don’t wed yourself to a particular combination of digits – sometimes your preference may not be available. When selecting digits, think of a few possibilities ahead of time.

Important Points about Getting Toll-free Numbers for Business

Toll-free prefixes

When people think about these numbers, they more often than not think of the classic 1-800 prefix. But here’s the thing about that: a standard number has 7 digits. If it starts with 800, there could be around 7 million different combinations in total. That may seem like a lot, until you realize the United States has over 330 million adults. This necessitated more prefixes to be created. Therefore, they can begin with the following codes:

• 800
• 888
• 877
• 866
• 855
• 844
• 833

All of these function the same, but they all start differently. 1-800-555-5555 will go to a different person than will 1-888-555-5555.

What countries support 1-800 numbers?

The 1-800 digits we’ve been talking about operate only in North America. If you make calls outside this area with them, you’ll still end up paying fees (ditto if you call them from outside the US). Other countries do also have these sorts of numbers, but they’ll differ because each country has a “country code” beforehand (America’s is +1, for example, and Australia’s is +61).

Who owns toll-free numbers after purchase?

As soon as you obtain a toll-free number, you become its owner. These are portable; this means that they are your property and that no operator can refuse to port it to another operator. But keep in mind- if you are going to port your to another operator, do not cancel service with your current operator until the porting is complete.

1-800 Number Providers Overview

There are a lot of different business phone number companies. Here’s a handy table to give you a broad overview of the major competitors:

*All prices valid at time of publication.
**Prices dependent upon number of users.

Best Ways to Get Toll-free Numbers for Your Business

There are lots of ways to get a toll-free number. And there are a lot of companies which offer them. Some offer for free, while others are more pricey but come with more features when you get a toll-free business number. Following is a comprehensive look at various business phone services and what makes each of them unique.

MightyCall

MightyCall is a business phone system industry leader and is a great pick for companies of all different sizes. With a focus on strong customer service, powerful security, and the ability to get a toll-free number, more and more callers are increasingly finding that MightyCall is their business VoIP solution. Along with their features, they also offer the ability to get an international toll-free number and the possibility of vanity numbers. For example, a local burger joint looking to open up a second restaurant would be a perfect fit, as would a widespread IT-help company.

Pros:

• Free 7-day trial for all plans
• Full of pertinent features
• Reactive customer service team
• Easy to create a 1-800 number

Cons:

• Only 1000 minutes in the lowest-tiered plan

Price* per month:

• Business: $15 per user
• Enterprise: $150 (unlimited users)

Best for: Mid-sized and small businesses

RingCentral

RingCentral is a cloud-based business phone system for callers with a particular interest in video conferencing. These sort of calls are growing greatly in popularity. As such they would be a great pair with companies helping other companies arrange travel tours.

Pros:

• Video calling accessible
• Texting available in all tiers
• 20 users available for lowest tier

Cons:

• Customers have reported dropped calls
• Voicemail reported as not always operational

Price* (all per user/per month):

• Essentials: $19.99
• Standard: $27.99
• Premium: $34.99
• Ultimate: $49.99

Best for: Home and team-based work

Dialpad

Dialpad is notable because it links seamlessly with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, making work across those platforms very easy. Like RingCentral, they too offer video communication and calling features. They’re very useful for companies who may be spread out across a large geographic area but want to keep a close relationship to their clients, like accountants.

Pros:

• Lowest tier includes unlimited SMS
• Call- and voicemail-transcriptions

Cons:

• Dial-by-extension only available on highest tier
• Global SMS not available on lowest tier

Price* (all per user/per month):

• Standard: $15
• Pro: $25
• Enterprise: Contact Them for More

Best for: Companies with a wide net of customers

Ooma

Unique among many business number companies, Ooma sells itself as both an office and residential-type company for callers. Ooma offers their customers the ability to get hard phones along with their plans. If you do a lot of your work from home and don’t particularly mind mixing personal and work, Ooma might be a choice for you.

Pros:

• A lot of different work configurations
• They also act as an internet provider

Cons:

• Complicated pricing structure
• Lots built around hard phones, which can mean less flexibility

Price* (All Ooma Office and month/per user):

• Ooma Office Essentials: $19.95
• Ooma Office Pro: $24.95
• Ooma Office Pro Plus: $29.95

Best for: Home-based work

Nextiva

As an app-based solution, Nextiva is useful for those entrepreneurs who are frequently on-the-go, as their systems can be accessed on phones or computers. Someone who works in

Pros:

• Strong customer support
• High number of features

Cons:

• Lowest tier does not offer text messaging
• Price for all tiers changes depending on number of users

Price* (all per month, 20-99 users):

• Essential: $18.95
• Professional: $22.95
• Enterprise: $32.95
• Ultimate: $57.95

Best for: Marketing professionals

*All prices valid at time of publication.

Getting a Toll-free Number is a Step Toward Growth

When you get an 800 number for your business, you purchase an effective marketing tool that provides clients and callers with a quick and memorable way to contact your company via toll-free calling. Many VoIP phone systems offer getting an 800 toll-free number as a feature of their services. However, there are situations where the fact that you can get an 800 number for small business may not be a slam dunk for you. If you do most of your operations in one region, you may not need to serve subscribers all over the country, so a local number or a vanity phone number, if you want to grab attention, would be better.

With that in mind, MightyCall might be what you’re looking for in a VoIP phone system. While they offer the potential for you to unlock toll-free service, some people need more than just toll-free calling. Features like call recording, visual voicemail, auto attendant, business hours, and more all come with MightyCall’s respected support staff.

The post How to Get Toll-Free Numbers for Your Business first appeared on MightyCall.

“Call toll-free 1-8XX-XXXX!”

800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 numbers are EVERYWHERE. Of course you find them on television, but you also see them in advertisements on the internet and in your newspapers.
But what are they? Can one of these numbers help you? Your business? Why are they so widespread?
Basically, what’s the value of a number starting in 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888?

For one, all of these numbers:
a) have a national presence, and
b) are toll-free.

At no cost to the caller whatsoever, your clients can place a call (or even text!) any of these numbers.

Let’s talk more about how useful these numbers are!

What is a toll-free number?

Toll-free numbers are numbers that can be called at no cost to the caller (in effect, they are “free” of “tolls”). Instead, the receiver of the call takes on any costs associated with the call. While this would seem to not make a ton of sense for the average homeowner, it’s great for businesses. Why?

Well, for one, a customer is way more likely to call a business if they don’t have to pay for it (especially when that call may involve waiting on hold). Plus, having a toll number just gives your business that extra oomph of professionality.

Can I send text messages with one of these numbers?

Yes you can! As long as your number is text enabled customers can text your toll-free numbers and you can text back.

Do these work nationwide?

Not only do they work nationwide, but these numbers work in Canada too! In fact, the national recognition is a key positive of toll-free numbers. They allow callers from around the country to call you for free.

Is there a difference between all of the different numbers, like 800 or 855?

Nope! The reason why there’s different numbers is because the government needed to make new ones- they’re so popular they were running out!

How can I use a 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 or 888 number for marketing?

A great way is what’s called “call-tracking”. When using offline campaigns (like ads in magazines, on billboards, television, radio, etc.), get a separate toll-free number for each, then track who is calling what number. That way you can see which campaigns are successful and which can be improved.

What’s a vanity toll-free number?

Vanity numbers are the numbers you see that are something  like “1-855-555-DOGS”. They’re easily memorizable and stick in your head. Vanity toll-free numbers simply combine the two concepts, so that you’d get something like “1-855-555-DOGS”, giving you the best of both worlds.

How can I get one?

It’s so easy! Many phone providers allow you to purchase toll-free numbers. We recommend you try MightyCall. It’s quick, easy, and their numbers come with a plethora of features. Search through their database of toll-free numbers during the registration.

But why buy one of these numbers from MightyCall?

Well for starters, each MightyCall plan has a free toll-free number. Plus, depending on the plan, you can have 2, 5, or 10 numbers, complete with minutes and all VOIP functions (like call forwarding, visual voicemail, and so much more).

Your numbers can be instantly activated, and once it’s activated, it’s YOURS. You can port it out and don’t have to worry about things like renting. When buying, you can search for vanity numbers to make your business even more personal.

Are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 numbers portable?

Yes, these toll-free numbers can be transferred from one telephone company to another.

MightyCall can port in your number for free.

Get calling!

The post Area Codes 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888: A Guide first appeared on MightyCall.