How to Set Up Your Home Office Phone System

One of the key items of a Home Office is the communication system you put in place. You want to give a professional impression but, especially at the beginning, you don't want a bill of several hundred dollars per month. You need phone, fax and e-mail but can't afford three dedicated business lines.

If you're just starting, you can actually do everything through your single home telephone line. Get yourself a second phone number on the same line (in our area this is called Ident-a-call and it means that, when someone dials the second number, you get two short rings instead of one long one) and program the fax machine to answer all calls to that number (most fax machine can be programmed to recognize the special ring; otherwise you have to get a separate little box which only lets the calls with the special ring through). Connect your computer and phone directly to the original line and get the phone company answering service which works even when the line is busy. Now you've got a low cost system in place and you're still projecting a fairly professional image as long as you train your family to answer all calls like a business. Your friends will have to get used to this but it also lets them know you're now running your own business.

While it is possible to start up your business using your home phone line, it will get overloaded pretty soon. Most people get a second line right away and it will usually be a "business" line. In most areas, phone companies charge more for "business" lines than for "home" lines but, while they will let you have a second "home" line to your home, they will ask you to get a "business" line if you plan to advertise the new phone number as a business. To avoid having to change your number later, you're better off getting a "business" line right away. Use it for your phone and keep your fax and computer on your home line which should be set up as described above. The phone company answering service for a business line is quite expensive so it is more economical to get an answering machine for your business calls initially. Once business is booming and you're on the phone a lot, you can subscribe to this service but even then, you can reduce the time your business line is busy by making outgoing calls on your home line.

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