Senior Writer: Supriya Bajaj
Date: September 15, 2023Given the highly competitive business landscape, a toll-free number or an 800 number remains a must-have for businesses worldwide. It lets customers call the business without incurring extra charges while adding credibility. A lot of VoIP providers offer toll-free service options in the business phone system that they offer.
The blog presents intricate details about the 800 number and the benefits and factors you should consider before choosing an 800 number. We’ll also discuss how to get a 1-800 number for your business. Let’s get started.
What Is An 800 Number?
An 800 number is a toll-free number that allows a person to reach out to a business or individual without paying for the call. The history of the 800 number dates back to 1966. In the last thirty-seven years since its introduction, many businesses have used 800 as their primary and extended support number.
There has been a rising demand for 800 numbers. Hence, more numbers with prefixes to the 800 numbers were introduced, and that’s why you see toll-free business numbers with 866, 844, 855, 888, 877, or 833 prefixes.
These toll-free numbers with different prefix variants function like the 800 numbers while offering similar benefits to businesses.
Is An 800 Number Right For Your Business?
While cell phone carriers have diminished geographic barriers and call charges have come down, people still endure hefty charges when it comes to long-distance calling. The primary idea behind getting the toll-free 800 phone number for your business is to help customers from outside the local area reach out to business support without incurring any charges.
If you have customers from outside your area, state, or country, you should consider having an 1800 number for business. It also helps in expanding your business to farther geographic locations. Beyond that, having a toll-free number adds more credibility to your business. Customers recognize the toll-free codes, and as they know they will not be charged for the calls they make to the toll-free number, they tend to reach out to businesses more frequently. This promotes customer engagement and satisfaction.
Irrespective of whether you are running a startup, small business, or a large enterprise, you can get an 800 number to add to your brand value and image.
How does an 800 phone number for business work?
An 800 number, also known as a toll-free number, allows customers to call a business without being charged. The business that owns the 800 number pays for all incoming calls instead. An 1800 number for business is used to deliver quality customer service and facilitate easy customer communication.
When a customer calls an 800 number, the telephone network routes the call to the business that owns the number. The business pays a monthly fee to a phone service provider for each 800 number they own, and the provider charges the business for all incoming calls to the numbers. The charges are usually very low, often just a few cents per minute. The key benefit for the business is that customers can call for free, so they will be more inclined to contact the company, and potential new customers won’t hesitate to call.
A business chooses a phone service provider like CallHippo, which offers toll-free numbers and signs up for the service to get an 800 phone number for business. They are assigned a specific 800 number (or can choose from certain options) that then belongs to them.
They can have that number pointed to a receptionist, an automated phone menu system, or different departments within their company based on the number called. 800 phone numbers for business can be easy and inexpensive to provide great customer service and increase sales.
Why Get an 1800 Number for Your Business?
Getting an 800 number for your business offers a plethora of benefits in terms of promoting customer engagement and building a strong brand image. Here are some reasons to get an 800 number.
#1 Free for customers
A key benefit of using an 1800 number for business is that it is free for callers, and the callee bears the charges. When customers know they wouldn’t be charged for calling a business, they tend to make toll-free calls to your business without inhibitions.
If they require details about your product or service, they get to reach out to you for information more easily than otherwise. So, having a toll-free 800 number helps generate more leads and prospects.
#2 Easy to remember
It is easy to remember an 800 number than the standard business numbers. Because they are easily recognized, they will naturally call your number when there is a requirement for your service. Customers tend to associate with your business more closely.
More than 72% of customers in a survey recalled the 800 number after hearing a radio advertisement for 30 seconds, against just 5% of consumers who recalled other numbers. A number like 1800-000-1111 is easier to remember than the usual phone numbers.
#3 Improves your brand image
The bigger your business appears, the greater your brand value. Having an 1800 number for business implies that you operate beyond your local area. Your business will be perceived as bigger and more established with toll-free service, strengthening your brand image.
#4 Adds legitimacy to the business
For startups and small business owners, having an 800 number helps add legitimacy. This helps them stand apart from other businesses in the competitive landscape.
#5 Work-life balance
Using a separate number for your business helps you differentiate between your personal and professional lives. This improves your work-life balance and enhances your overall productivity.
#6 Easy to scale and relocate
It is easy to take these toll-free 800 numbers wherever you migrate. Whether you expand your business, scale your team, or relocate your business office to a new location, it is easy to port or route your toll-free number.
How To Get An 800 Number?
800 numbers are in high demand, and there is a short supply in the business phone industry. But, with CallHippo, we have made it easy to get a toll-free number or 800 number for your business. It only takes three minutes of your time to get a toll-free line.
Follow the steps below to get an 800 number or toll-free number service for your business.
Step 1: Determine the need
It is important that you analyze the needs of your business periodically. As the business landscape gets increasingly competitive, determine what helps you stand apart from your counterparts. Understanding why you need an 800 number for your business will help you scout for a business phone service provider who can cater to your demands.
Step 2: Sign up and register
The first step to get a 800 number through CallHippo is to enter your business details, fill out the form, and complete the sign-up process. You will get a confirmation email and you must verify the same.
Step 3: Choose a country
The next step is to select the country you want to activate the toll-free business number. Once you pick a country, CallHippo will display the unique 800 numbers for you to choose from. Pick a number with a prefix of your choice – 800, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888.
Step 4: Setup call forwarding
Once you have a toll-free number, you don’t have to get more phone lines for your business. You can set up call forwarding, and direct customer calls to your business landlines or cell phones.
Factors To Consider When Buying An 800 Number
There are numerous factors to consider before you get an 800 number. Following are some key factors you should consider before buying an 800 number.
#1 Examine the objective
Before you get an 800 number, examine how getting an 1800 number would help your business. Why do you need a toll-free number? Are you trying to enhance your marketing campaigns? Or, would you like to improve your customer experience? This would help you choose the right toll-free 800 number.
#2 Features
Before getting an 1800 number for your business, thoroughly check the business phone system providers in the market. Check for the features and the benefits that you get with the toll-free number. This can help you choose the right service provider and a plan with features and functionalities that align with your business needs.
#3 Reviews
Make it a point to check for reviews and feature comparisons before you get an 800 number. Taking a glimpse of the genuine feedback and opinions that users have submitted helps you decide on the right service provider and plans.
#4 Pricing
While scouting for the right 800 number provider, check their pricing and affordability. Check if they carry hidden charges. Evaluate their value offerings against the price, and see if buying from that service provider is worthwhile.
You May Also Read : Best Toll Free Number Service Providers in 2023
List Of Top 800 Number Providers
If you are looking for a 800 number for your business phone system, you should evaluate the offerings from top 800 number providers. The following section presents the best 800 number providers in the industry while comparing their features, pros, cons, and pricing plans.
#1 Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a leading business phone service provider known for providing businesses with toll-free numbers, vanity toll-free numbers, and local numbers. It offers a wide range of features that businesses can leverage to enhance their customer service quality. Grasshopper has made it easy for businesses to own toll-free phone numbers.
With Grasshopper, you can make inbound and outbound calls, enable call forwarding to different phone numbers and voice mail, send and receive text messages, etc. It has an intuitive interface that can be accessed through mobile or web apps. With extensive features, it helps small businesses manage calls with limited resources.
Integrating Grasshopper with Dropbox, Google Drive, and other cloud-based applications is easy.
Features:
- Call queuing
- Toll-free phone number
- Custom greeting
- Inbound and outbound messaging
- Voicemail-to-text transcription
- Free mobile app and desktop app
- Auto-attendant features
- Call waiting
Pros:
- Apt for startups
- Cheap plans
- Intuitive dashboard
- Easy to use
- 30-day free trial
- Custom greetings
Cons:
- Limited analytic abilities
- Lack of collaboration tools
Pricing:
- Solo: $26 per month
- Partner: $44 per month
- Small Business: $80 per month
#2 CallHippo
CallHippo is a cloud-based business phone system that helps businesses make and receive phone calls over the internet to anywhere across the world. It takes just three minutes of your time to sign up, get an 800 phone number, and complete the installation. CallHippo offers a free local phone number and lets you make unlimited calls within US and Canada.
Reputed brands like Amazon, TechMahindra, and Accenture trust CallHippo. This, in turn, signifies the quality of services offered by CallHippo. The CalHippo phone system has voicemail-to-email transcription that helps convert messages into audio and deliver it directly to the email instead of the voicemail box.
Its plans are cheaper than other phone systems, so it is affordable to startups and small businesses.
Features:
- VoIP calling
- Virtual meetings
- Voicemail to email transcription
- Skill-based call routing
- Caller id
- Call recording
- Call transfer and forwarding
- Auto attendant feature
- Call analytics
- Power dialer
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- No hidden charges
- Exceptional call management features
- Excellent customer support
- Free trials
- Cloud-based architecture
Cons:
- The interface should be upgraded
Pricing:
- Bronze Plan: $16 per user per month
- Silver Plan: $24 per user per month
- Platinum Plan: $40 per user per month
- Enterprise Plan: $48 per user per month
#3 Nextiva
Nextiva is a cloud-based commercial phone service provider with extensive features and functionalities. It offers a toll-free number with each plan, and you can get a local number from anywhere in the USA.
The price decreases when you wish to scale up and add more users. So, the cost per user comes down when you add more users.
It can be installed on any device and works perfectly on Windows PC or Mac. Each plan includes unlimited calling, call forwarding, voicemail to email transcription, etc. The auto attendant feature in Nextiva helps add custom greetings to the system.
Features:
- Unified call management platform
- Call flow prioritization
- Call forwarding
- Auto attendant
- Toll-free code
- Web conferencing
- Video meetings
Pros:
- Excellent customer support
- User-friendly interface
- Highly customizable
- Collaboration abilities
- Integration support
Cons:
- Rigid cancellation policy
- Buggy mobile app
Pricing:
- Essentials: $18.95 per user per month
- Professional: $22.95 per user per month
- Enterprise: $32.95 per user per month
#4 RingCentral
RingCentral is an award-winning communication platform that helps call centers and businesses amp up their phone system. RingCentral offers all popular toll-free prefixes, including 800, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888.
RingCentral has a wide range of customizable features. With RingCentral, you can translate the greeting message into different languages. By signing up to your business phone number, you unlock extensive collaboration features, including iOS, Android, and Windows support.
Features:
- Unified communication platform
- Call monitoring
- Call flow prioritization
- Call recording
- Messaging support
- Collaboration abilities
Pros:
- Free trial
- Intuitive interface
- End-end call management
- Easy call transfers
Cons:
- Only one number device
- Call quality has to be improved
Pricing:
- Essentials plan $19.99 per user per month
- Standard plan: $27.99 per user per month
- Premium plan: $34.99 per user per month
- Ultimate plan: $49.99 per user per month
#5 Vonage
Vonage is a cloud-based phone system that can be customized to meet the specific requirements of industry, including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, etc. It offers toll-free and local phone numbers to add a professional touch to your business calls.
Vonage is affordable for businesses of different scales. It offers unlimited voice calling and voicemail box options, so you can add phone lines at zero cost. The advanced call management tools offered by Vonage help you manage phone calls from remote locations.
Features:
- Intelligent call routing
- Call Blocking
- Call prioritization
- Call forwarding
Pros:
- Industry-specific solution
- User-friendly
- Easy to add users
- Excellent call clarity
Cons:
- Voicemail and video conferencing features need improvement
Pricing:
- Mobile: $19.99 per line per month
- Premium: $29.99 per line per month
- Advanced: $39.99 per line per month
You May Also Read : How To Dial An 800 Number From Mexico?
Closing Thoughts
Getting an 800 number may seem so simple. But, when you evaluate the credibility and strength it adds to your brand, it is worthwhile to get an 800 number for your business. It will help you scale your business beyond geographical boundaries.
FAQs For Getting an 800 Number:
1. How to get an 800 number for free?
VoIP providers like CallHippo offer toll-free 800 numbers as a part of their subscription plans. Before choosing a service provider to get an 800 number, research the features and functionalities of their phone system.
2. How much does an 800 number cost?
The cost of an 800 number varies with the service provider, the plan you choose, and the additional features you seek to meet your business requirements.
3. Can I choose a specific number for my 800 number?
Yes, when you get an 800 number, service providers offer a wide variety of prefixes and numbers for you to choose from. You can pick depending on your requirements and preferences.
4. Can I keep my 800 number if I switch providers?
You can port your 800 or toll-free number to another business phone provider. Ideally, you can do so at no extra cost.
5. How to set up an 1800 number?
Choose a VoIP provider that offers toll-free numbers and select an available 1-800 number. The provider will provision the number onto their network. Log into your account dashboard to configure features like IVR, call routing, and voicemail. Point the 1-800 number to your virtual PBX system. Promote the new toll-free number on your website, ads, and other materials so customers can call your business for free.
Supriya is a highly skilled content writer with over 8 years of experience in the SaaS domain. She believes in curating engaging, informative, and SEO-friendly content to simplify highly technical concepts. With an expansive portfolio of long-format blogs, newsletters, whitepapers, and case studies, Supriya is dedicated to staying in touch with emerging SaaS trends to produce relevant and reliable content.
