Comparing business phone-system providers

Phone system quotes are unusually hard to compare because the monthly per-seat number hides most of the real differences.

Confirm number porting

Ask explicitly whether your existing numbers can be ported, how long it takes and what it costs. Porting delays are the most common cause of a bad cutover.

Understand what a seat includes

Ask what the per-seat price covers: calling minutes, voicemail, mobile app, desk phone, call recording, reporting. Ask what is charged separately.

Ask about hardware honestly

Handsets can be bought outright or rented. Rental spreads cost but often exceeds purchase price over a three-year term. Ask for both numbers.

Check the contract terms

Term length, renewal behaviour, price increases and early termination charges. Ask what happens at the end of the term.

Ask who supports it

Find out whether support comes from the local provider or the platform vendor, what the response commitment is, and how out-of-hours issues are handled.

Design the call flow before cutover

Decide what happens to calls during the day, out of hours and at holidays. Getting this agreed in writing before the switch avoids the first-week scramble.