Back in the days when land lines were the major component of communication, businesses used toll free numbers to allow their customers to call at no personal cost. This was a big hit with the buying public, but the cost to businesses was very high. Fortunately, increased competition from cell phone companies with no long-distance charges brought the cost of toll free numbers down significantly.

What is a Toll Free Number?

Whenever you call an 800 number, you are calling a number that is toll free. The owner of the number is the one that gets billed for the call. Whenever we hear toll free, we think of the 800 area code. While it is true that the area code 800 is always a toll free phone number, there are several other area codes that are reserved for toll free status as well. Other toll free area codes include: 888, 877, 866 numbers that are in use now. Other toll free area codes are reserved for future use, and they include: 844, 833, and 822.

How Do You Know the Price?

Many years ago, you only had one choice for your 800 service. Things have changed these days. You can still choose to get service or your local phone company, or you can choose from a large number of telephone companies that offer toll free service.

If you type the words “toll free phone number” into any search engine, you will get many pages of telephone companies advertising their services. Many times right in the ad, the company will display costs for their services. Prices range from $9.99 per month and up depending on the numbers of perks that you want included in your plan.

The best way to find the best price is to talk to all of them. At least talk to several companies before you choose the right one for your business needs. Keep in mind that you need to compare all options offered with each company, as well as price to make up your mind. Once you decide which company you want, they can take care of getting your phone number and all of your service connected for you.

Do You Really Need a Toll Free Phone Number?

Only you can decide if the benefits of having a toll free number are worth it for your business. There are some advantages that are worth noting. The number is portable, so if you move, the number follows you around the country. You will get a better response to any advertising when you post a toll free telephone number. Your customers like a business that doesn't charge them for telephone calls. Businesses that have toll free numbers tend to have a better professional image and businesses that don't. It's all about credibility. A toll free number will give you a little extra credibility with your customers.

To recap, do your research on several different companies to find the best deal for your toll free telephone number. Compare prices, features, and benefits offered with all of the different plans.