Starting and running a home-based business isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires discipline and determination to set goals and to work towards achieving them.

But aside from these, entrepreneurs also need to equip themselves with the right tools to ensure efficiency and success in business. And an essential part of any home business setup is a professional phone system.

Like traditional businesses, companies run from a home location also require a reliable and consistent way to communicate with suppliers, customers, and business partners. While using a conventional landline phone (or even an existing home phone) may be convenient, it may not be the best option. Standard telephone connections lack many of the features that today’s modern businesses need. Long-distance and international call charges can also add up quickly. Plus, using a home phone may lead to a bit of confusion, as personal and business calls can get mixed. These are only some of the reasons why home-based businesses should consider other communication solutions, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

VoIP phone systems are among the most flexible and affordable communication solutions available today. VoIP technology uses the internet (instead of traditional copper lines) to make and receive calls. It’s been in existence for over a decade, yet some business owners are still unaware of it or perceive it as suitable only for large companies.

The truth is, VoIP phone systems are also a great match for both small and home-based businesses. Take a look at the top reasons why a VoIP phone system is a must-have tool for your home business:

• Affordable calling rates -  The first (and perhaps the most) appealing benefit of getting a VoIP phone for a home-based business are the relatively low calling charges. Calls made on the same VoIP network are generally free, and most VoIP plans also include free unlimited calling to the US and Canada, as well as cheaper international call rates (rates starting as low as $0.02/minute).
• Project a big company image - With its fantastic range of features, a VoIP phone system can give home-based businesses a big company feel. For instance, the auto-attendant feature helps ensure a positive experience for callers, as it can be set up with a professional greeting and help foster efficient call routing. Local and toll-free numbers also create a solid impression of an established business to your customers.
• Work from anywhere - Another advantage of using a VoIP phone for a home business is the ability to stay connected regardless of whether the owner or employee is working from their home office or on the go. Business VoIP delivers a range of mobility features such as Find Me/Follow Me, Voicemail-to-email, and Mobile apps, all of which enable users to bring their work to wherever they are located as long as they’re connected to the internet.

Business VoIP or Residential VoIP: which one is right for me? This is the critical question that any and every home-based business should consider when making the move to VoIP. Although both VoIP services work in the same way (utilizing the Internet to make and receive calls), there are huge differences between them.

For one, business VoIP plans tend to be more expensive than residential plans, but that’s because the former contains more business-focused features, while the latter includes only basic, standard calling features. Business VoIP also allows greater flexibility than residential VoIP. Adding new features, extensions, numbers and more can easily be done via a web portal and completed in minutes. This is a huge advantage especially when your business starts to expand. Furthermore, business VoIP allows for more frequent calling than residential VoIP due to the Fair Use Policy terms.

Running a business from home is hard. Don’t make it harder than it has to be by having an expensive, unreliable and inefficient phone system. Consider getting a business VoIP plan and take advantage of the cost savings, flexibility, and ease of use that it offers.