Partner Article

How to reduce the cost of international business

Whether you have just started a small business or make international calls at home, you’ll want to plan ahead to avoid an unwelcome surprise at the end of the month. Long distance plans can be confusing at best and filled with hidden fees at worst, so it’s important to compare all of your options to cut costs. The first order of business is to shop around and read the fine print carefully before choosing any plan.

Beware of Hidden Fees

If you opt for a long distance calling plan as part of your regular phone contract, look at more than just the minute rate. There may be additional charges hidden in the fine print, so be sure to read over all terms and conditions carefully. In most cases, you shouldn’t have to sign a contract that will lock you into your plan for a predetermined length of time. Most calling plans these days are flexible or offer pay as you go options. For example, you can make cheap calls to Australia from Lebara mobile or other providers on a prepaid basis, without signing any sort of contract.

Increments and Minimums

Many calling plans will charge you according to you a set increment, such as one minute. This means that even if you only make a 12 second phone call, you will still be charged for the full minute. Choose a plan that offers shorter increments. A good rule for business calls is 6-second increments, which won’t cost you too much extra if you make a short call. Many long distance business plans also require you to reach a minimum each month to receive a low per minute rate. If you make a lot of international calls in a work day and know that you will definitely hit that monthly minimum, this could make sense for you. However, if your calls are more sporadic you could lose money.

Prepaid Calling Cards

Another way to save money on long distance calls is to avoid a contract altogether. Many of these are country-specific and offer low international rates. Beware of connection charges and hidden fees with these as well. Be sure that you are clear on what the per minute rate is and if there are additional charges for placing calls from a mobile phone or payphone. If you are providing calling cards to your employees, you’ll want to keep in mind that you won’t receive any paper statements to see which calls were placed. Prepaid SIM cards also allow you to place cheap calls to South Africa or other international destinations, and may incur even lower rates than calling cards.

Voice over Internet Protocol

More and more businesses are using services like Skype, which falls under the category of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. If most of your business contacts are online and have Skype as well, you can chat whenever you wish for free. VoIP services also allow you to place calls to landlines or mobile phones, but charges will apply and you’ll need to subscribe to the service.

By planning ahead you’ll be able to save your business money on international communication expenses. Be sure to look beyond long distance contracts from major providers to receive deep discounts on your calls.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Victor Sameau .