The Importance of a Dedicated Business Phone Line for Sole Proprietors

The U.S. and worldwide economies are driven highly by the growth of small businesses. Especially with the recent global credit crises, economic downturn, and high unemployment rates, many individuals are turning to operating their own businesses. Many of these small businesses are operated as "Sole Proprietorships." For example in the UK in 2009, sole proprietors comprised over 24% of newly registered businesses and the second largest category. Being a sole proprietor is commonly the case with consultants, contractors and freelancers, but it expands across a huge array of industries. While email has taken over much business communication, establishing a business phone line is essential for the success of these enterprises.

Unfortunately, many small businesses or one man shops greatly underestimate the value of having the right business phone line. Many sole proprietors try to open shop using just an Internet phone service like Skype or using a local cell phone. Unreliability of cell phone connections and inability to find a business's phone number, however, can be disastrous. It has been shown that having the right business phone line can improve advertising response and conversions over 200%. And being such a small investment, it seems ludicrous not to take the time to choose the right business phone line and make the small investment it takes to make the most of your business. Building a brand for your business and building credibility are vital for a business's success and a dedicated business phone line can help to make both happen. By comparison, calling on an advertisement and getting someone's personal voicemail just doesn't breath professionalism. And having just a cell phone number in a well thought out and expensive marketing piece can just mean wasting valuable marketing capital.

Finally, having your business phone line be a toll free number reflects professionalism, makes the consumer feel you value his call enough to pay for the charges, and provides you with the image of being more than just a local business. Beyond your image with your customer, advantages to the sole proprietor of having a toll free number as a business phone line include:

·        Instant credibility and professionalism

·        Easy forwarding to provide freedom to travel or work from any location

·        Number capture for missed prospect calls when you are too busy

·        Easy testing of marketing pieces for maximizing ROI

·        Consistency and customer retention from having a number that is easily portable if you move offices or increase the size of your business

You may be a sole proprietorship but a toll free business phone line can give you a national or even global image and presence.