This post was sponsored by Bicom Systems, a leading provider of VoIP phone systems and cloud services.

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Welcome back to Part 2 of our “A Perfect Partnership” post. If you missed the first five points we discussed in Part 1, click here.

To keep the ball rolling, let’s carry on!

6. The Cost

As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” Which is true when it comes to paid vs. free PBX solutions. A free PBX system can only get you so far and do so much. Honestly, it is annoying to move customers from one interface to another. There are many variables to consider when it would have been easier to do it right the first time. Learn how you can grow up (or down) with just the click of a button here!

Consider the cost of your provider and compare it to what they are offering. If it is too good to be true, sometimes it is.

7. Financing Options

Speaking of costs, find out if your provider has financing options. If you are a start-up, chances are you do not have a lot of money to invest. Partnering with a provider who offers financing options will be extremely beneficial! What would be even better is interest-free payments! Take advantage of these opportunities because one of the main benefits of a hosted solution is the low, upfront cost.

8. Customization

Just like bathing suits, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But some providers think there is! Look for a provider who realizes this and offers customizable solutions. You can customize your package and deployment options based on the needs of your business.

9. Proper Support

As previously mentioned in Part 1, some resellers only want to do what they do best: sell. If that sounds like you, or if you do not yet have a dedicated IT team, you need to ensure your provider has your back. Ask questions about their support team like: what are the hours of operation? And how much does a support package cost?

The perfect partnership will allow you to reach tech support 24/7 if any problems arise.

10. Other Tools for Success

What will your partner provide after-sale? Do they offer a telecom customer portal to manage your customers and accounts better? Some providers offer training programs and other resources for success.

Ask them what is provided upon partnership. After all, isn’t your success their success?

That is a wrap! Can you think of any points we may have left out? Send our sales team an email at sales@bicomsystems.com and let us know.

Laura Kyle is a marketing assistant for Bicom Systems (www.bicomsystems.com).