Establishing a professional image and being easily accessible to your customers is essential. One way to achieve this is by getting a 1300 number for your business.
A 1300 business number enhances your business credibility by making you appear more established and enables customers to contact you from anywhere in Australia at a local call rate.
It’s the perfect business hack, whether you’re a sole trader, you’re supported by a small team or you’re an entrepreneur with a fast-growing startup. And it doesn’t matter whether you operate your business from your garage, your kitchen counter, a home office, a coworking space, serviced offices or your own business premises.
So let’s look at the benefits, costs and process of securing a 1300 number for your business.
Why get a 1300 number?
There are myriad reasons for Australian businesses of all sizes to register a 1300 number, including small businesses.
National reach
A 1300 telephone number is a “virtual business number” that works across Australia. Instead of tying your business to a specific geographic location, a 1300 number gives your business a national presence. This can be particularly appealing for small business owners looking to attract customers from various regions.
Cost-effective for customers
Calls to a 1300 phone number are charged at the cost of a local call when dialled from a landline. This makes it more affordable for customers to contact your business, increasing the likelihood of inbound enquiries. It’s an excellent option for small businesses looking to offer better customer service.
Flexible call routing
With a 1300 number, calls can be routed to any phone – whether it’s a landline or a mobile. This is especially useful for sole traders or entrepreneurs who are constantly on the move. Alternatively, you can route the calls to a voicemail-to-email service or – to ensure no calls are missed, even when you’re unavailable – a virtual receptionist.
Better marketing metrics
Some businesses advertise numerous 1300 telephone numbers, enabling them to better tracks calls back to different marketing campaigns and better optimise their advertising spend to achieve stronger performance.
How much does a 1300 number cost?
There are numerous 1300 number providers in Australia, each offering different packages and inclusions.
Before signing up, it’s crucial to understand the 1300 number cost structure. While the customer pays a local rate when calling, your business may be required to cover the rest of the call costs. Some key costs to consider include:
- Set up fees
- Monthly rental fee for the number, which can range from $5 to more than $50 per month depending on the provider
- Call charges, which can vary based on where the call is routed (you typically pay for the part of the call beyond the local rate so, therefore, pay extra charges for routing to mobiles)
When selecting a provider, you will also want to consider what features matter to you, such as:
- Call forwarding
- Professional answering services
- Australian-based customer support
OfficeHQ not only offers 1300 numbers but also provide comprehensive call answering services, allowing you to manage incoming calls efficiently, especially if you’re a startup or small team. This can help you maintain a professional front even when you’re busy with other aspects of the business.
OfficeHQ’s 1300 numbers have a set up fee of just $25 and are extremely cost-effective compared to other providers – starting at just $5 per month plus excess call charges or $20 per month inclusive of all calls.
At OfficeHQ, you simply choose whether to bundle your 1300 number with a live call answering service or voicemail-to-email solution and let us know. You’ll quickly have a 1300 business number to use in your marketing, with your calls either:
- Answered by our team of highly-trained, professional receptionists
- Diverted to your voicemail service, with the message audio file instantly emailed to you after the caller hangs up
Pairing 1300 numbers with an answering service
OfficeHQ is one of Australia’s leading 1300 number providers who also provide call answering services.
Our range of small business answering service solutions range from straightforward message-taking to handling calls with more complex interactions such as order-taking, processing payments or scheduling appointments.
This enables your business to connect with more customers, regardless of day, time or how busy you are, which can help to drive business growth.
So if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that includes a 1300 answering service, you’re in the right place.
