Comments on: Home-Based Business: Landline versus Cellphone

By: pat

pat — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:24:28 +0000

I use my cell phone for my business as well; one down fall, it isn’t listed in the phone directory and unless people go to my website or have a business card, they can’t call information. Plus, my minutes are a lot higher than anticipated and I’m paying more with Verizon than I have ever paid in the 25 years I was with AT&T. I’m still not convinced I should stick with the cell phone for my business.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:23:12 +0000

Does any one know how to have a cell phone based bussiness listed in the phone book white pages?

By: Birdman

Birdman — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:39:29 +0000

Excellent choice Clever Dude!

We get customers all the time that use cell phones for start-up or home based businesses.

We have an automated system that let’s them upload professionally recorded voice greetings to their cell phones (or any phone) so their voice mail sounds as professional as a Fortune 500 company. Check it out at http://www.provoicegreetings.com/.

By: Single Ma

Single Ma — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:52:38 +0000

I use Grand Central: http://www.grandcentral.com

You can choose the city/state of the number you want and you can connect it to any existing phone line. I connect it to my cell phone and programmed the number into my cell. Now when people call the “business” line, my cell rings and the “business” number shows up on my caller ID. So I always know when it’s a business related call.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:32:45 +0000

I also recommend GrandCentral. If you want an invite to it, just let me know.

By: Brackford Mash

Brackford Mash — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:24:39 +0000

As cellphone technology improves I think it will eventually become the MO for home businesses and indie contractors especially, but also for corporates… consider, too, tools like the blackberry or the treo, which are rapidly becoming ubiquitous (poked at hilariously in an episode of “The Office,” as I recall). For me personally it makes more sense to have this kind of contact, since I am not so much a “home” business as a “traveling” one, taking my work wherever I go on my comp. Add to it services like the advanced 1-800 gotvmail, which pings my treo when I get a voicemail, and I can be the 24/7 entrepreneur I need to be (granted, the off button is useful!). Thanks for this break-down, though, this puts the matter into better words than I could conjure.

By: Clever Dude

Clever Dude — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:41:22 +0000

Mrs. Micah, it does mean more taxes and fees (as mentioned), but I included that in the $15/mth price.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:33:42 +0000

Cells definitely have the advantage of turning off. Does adding another line mean more taxes and fees too, or not?

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:33:56 +0000

I’ve been slowly putting together a home business and decided to go with a slightly different option that has been beneficial to me.

I use a service from google called grandcentral.com It basically gives you another phone number and then allows that phone number to “ring” any other numbers you select when someone calls.

My business number is with grandcentral which then forwards to my cell phone and my home computer (I use gizmo (gizmoproject.com) as a way to receive calls on my computer) I can answer on either one, and transfer the call between computer/phone/phone line at any time during the conversation. Grandcentral also includes a ton of services to help me filter who is calling, what messages they hear, and provides digital copies of any messages (or conversations) of calls I receive to my email inbox.

Oh, and its all free.

By: That One Caveman

That One Caveman — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:52:10 +0000

I would also recommend what I did for my business: I signed up with GrandCentral. I have it forward calls from my GC phone number to both my cell phone and home phone so I can be reached anywhere. Also, to prevent the “unknown number on the home phone” problem, I have it set to display my GC number in caller ID so I always know if the call coming in is for business.