This helpful FAQ will help you when purchasing a new 1300 phone number for your business.
In this info-packed FAQ we explain...
Things to consider before buying a 1300 number
How to purchase a 1300 number
Costs involved with buying a 1300 number
Configuring a 1300 number for your business
So, if the process of purchasing a 1300 number has you stumped, this helpful FAQ guide is for you. Let's explore more...
Purchasing a 1300 business number in Australia
A business 1300 number is a 10 digit phone number that serves as a single point of contact for customers nation-wide. When it comes to purchasing a 1300 business number there are many service providers to choose from, with different plans and fees to navigate.
It’s important to carefully consider the following when it comes to getting a 1300 number...
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How much am I being charged per month to have the 1300 number configured to my exact business needs?
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What are the contract terms and conditions?
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Is the provider of the 1300 number reputable?
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What type of quality is the network I’ll be using?
By far, the best bit of advice is to read the Critical Information Summary of each 1300 number plan you are considering. This will not only provide you with all the essential information you need to know about that particular plan, it will also allow you to compare different plans from different providers.
Choosing a 1300 number service provider
Because of the many 1300 number suppliers on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is best for your business.
We recommend choosing a company that...
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Is Australian, so you have access to recourses like the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) if something goes wrong
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Has a local and experienced team that can support you, rather than having to rely on the services of an overseas call centre
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Sends calls only over the high quality Australian telecommunications network (rather than the cheaper and poorer quality international networks)
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Has a simple pricing structure so you know exactly what you're paying for
Learn more about Telephonic
The cost of a typical 1300 number plan
Honing in on a really great 1300 number plan can be tricky, that’s why it is important to understand the costs a typical plan entails before making your decision.
Just like mobile phone plans, 1300 number plans are moving towards a simple unlimited call pricing structure.
Ensure your 1300 number provider is up with the times. Avoid outdated 1300 number plans as these will lose you money. It’s important to check that the plan you are thinking of going with offers...
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A simple plan pricing
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No hidden fees
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Fee-free payment option ($0 card processing fees)
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No lock-in contracts and no minimum lease term
Some number providers charge minimum monthly fees, plus call rates, fees for optional features as well as support fees if you need to change your number’s routing or cancel your number. That’s why it is essential that you carefully read your service provider’s Critical Information Summary which outlines all their costs for hosting your 1300 or 1800 business number.
On the other hand, at Telephonic, we sell 1300 and 1800 numbers very differently. Yes, our monthly fees might be slightly higher than the competition; however, all calls are included FREE of charge to our customers! We think this is a fairer way of delivering not only value but also peace of mind and great customer satisfaction to our clients.
Critical Information Summaries (CIS) are mandated by telco law in Australia. Communications Compliance guides 1300 number service providers on what a CIS must contain.
Get a new 1300 number today!
1300 number call rates
If you don’t opt for a 1300 number plan with $0 call rates, you will have to pay a per-minute rate to receive incoming 1300 calls. Cheaper call rates are charged per minute and the rate is calculated in per-second increments (not 10 second increments). The portion of hosting fee to call rates is usually inverse, meaning the higher your service provider’s call rates, the lower your monthly plan will be.
Typical cost of a 1300 number
For most small businesses, a 1300 number costs them less than $100 per month. Let’s think about that for a second. For $25 per week your business is benefitting from the great features of benefits of 1300 numbers. The question now really becomes: can your business afford not to have a 1300 number plan? Please note: businesses with higher call volume will pay between $400 to $800 per month. And larger corporations’ monthly bills typically run into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
Comparing 1300 number plans
Comparing 1300 number plans can be a challenge as there are many different providers offering different priced plans. The best course of action is to use a provider that offers $0 call rates, unlimited calls and no lock in contracts. That way you can be sure that your business is always getting charged the same amount every month regardless of how many calls are received (as all calls are included free of charge).
Choosing a 1300 or 1800 number?
Are 1300 numbers cheap?
Simply put, yes. The total value a 1300 number brings to a business outweighs the cost because not only does it raise your business profile to a national level, you can also manage your call flow much more efficiently. What’s more, 1300 numbers allow you to analyse the ROI of marketing campaigns through the use of advanced reporting tools.
The cheaper 1300 number providers usually use lower quality networks (including sending calls over international networks). That’s why it is important to ensure that the service provider you are working with only uses the high quality Australian telecommunications network.
Differences between 1300 and 1800 numbers
1300 numbers and 1800 numbers are both premium Australian business phone numbers that share (for the most part) the same functionality. However, there are slight variations between 1300 vs 1800 numbers.
In this section we'll discuss...
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Costs to call both 1300 and 1800 numbers
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Whether it’s smarter to rent or buy a 1300 number
Difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers
The quintessential question we hear a lot is: 1300 and 1800 numbers - which is best for my business? Many Australian businesses use a 1300 number to signal to customers that they are a professional, national level business. On the other hand, 1800 numbers are typically used by charities, not-for-profits and information-providing businesses due to the fact that 1800 numbers are free to call. Whereas calls made to a 1300 number from a landline may incur a small fee (around 25 cents per call), most people use a mobile these days this issue is negated as most mobile phone plans include unlimited calls to 1300 numbers.
1300 and 1800 numbers both come with advanced call management features to divert incoming calls according to your specific business needs. They also both produce call records that lets you analyse your customers’ call behaviour. Call records not only help to detect problems and predict trends but they can also be used to calculate the ROI on any marketing budget spend.
The only real difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers is the cost. 1800 numbers typically cost a business more in terms of monthly hosting fees and call rates.
1300 vs 1800 numbers: benefits and features
Choosing between a 1300 or 1800 number for your business really comes down to whether or not you want to make it free for your customers to call you. 1800 numbers are freecall numbers typically used by charities, not-for-profits as well as information-providing services as a 1800 number is always free to call within Australia. As we’ve already mentioned, callers who ring a 1300 number from a landline usually have to pay a small fee (25c).
Renting vs buying a 1300 number
Some service providers will try to sell you on the idea of leasing your 1300 number from them. However, this rarely make sense. Here’s why...
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Leasing a 1300 number effectively ties your business to the service provider who retains ownership of the number. This means you can't take the number with you to a different service provider if fees suddenly increase or if customer service decreases.
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The leasing provider can actually remove the 1300 number from circulation (or on sell it to a buyer). This will then leave your business having to pay expensive rebranding costs to update such things as your marketing and stationery.
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There is no guarantee of exclusivity. If your business operates in a small geographical market, the leasing provider could potentially sub-lease your 1300 business number to another business located elsewhere in Australia.
Buying a 1300 number
Acquiring a 1300 business number is a very straightforward process. Indeed, the better service providers allow you to purchase these numbers online and only require a quick activation period of typically no more than two hours.
Despite the fact that different providers use different marketing terms for 1300 numbers they are essentially the same thing. Let’s take a look at choosing the best 1300 number for your business needs.
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ACMA Smartnumber
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Telstra 1300 numbers
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1300 Flashnumbers
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Vanity 1300 Numbers
How to buy a 1300 number
The first decision to make requires choosing between a free 1300 number (that the provider already has in their pool of available 1300 numbers) or a specific 1300 number that spells out a word (such as 1300 BARBER) or has a memorable sequence of digits (such as 1300 333 444).
The next step is to find a number provider that offers a 1300 plan without high call rates or any additional fees. Because of the multitude of 1300 number plans on the market, it’s important to review each provider’s Critical Information Summary (CIS). That was you can then compare apples with apples (the CIS will also reveal any hidden fees that some providers love to leave buried in the fine print).
Search for a 1300 Phoneword
1300 number availability
More than 300,000 Australian businesses use 1300 numbers. You might be thinking this means that all the great 1300 numbers are gone. However, seeing as there are 1,000,000 unique possible combinations of 1300 phone numbers, there’s actually plenty of availability.
1300 Phonewords
A Phoneword is a 1300 number that spells a word (like 1300 BARBER / 1300 227 23) or has a memorable sequence of digits (such as 1300 333 444). When you purchase an available 1300 Phoneword you still need to connect it to the network with a 1300 number host provider.
1300 number host providers
In order to receive calls on your new 1300 business number you need to be connected to a phone network. But buying a 1300 Phoneword is just the first step. You also need to contact a 1300 host service provider and purchase one of their plans in order to active the number.
Below we’ll discuss the fees a typical 1300 number provider will charge, as well as some tips to help you avoid paying too much.
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1300 number hosting
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1300 number plans
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Typical 1300 number charges
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Hidden 1300 number fees
1300 number hosting
To get your new 1300 number working for you it must be hosted on the Australian telecommunications network with a 1300 number host. Helpful hint: you are able to switch providers as long as your 1300 number is connected to the network and you are the Enhanced Rights of Use (EROU) owner of that 1300. This means you can take advantage of a better deal when you find one.
However, there are strict rules around the switching (also called porting) of 1300 numbers between host providers. Restrictions are in place with reference to time limits and verification of accounts.
1300 number plans
Because 1300 number plans differ significantly from provider to provider, you’re best off reading the legally-required Critical Information Summaries of each provider. This is the best way to compare the costs and benefits of different 1300 number plans. Typically, 1300 number plans share the same following elements...
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A monthly number hosting fee (also called a management fee)
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Either unlimited calls, or call rate charges (the price you will pay to receive a 1300 call)
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A one-off setup fee (usually no more than $25) for new numbers
Some 1300 numbers providers even slug you with extra fees like: support fees, account fees, or change fees if you want to update where your incoming calls are diverted. It is so important to read the Critical Information Summary for each plan you are considering.
1300 number charges
1300 numbers can attract a whole host of different fees, all of which are outlined in the Critical Information Summary document.
Typical 1300 number charges include...
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Monthly hosting fee
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Call rates unless you have an unlimited 1300 number plan with all calls included
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Plan setup fees
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Voiceover recording fees (for professional and personalised greetings, voicemails, or IVR features)
However, some service provider plans include non-typical fees (which should be avoided at all costs), including...
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General support or enquiry fees
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Port-in fees
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Routing configuration change fees
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Features activation / deactivation fees
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Credit card or debit card fees
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Plan change fees
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Cancellation / port-away fees
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Complex configuration change fees
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Account administration fees
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Payment dishonour fees
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Feature setup fee (for example, setup fees to program an IVR or an area-based routing configuration)
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After-hours support fees
Configuring a 1300 number
They're sometimes called ‘virtual phone numbers’ because 1300 numbers don't need a physical telephone line connection. You set a 1300 number up to be answered by an existing phone service, such as a landline, mobile number or VoIP.
The combination of call forwarding and available features is known as the 1300 number configuration.
The configuration of a 1300 phone number can be updated at any time. A useful tip is to ask the service provider if it’s possible to make the necessary changes yourself online.
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Routing to landline or mobile
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Forwarding to multiple phones
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Time of day rules
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Pre-recorded audio options
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IVR
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Reporting and data analysis
1300 number set up
1300 numbers don’t simply replace a landline or mobile phone number. They provide your business with an array of valuable features and benefits. Being able to route your incoming 1300 business calls to different phone numbers, departments and voicemails during business hours and out of hours effectively does away with the need for an expensive PBX business phone system.
Ring multiple phones
Also known as a virtual phone number, a 1300 number does not require the installation of a physical phone line. Incoming calls to a 1300 number are routed to an existing phone line, also called answerpoints.
You can use multiple types of answerpoints for a single 1300 number. Call routing can be configured in many different ways, which we have listed below.
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Simultaneous ring - all answerpoint phones ring at the same time and whoever answers first takes the call
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Consecutive ring - phone number 1 rings first, then, if no answer, phone number 2 rings, etc...
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Round robin - route your incoming 1800 business number so as to ensure an even distribution of calls between members of your Sales team
Time of day routing
A 1300 number can be configured to route incoming calls to one or more numbers during business hours, and to another service (such as another team or answering service) during after-hours periods.
Commonly, businesses use this feature to divert after hours calls to a voicemail, or to a live phone answering call centre to take messages on behalf of the business.
IVR
Buying a 1300 or 1800 number means you can do away with expensive Private Branch Expensive (PBX) business telephone systems. Instead, you can use an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to play customers a pre-recorded message that prompts them to enter a number on their phone’s keypad. Callers can self-direct their query to the correct person or department.
A typical script for an IVR might sound something like “Thank you for calling My Business. Please choose from the following options. Press 1 speak toour sales department, or press 2 for Accounts.”
Professional greeting
A personalised professional recorded greeting is played to callers confirming that they have called the correct business. A typical script might go something like, “Thanks for calling My Business, Australia's most trusted Service Provider. Transferring your call now...”
Call Whisper
Helpful if you send calls to a mobile, you can use Call Whisper to let you know if the incoming call is a business call placed to your 1300 or 1800 number, or a personal call. That way you know to answer calls using the business name.
Voicemail to email
People rarely listen to their voicemails anymore. With a 1300 number, when a caller leaves a voicemail the audio file is emailed to you. This can then be uploaded into your CRM to help you keep track of all contact with a given customer.
Reporting
1300 numbers come with powerful reporting and analytics capability. All calls are logged which means callers’ behaviour can be analysed to determine the best possible spend of a business’ marketing budget.