Consider using a VoIP phone service – If your monthly phone bill is in the hundreds every month, consider slashing it down to a single or double-digit bill. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) companies like Skype, iConnectHere, Net2Phone, and DialPad allow you to dial phone numbers over the internet, and talk and listen using a microphone headset. Other VoIP companies like Vonage and Lingo let’s you use your existing phone number and phone to make calls. Typically, there is no monthly fee and calls are free to other VoIP users, or a very low rate (starting at 2 cents a minute) to cell or LAN-line phones.

Be more energy efficient – Replace your existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent or halogen bulbs. They last longer, give off more light and use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. When replacing office equipment, look for the Energy Star logo, as these products not only reduce electric use by over 50 percent, but you might qualify for a tax cut as well. To learn more, visit www.EnergyStar.gov . Also, turn electronics and computers off when you leave the office at night and be sure to turn off lights as much as possible. If you don’t already have one, get an electronic thermostat and lower the office temperature in the evenings and on the weekends.

Consider a payment service – If your website has an online store, chances are you have a merchant account with high monthly fees, statement fees and discount percentages. That can all add up to an unnecessarily-large bill at the end of each month. You may want to think about switching to a payment service like Paypal or Clickbank – there’s just a low per-transaction fee. Depending on the business, this switch alone can save you hundreds of dollars a month!

Cut down on waste – Many businesses are unknowingly overspending by not recycling. Consider the lunchroom: do you provide disposable plates, cups, napkins and utensils for employees to use each day? If so, you might consider stopping those purchases and asking employees to bring in and recycle their own plates and utensils. Also, the amount of paper that gets wasted in the average office can amount to hundreds of dollars a year. Consider using electronic memos, notices and bulletins, and start a recycle bin and use those to print faxes or make in-house copies.

Be creative; there are plenty of other ideas that you can implement to add up to big savings. Take a look around the office and at your daily routine and see what can be minimized or reduced in order to save money. It won’t take long before you have your own list of money-saving ideas!

Paraphrasing my good friend Wikipedia , VoIp is short for "voice over internet protocol" and is pronounced "voyp." So what does that mean? In the simplest of terms it means talking through your computer. Companies such as Vonage and Skype are probably the most common examples of providers of this service. It is a service that has pros for both the home and office including the fact that you can save money by centralizing your voice (aka phone) and data (aka internet) needs into one server. Also, it makes international calls a snap! (VoIP to VoIp calls are free and VoIP to regular phone lines have a small charge usually incurred by the VoIP caller.)

Other pros include that it’s accessible through any broadband internet connection, it’s easier to make secure phone calls (because the data can be encrypted), and now they’ve got programs that allow for video conferencing (great for doing business!).

There are some cons however. It can eat up some of your bandwidth and make your internet run slower. You run the risk of getting cut off if your internet cuts out unexpectedly and for some reason, there is often a delay and/or echo when making calls (likely due to the way the computer must break apart your voice and then put it back together on the other end?).

There is a wealth of information available on the internet and as with anything, you need to thoroughly research your options before you sign up. Keep in mind the needs of your business as you review the choices as you may find a regular phone network and internet provider will be suitable. Not everyone is on the "VoIP bandwagon " but it’s definitely something to consider.

The VoIP system saves substantial cost for businesses. Overall, the VoIP service is much less costly than traditional phone service. VoIP also saves additional money for companies by allowing them to have both data and phone service on one network, rather than separate networks.

VoIP is also incredibly convenient. For instance, the VoIP system allows you to make and receive calls from your regular business phone number anywhere where you have access to Broadband Internet . Therefore, your customers only need one number, and you can save money on cell phone bills. You can also have the ability to see everyone who is on the network simultaneously, which helps in matters of customer service. Another convenience is the fact that you can arrange for phone calls to ring on a few different phones before the call is sent to voice mail. This increases the chance that you will receive the call, allowing you to connect with your customers more easily.

One downside of the VoIP system is that if the network is down for any reason, you will not be able to make calls. A related downside is that if your broadband Internet connection goes out, so will your phone service. It is important to set up the VoIP system so that all calls received during this time will be forwarded to a voice answering service. Another thought to consider before the setup process is that the phone handsets in your office must be compatible with VoIP, and this will most likely require testing, etc. Additionally, some concerns have been raised regarding hackers. The best solution to this problem is to be proactive in securing your system in the highest security ways possible.

If you are unsure about whether or not your business should switch to VoIP, it would be advantageous to hire a knowledgeable person to assist and inform you. Also, you might want to try out the VoIP system with a small amount of people and see how it goes before making a big switch.