Business Credit Cards are Essential

If you are running a business out of your home, then there are many details that you need to keep in mind. You should probably be reading up on as much information that you can get a hold of on having a business at home. One of the most essential pieces of running a business from home that you absolutely need to know from the start is to get a business credit card to use for everything related to your business.

Unfortunately, as a business consultant, I have talked with far too many business owners that come to me after failing at running a home based business. Why? Well, there are a wide range of reasons why people would fail at owning and running a home business, but the surprising number one reason I found for failure was poor management of finances. Far too many people do not invest into a business credit card when they first begin, and that is a very dangerous thing to do.

I thought that the importance of having a business credit card was obvious, but maybe it is not. A business credit card ultimately allows the home based business owner to have the freedom to keep their personal finances and their business finances separate. This is essential throughout the year and obviously when it comes to tax season as well. There is no reason why the finances of a home should be mixed up with the finances of a business. Keeping the two accounts as separate as possible is good in the long run.

There are many ways to apply for a business credit card, but you may want to talk with a business consultant before you make a choice on a card. There are many business credit card offers flying around and it makes it hard to know what is up and what is down when you are sorting through the offers without a good take on what to look for. So make a meeting with a business consultant or talk with a friend who is business savvy before making any decisions about a business credit card.

The bottom line for home based business owners is that they need to look for ways to separate their business even though it is done in the home. This will be impossible without the use of a business credit card. So apply for one today and see what a difference it will make to the organization and success of your business.

Remember that when you are looking to save money, count on your trusted business partner, Business Network Long Distance!

No More Monopoly

There was a time in this country where all utilities such as: gas, power, electric, and telephone service were all operated under the regulation of one single company. In the early seventies AT&T was investigated for being a monopoly of telephone service for the entire country and the result of that endeavor changed the economic model for consumers. Now utility deregulation is law and the process allows private firms to supply utility services rather than restricting it to government-run agencies.

           

Telecom deregulation was the best thing that could have happened for the consumer because it created competition and benefits that lowered service prices. When AT&T operated as a monopoly they could charge whatever they wanted for their service and generally operate as they saw fit. It was common practice for AT&T to rent out telephones to place in homes without the option of owning. Soon after, the government stepped in and created The Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The 1996 Act was designed to open up telecom markets to competition and it relied on rapidly spreading advancements in the industry by requiring companies that used similar types of underlying network technologies to provide a single type of service. The biggest example of this was that AT&T operated seven regional providers of local telephone service and they supplied long-distance service to them all, but under the 1996 Act they could no longer offer that same long distance. They first had to prove that they had opened up the market for long-distance to competition before they could throw their hat in that ring. As a result long distance telephone rates decreased, the number of long distance minutes used increased, while improved entry and competition into the long distance telecommunications sector became a reality.

Use your freedom of choice today and contact Business Network Long Distance for low rates on your long distance bill. 

Do-It-Yourself Financial Planning

Tips for DIY Financial Planning from Business Network Long Distance.

The fight for financial freedom isn’t fair. No matter what kind of spin you try to put on it, the path to comfortable living seems either impossible or too long to attempt. Many people these days are spending copious amounts of money going to see professional financial planners for advice on how to get their money situation under control. But let’s be honest, while a financial planner can show you how to prioritize your spending and how to go about consolidating your debt, surely there must be a way to plan your finances that doesn’t cost you visits to a professional?  This article has been written to open some people’s eyes to the fact that it is possible to properly plan your finances from the comfort of your own home.

The main aim when planning your finances is to make everything as simple as possible. There is nothing worse than sinking so far into depression that you can’t see a way out. Whether you are in debt and looking to get out of it of if you are simply looking for a way to keep a little more spending money aside each month, the simpler you make your planning the better the result you will get. From the beginning, you need to be realistic. I’ll start with the example of a single income situation, firstly you need to calculate what your net pay is per month. If you’re self employed or not on a regular pay, always calculate the worst-case-scenario, what is the lowest you might get paid. Then go through your monthly bills and write down the ones that are a fixed amount. Do the same for all other bills but use the worst-case-scenario again, what is your estimation of the most that those bills might be. Add everything up and subtract it from your net income total.

Next onto the incidental expenses you might run into on a monthly basis. These might include petrol, car upkeep, public transport fares, food etc. make a list of all the little expenses you might need money for in a month. Even things that you’re not sure you might need to buy. Don’t add general spending money to the list, be specific. Always add more to the totals if you’re not sure as you can fine tune it later. Again, subtract your total from the money left over from your bills. Don’t worry if you’ve gone into the negative figures here, we can fix it.

Once you’ve got your expenses total in front of you, obviously any money that is left over is your profit for the month. In the event that you have nothing left or have gone into the minus figures, the next step is to minimize your expenses. Pretty straight forward, huh? Any incidental expenses that you might not need, remove them. And any expenses you know you will have, like food and petrol for example, really get down to the lowest spend on them. How much do you really need to spend on them? Your aim should be to save at least $50 per month after spending money. All that extra builds up and gives you a nice petty cash at the end of a few months!

If you are in a multiple-income situation, the same process applies. You need to start building up that petty cash tin. There will always be unexpected expenses, everyone knows that. In truth, the basis of comfortable living is really the knowledge that you can afford to pay for something unexpected.

To finish, all of this can be done on a piece of paper if you want to invest a little time, or you can lay it all out on an Excel spreadsheet. The way that saves the most time is to use a Financial Planning software program, you enter the numbers and the program gives you an automatic monthly planner. Whatever way you choose to go, always remember to keep it as simple as possible. When you’re following a plan, the pressure on you will decrease. What more could there be to comfortable living?

Remember you can always save money on your long distance bill by contacting Business Network Long Distance.

Putting the Customer First

The key is putting customers first. All successful business revolves around this belief and acts accordingly. To that end, we at Business Network Long Distance follow all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines and regulations, especially when protecting our clients.

To ensure our customers are getting the best service we follow the rules that the FCC has put into place.  Specifically, several regulations regarding phone switching from one provider to another The Telecommunications Act and FCC regulations hold corporations accountable for the actions of their employees. This includes telemarketers.

To legally switch service between providers, the new company must perform one of the following:

·         Verify oral authorizations through an independent third party.

·         Provide and obtain written authorization from the consumer; or

·         Provide a toll- free number for clients to call confirming the switch.

Third party verification is required to ascertain certain personal information including verification data. It is also required to verify that you are authorized to make such financial decisions. This is especially critical in a business environment where multiple lines and the company’s organization are concerned. Confirmation is needed to ensure that you with to change providers and that you understand that you are authorizing a company change, not simply upgrading an existing service or consolidating a bill. This question protects consumers from possibly misleading information. Former and current provider information is necessary to complete the switch.

A letter of Agency “LOA” may be written or electronically sent. It is used to confirm a consumer’s desire to change companies. Like the telemarketer verification information detailed above, it requires some personal billing information. The Letter, though, authorizes the new provider to act as the Agent of change in switching your long distance service. It may not be part of promotional materials or advertisements (except incentive checks, under certain circumstances). It is important that the LOA, as a legal document, detail and explain all local, local toll, and long distance providers being switched or affiliated.

The final method of authorization is to establish and use one or more toll- free numbers for electronic confirmation. The lines must be dedicated to that purpose. Calling the line connects the consumer to a live or automated voice unit that will record the required information detailed above for verification purposes. Calls which authorize a provider switch must be placed from the telephone line(s) in question.

These safeguards have been put in place by the FCC to protect consumers from illegal practices. All companies operating within the law follow these regulations.

For quality long distance you can trust contact Business Network Long Distance.

Searching for your Next Investment Property?

Are you a business owner that looks for property investments?  Then we have some tips for you!

Finding a bargain investment property on paper is only half of the process of property investment. The other half of real estate investing is going down to the property to examine the real estate investment property physically for defects either in terms of the construction and legal title and other liens that can be on the property. You do not want to spend lots of legal costs later to undo the bad lemon you bought into. This article will highlight five possible things to consider when searching for your next investment property.

Firstly, unless you find a property that is really run down and you want to tear it down to its foundations, you want to look out for properties that might have potential electrical and water piping problems. The reason why this is critical is that, wiring and water piping is usually hidden behind walls and other furniture fixtures and repairing them can be a very costly affair since you have to hack into the walls and run the piping and wiring if the problem is very serious. If you are new to property investing try to bring a electrical engineer along with you when you are doing some property inspection.

Secondly, foundation problems are usually harder to spot. When walking around the property, look for cracks appearing at the side of the house and the foundation that goes into the ground. Look for large unusual holes found at the side of the property and cracks on the exterior paint of the building. You might want to bring a civil engineer and a contractor along to figure out how much it would cost to fix the property if you suspect the repairs involved will be substantial. You can also bring them along to give a “grim estimate” to the house owner and bring down the cost of the property.

Thirdly, roofing problems can be a persistent nightmare to you and your potential tenant if you are purchasing the real estate for tenancy purposes. When inspecting the house, look around the ceiling near the windows and around the edges of the walls to look for new paint or yellow spots or cracks with water in them. Most sellers would be smart enough to eliminate the water bubbles after a heavy rain when trying to sell the property, but it is always important to figure out if there is a major leaking roof which might cost you are lot into repairing it. Use this defect to negotiate the price of the property further if you are interested in the property.

Fourthly, another reason why the investment property in question might be a bargain might be because there are legal problems associated with it. Common ones include, multiple owners that cannot agree whether to sell or not. Litigation here would be futile and you should avoid such property once you learn about it.

Another problem might be a lack of clean title. Did you know that the seller can be selling you only the building without the land or maybe there are existing tax liens on your property or some other liens that can prevent you from getting good title to the property? Spending some time chatting with a reliable real estate attorney to learn about common real estate problems in your area can save you lots of legal problems later.

Fifthly, bankruptcy of your seller or one of the part owners of your real estate may depending on the legal proceedings of your state affect your ability to transfer title quickly. Most states make it a requirement that the receiver of the bankrupt has to agree so pay careful attention to the bankruptcy legislation of your state. That being said, sometimes the banks are willing to sell you at a bargain so as to recover the bad debts quickly so do your homework before purchasing such an investment property.

In conclusion, these five pointers can be used as a starting point for you to evaluate your property investment. Spend some time to think rationally about the properties that you have seen and see if they have any of the above flaws and consider if you want to continue purchasing them and whether the costs that you may incur in fixing them will justify the discount of the property to the market value. Above all, take massive action today and pursue your property investment dreams.

These pointers and tips brought to you by Business Network Long Distance, your trusted business partner.

Productivity Loss

A business cannot compete if it does no stay on top of new technology.  If it fails to stay up to date, it will fall behind the pack.  Advancements in telecommunication has revolutionized human existence, because of it many companies have attempted to go wireless.  The idea of course is to gain an edge or at least stay even with the competition, but this has not been the experience for many who have chosen this path. For them, it’s been more like going backward instead of forward.

By going wireless many companies find that the mobile device becomes a constant in meetings, office conversations, etc.  When the cell phone should be put away and used for personal time, it becomes an excuse since it is also their business line.  This opens up games and all other applications to be used on company time on the company phone, however passed off by a walker-by as a business duty. 

Loss of productivity becomes one of the largest issues with a wireless company.  The company also sees a loss of funds because of the expense cell phones charge as well as if the employee has their phone lost or stolen.  Finally, with all the information that is now stored on the cell phone because it is the business phone as well, if anyone does steal the phone, information loss can be a security threat to the entire company.

The aims and objectives of going wireless are to make the company simpler when instead it makes for a more complicated model of communication within the company. 

If you are concerned about the price of you landline contact Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance bill. 

Quality Excellence Program

Business Network Long Distance employees are sought out and hired for their concern for excellence and the need to satisfy our customer base. We care about our customer’s needs and their security.  There are no corners cut when it comes to the quality assurance process we implement for every customer we provide with our services. Every sale we make is triple checked to ensure that all standards were met throughout the entire five step quality process.

The five step quality process we use here at Business Network Long Distance is a practice we have perfected over the years. Step one of the process is to record and review one hundred percent of the calls that are made by our sales representatives for maximum quality assurance. Step two is to use a live third party verification company to confirm that our customers wish to use our service after a customer decides that they would like to take advantage of what we offer. Step three is to immediately call the customer back to validate the sale and that they were in fact the person who authenticated the change. Step four is another layer of protection for our customers where we will actually place a forty-eight hour hold on any changes to ensure that the customer does not change their mind, but if they wish to do so they can cancel before the sale gets processed. The fifth and final step is for an automatic review and then a manual review to guarantee that the sales representative did their job properly and that all five steps of the quality process we in fact followed.

Here at Business Network Long Distance we have a training regimen that every new employee will have to endure before they will have the privilege of being considered a Business Network Long Distance employee. Our staff takes pride in the service that we are providing and the close working relationship we enjoy fosters an environment that makes it a delight to show up to work each and every day. It is our hope that each and every customer we encounter is thoroughly satisfied with our service. 

Automatic Extension Requests For Businesses

Some Tax tips from Business Network Long Distance, your trusted business partner.

The internal revenue service has recently been taking steps to cut down on clutter and streamline the tax filing process. Now they’ve simplified business tax return extensions.

Automatic Extension Requests For Businesses

In past years, some businesses had to go through a lot of paperwork to file request for extensions to file annual business tax returns. This included filing partial extension forms such as forms 8800, 8736, 7004 and 2758. I get a headache just thinking about it. Apparently, IRS agents got one as well and have decided to do something about.

The internal revenue service has announced it is doing away with all the different forms for filing requests for an extension to file business tax returns. Now, all businesses can use one form to get an automatic six month extension. Form 7004 is the document you will need. It is entitled Application for Automatic 6 Month Extension to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information and Other Returns. Okay, so the IRS hasn’t figured out short titles. This is still a positive step in reducing the morass of forms typically required to get extensions.

To use Form 7004 for your 2005 tax filings, you must file it by the date the tax return filing is due. You are then automatically given a six month extension to file the return. Importantly, the extension is only for the filing of the return, not the payment of any tax due. If you owe tax, you still have to the amount due by the original filing period. Failure to do so will lead to penalties and interest being applied to the amount you owe when you finally get around to taking care of the tax returns.

End of the World?

One is tempted to predict the end of the world coming soon. I don’t know about hell freezing over, but the actions taking by the IRS in the last calendar year are the stuff of myth. First, the IRS went to bat for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, even issuing detailed instructions on how to claim their losses on past tax returns to get refunds to help them out. Second, the IRS actually raised the mileage allowance in the middle of the year to give business travelers a larger deduction because the IRS felt gas prices were to high. Now, the IRS is eliminating unnecessary and frustrating procedures to make tax filings simpler. The end must be near.

Stay smart with your money by saving on your long distance bill with Business Network Long Distance. 

Home Based Business Owner Tips for Success

1) Attitude--

One very important factor in running a business is your attitude towards it. You should treat your business like a business.

This is very important whether you work your business full-time, or part-time. A very close friend of mine, who is also a colleague, is a mother of 4 who works her home business around her family. In this case, she has put her family first, and at the same time, still been able to develop her business.She works part-time, but she has a full-time attitude. To put it another way, if you have a lacking attitude, you'll have a lacking income. However, if you have a business attitude, you'll have a business income.

Keeping your attitude in mind while running your business is one of the first steps to ensuring your success.

Being successful working part-time on your business, or working full-time, is more than achievable. However in saying that, it is highly unlikely that working in your "spare time" will achieve you success.

2) The Environment In Which You Work--

Keeping with the attitude principles discussed above, it is necessary to remember that while you are working from home, you should make sure that you have a space to call your own; your own "business at home" office, free from distractions.

Keep the theme going with a comfortable office chair, and a well laid-out and organized desk. Stationery supplies will also be of assistance, so be sure to include the following in your "home office":

- Pens
- Highlighter
- Hole Punch
- Stapler
- Sticky Tape
- Note Book(s)
- A system which will enable you to easily and efficiently store your physical files and documents.
- Ring Binders
- Manila Folders

Do you have a fast internet connection? If not, consider the use of a broadband internet connection. Anything you do will take a certain amount of time, and your time is a very valuable asset. Faster internet means you will have more time for other things.

3) Schedule--

Dividing up your spare time between your business, your family, or your "significant others" will require a carefully planned schedule. Just like office hours in which you would work, when you allocate time for work, make sure that you work during this time. Equally important is to make sure you have time for other commitments - time with your family, exercising, education, and leisure time are all equally important factors in your life. Its also a good idea to keep in mind why you are doing what you are doing. For example, if you are starting your home business to spend more time with your family, you don't want your work time consuming valuable family time.

With a home business, the only "boss" you have is yourself and your schedule. Lets say for instance that you are working during your allocated work time, and you have unexpected visitors, or people calling you. You have to make a choice; are you really committed to running your own business? Are you committed to business success? Your choices in these types of situations will govern whether or not you have a "business attitude", or a "hobby attitude".

However, you may need to adjust the way you make your choices. This is especially true in a family environment. In this instance, it may be necessary to discuss with your partner and/or children an agreed period of time which is classed as business time, in which you will not be interrupted. It may also help to print or write down this schedule and place it somewhere prominent so as to inform all family members of your work schedule.

4) Describing Your Business--

Make sure that when asked about your business, you are able to describe it concisely; a strong and powerful one or two sentence about your business that someone can repeat easily about describing your business to others. A company slogan or "tag line" can also be invaluable for promoting your business; take the time to create a unique and memorable tag line or slogan.

5) Knowledge Of Your Services Or Products--

You now have your product and your service in which you sell, whether or not you actually use your product or service you sell, it is a wise decision to make sure that your knowledge of your product or service is intimate and well-founded. For instance, if you sell ebooks, then ensure you know the content and the value in which it holds; if you sell software, ensure that you know how it works, "inside and out". In doing so, your reputation will develop as someone who provides quality information about a product or service, and because of this knowledge, you yourself can become a preferred supplier.

However, it may not always be practical to use certain products (as an example, a man may choose to sell wedding dresses), in which case the seller wouldn't be a product or service user, though in saying that, the seller can still have extensive knowledge of the product or services benefits and features.

6) Administration--

It is essential to implement good record keeping practices.

This can include tasks such as consulting a tax adviser who can advise you on the best and most optimal way to set up and store your financial records, as well as which records need to be kept. In addition, your adviser could also recommend record keeping systems which can help you in achieving a more efficient and simpler means of organizing this aspect of your business.

You may also be told advice on the most effective arrangements and set ups for your banking necessities. In doing so, you will most likely be advised to seek out separate bank accounts for your business.

If you use various logins, passwords, and usernames, it would be a wise decision to keep track and store this various information.

The tools and methods in which you track these are varied; from a simple paper notebook to free and commercial software.

7) Protection For Your Computer--

Your computer houses all your important business data, and is also the lifeline of your business dealings. In saying this, it is vital that you protect your computer.

Pieces of software such as virus scanners, personal firewalls, anti-spyware and adware, and even an email scanner, should all be implemented to help with the protection of your computer.

8) Obtaining A Domain Name--

For any home-based, online business, it is more than just essential to have a domain name for your business, it is vital. There are many domain registrar companies out there. Take your pick.

9) Processing Of Your Payments--

Any online business will need to the ability to accept payments. Payment processors such as Paypal, 2Checkout, and Clickbank, all offer multiple ways to accept payment, including the ability to accept credit card payments online.

As an online business just starting out, this is the most effective, efficient, and economical way to get started in accepting online payments. As your business starts to grow and develop, it may be necessary to look into obtaining your own merchant account for transactions.

Also, it may be worth while taking into account other forms of currency online, such as eGold.

10) Email Accounts--

The more professional and trusted your online home business appears, the more likely your customers are going to do business with you. One of the most easiest and simplest ways to do this, is to use an associated email account. After obtaining your own domain, it is possible to create your very own associated email account.


We want you and your business to be successful here at Business Network Long Distance.  Contact us today to save money on your long distance bill so that you have more money for the other necessities.

5 Facts about Health Insurance Policies

We know that this economy has a lot of people struggling.  We keep our rates low and affordable to help with long distance costs.  However, what about other parts where you could save money?

These are some tips about health insurance plans.  Many health insurance plans have specific exclusions that eliminate your benefits for anything that could have been covered under Workers Compensation or similar laws.

1. DOES YOUR PLAN COVER YOU ON AND OFF THE JOB?

Many health insurance plans have specific exclusions that eliminate your benefits for anything that could have been covered under Workers Compensation or similar laws. Now read that last sentence again.

COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED!?

That is correct. Most self employed people and even some small business owners do not carry Workers Comp on themselves.

There are designed insurance plans that will cover you on and off the job — 24-hours a day, if you are not required by law to have Workers Compensation coverage.

2. ARE YOU WRITING IT OFF?

Independent contractors (1099's), home based business owners, professionals and other self employed people generally are not taking advantages of the tax laws available to them.

Many people who are paying 100% of their own costs are eligible to deduct their monthly insurance payments. Just that alone can reduce your net out-of-pocket costs of a proper plan by as much as 40%. Ask your accounting professional if you are eligible and/or check out the IRS website for more information.

3. INTERNAL LIMITS
All true insurance plans use some form of internal controls to determine how much they will pay out for a particular procedure or service. There are two basic methods.

-Scheduled Benefits

Many plans, some of which are specifically marketed to self employed and independent people, have a clear schedule of what they will pay per doctor office visit, hospital stay, or even limits on what they will pay for testing per 24-hr. period. This structure is usually associated with "Indemnity Plans". If you are presented with one of these plans, be sure to see the schedule of benefits, in writing. It is important that you understand these type of limits up front because once you reach them the company will not pay anything over that amount.

-Usual and Customary

"Usual and Customary" refers to the rate of pay out for a doctor office visit, procedure or hospital stay that is based on what the majority of physicians and facilities charge for that particular service in that particular geographical or comparable area. "Usual and Customary" charges represent the highest level of coverage on most major medical plans.


4.YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOP!

If you are reading this you, are probably shopping for a health plan. Every day people shop, for everything from groceries to a new home. During the shopping process, generally, the value, price, personal needs and general marketplace gets evaluated by the buyer. With this in mind, it is very disconcerting that most people never ask what a test, procedure or even doctor visit will cost. In this ever-changing health insurance market, it will become increasingly important for these questions to be asked of our medical professionals. Asking price will help you get the most out of your plan and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

5. NETWORKS AND DISCOUNTS

Almost all insurance plans and benefit programs work with medical networks to access discounted rates. In broad strokes, networks consist of medical professionals and facilities who agree, by contract, to charge discounted rates for services rendered. In many cases the network is one of the defining attributes of your program. Discounts can vary from 10% to 60% or more. Medical network discounts vary, but to ensure you minimize your out-of-pocket expenses, it is imperative that you preview the network's list of physicians and facilities before committing. This is not only to ensure that your local doctors and hospitals are in the network, but also to see what your options would be if you were to need a specialist.

Ask your agent what network you are in, ask if it is local or national and then determine if it meets your own individual needs.

Contact your health insurance provider and make sure you and your employees are covered for every situation.

Save money on your long distance bill with help from Business Network Long Distance!

Before you Cut off the Landline...

It can be hard to remember why we keep around landlines that seems so aged when new technology is all around us.  However, can you say about any of your new technology that it lasts all the time through storms or that it doesn't get lost or stolen.  A landline is a dependable form of communication that many forget about.

Depend on the landline and depend on Business Network Long Distance for quality long distance.

Insurance You Can Count On!

In the United States we love our insurance policies. We insure just about everything. We insure our homes, our cars, health, recreational equipment, the things in our homes and cars too. We insure our business, the people who work for our business, the things we use at our business and possibly the customers who use our business. 

Well how do you like that? That sure sounds nice and cozy doesn’t it? Insurance helps us to keep our peace of mind. That if things should not go the way we hope, should some kind of tragedy strike, we will not have to suffer too great of a loss.

We seem to have a plan for almost every situation these days, but what about your communication needs.  You have a cell phone and insurance on your cell phone, but do you have a backup plan?  Isn’t that what insurance is really all about?  Having something in case the first thing falls through or gets broken.  Your cell phone if lost or stolen leaves you with no way to contact people or activate your insurance. 

Enter…Landline.  The landline is your insurance line for communication needs.  Not only that but it also provides extra reliability with contacting 911, giving you another form of insurance.  Your business depends on communication, are you prepared for any situation?

Of the two hundred and seventy million 911 calls made in the United States each year, the response time to the individual location is based on knowing the exact address.  If your home or business does not have a landline telephone in it, the call made for help may take a significantly longer amount of time to arrive.

You see the 911 operators are only able to respond with the type of pinpoint accuracy you really need in an emergency situation when the call is made from a landline telephone. This is possible because when a 911 call goes out from a landline telephone, the dispatcher is given the exact location the call has been made from as soon as the call is placed. This is done automatically as the call has been made from a fixed location.

 Now that is an insurance policy you can count on when you need it!  A plan that has no “may be” to it. Sure a cell phone call signal can be traced by pinging the signal off a series of towers. But that can take time. Time you and your business or customers may not have.  The inaccuracy from a cell phone can be a real problem if the call is made from a cell phone within a public space.  Don’t leave the safety of your home or business left in the hands of your cell phone. You don’t have to settle for less.

This great low cost insurance that you can have to safeguard your home or business is found only in landline telephone and is irreplaceable.  To learn how affordable the great policy can be for you. Contact Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance bill!

Your Credit Report Made Simple

Business Network Long Distance presents 3 ways to get your free annual credit report for the business owner:

Yes, you can now get your credit report without paying a dime. And unlike before, now it is truly free. No longer do you have to sign up for a "free" credit report by signing up for "credit monitoring protection service" for a low annual fee of $79 a year! The days of dodging the annoying charges and service fees for a free credit report are over.

Under the 2003 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, you have the right to a free copy of your credit report within a 12 month period from the big three credit report bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion).

The goal of this new government act is to ensure that Americans have the right to stay informed about what these three credit reporting bureaus say about you without having to pay for it. Since identity theft, fraud and errors are quite common today, why should you have to pay for a copy of a report to fight back against these problems?

Here are the 3 ways to get your free annual credit report:

The three credit reporting agencies have created a website to request your annual credit report.

1) Go to www.annualcreditreport.com

2) Call (877) 322-8228 to request your free credit report.

3) Complete a form from the Federal Trade Comission, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/include/requestformfinal.pdf and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

If you go directly to the three agencies or use any other type of service you may end up having to pay or sign up for the subscription services I mentioned above! Make sure you use one of the 3 methods I have listed to get your annual free credit report.

You can get the reports from all 3 agencies at once or stagger the reports from each one during the course of 1 year. The advantage of staggering the reports that you receive is to keep track of how any major changes in your financial picture affect what is on your credit report. For example, if you plan on getting a second mortgage over the coming year, or applying for student loans, ect. it might be wise to get a report before and after these major events!

This new Act does not supplant the other methods you can take advantage of to receive a free credit report. If you are applying for unemployment or been denied a loan, or need a credit report in order to get a job, you still have the right to obtain a free credit report.

Take advantage of this new government regulation and make sure all of the information listed by all three credit reporting agencies are correct. Any errors or omissions can reduce your credit score and end up costing you a lot of money when you apply for any type of credit.

Spend more money on paying off loans and improving your credit report by saving money on other bills.  Contact Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance bill today!

The Real Cost of Cellphones

The rage of social media --- texting, Facebook, on-line shopping, on-line banking and bill paying has cost employers millions of dollars in paid out wages to employees playing on the job. Profits are lost due to a decrease in productivity. In addition to paying current wages, employers have been forced to hire specialist to track employee quality and quantity of work, as well as, invest in Spyware to make sure that the time employees spend on-line is for business purposes.

            In analyzing how much employee cell phone usage cost an employer. An example of 10 employees who earn $15 an hour that check their cell phones for 3 minutes every other hour on an 8-hour shift. (3 minutes multiplied by 4 times a day= 12 minutes). Those 10 employees multiplied by 12 minutes daily= 120 minutes total then multiplied by 5 days a week= 600 minutes or 10 hours, which equals $150 dollars a week. Yearly the cumulative cost for those 10 employees checking and responding to email and Facebook for one year is a staggering $7,800 dollars in lost wages and 520 hours in lost productivity. Believe it or not the above example of an employee using only 12 minutes a day used for social media is extremely conservative.

            What do you think your employees are doing on their phones?  Don’t let that be a company expense.  Cell phones in the work place are a major distraction for employees, which create not only losses in payroll and productivity, but also create an unsafe work environment as well. Cell phones are hurting both large and small companies. In order to put money back into your company start by saving money on your business landlines by choosing Business Network Long Distance as an alternative long-distance provider. 

The Landline Investment

Your business needs less hassle and more convenience, do just that with a landline.

Contact Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance bill today!

Long Live the Landline

Since its invention in 1875, the landline has been trusted by millions of people.  The invention has been improved throughout the years to make it a reliable form of communication.

During the 21st century, landline telephone usage reached its peak.  Some may think that it is on the downfall, however to this day 64% of households maintain a landline. There are several reasons to consider, when you consider maintaining a landline.

The landline through many improvements has stayed reliable.  While technology has changed, they kept the hard wires instead of switching to towers.  This is because the towers that are used for cell phones can get jammed and are unpredictable.

The landline has also maintained to be an affordable line for communication.  The cell phone increases in price with new technology constantly emerging that you have to upgrade for, while the landline lasts for years.  Also, if you break your landline, you don’t have to worry about waiting for it to cost a reasonable price when your contract is up.  You can go to your local convenience store for your new landline.

Your business needs a line to depend on for communication.  The landline is just that.

Save your landline and save money!  Contact Business Network Long Distance for an affordable and reliable long distance service for your business.  

Keep Your Business Safe

Tips to keep your business safe:

• Create a formal written Internet security policy for employees.
• Create a formal written policy for social media use on work hours.
• Provide internet safety training.

Assess the Risk:

• Monitor the accounts of all employees, be aware of your assets and the defenses to protect these.

Consider the Following:

• What information do you collect from customers?
• How do you store the information you collect?
• Who has access to customer information?
• How do you protect the information?

Monitor Threats:

• SPAM
• PHISHING
• VIRUSES
• SPYWARE

Security Plan:

• Prevention - Create a plan for all employees to follow that identifies the risks associated with attacks and the solutions to avoid them.
• Resolution - In the event of a breach of a security, what will the plan be for resolving the issue.
• Restitution - Be prepared to address customers and secure future trust.

Simple Steps:

• Make sure all of your information is securely backed up!
• Change passwords often.
• Educate employees on safety procedures.
• Know what is important to protect.

This Business Safety Message brought to you by: Business Network Long Distance, your trusted business partner. 

Your Professional Business Line

            When it comes to the landline service it is not only important to residents it is important to businesses.  Businesses depend on customers so customers need to have a reliable way to reach the business.  A landline provides dependability and credibility.  A successful business should be seen as professional and the landline helps a customer see commitment!

            The credibility of a landline can show professionalism.  A landline is a permanent number that is attached to a physical address.  This is important to consumers to show the business is established in the community.  With so many businesses coming and going it can be comforting.  Also with so many scams out there today, a landline shows that the business is established and there to stay.   The little effort it takes to maintain a landline is well worth the customer loyalty that can be gained.

            A landline is more professional than a wireless system for many reasons!  Wireless systems can have issues when there are power outages or weak signals, this can leave a business without a phone.  When a customer calls and they are not able to reach the business, this can damage their reputation.  A landline can still connect during a power outage and there are no dead zones to concern yourself with.

            Last but not least, the landline is cost-effective for a business.  The landline can have multiple lines to transfer calls and receive calls with.  Landlines are cheaper and provide better quality, a great business decision.

            A business should pride itself on being professional.  That is what will separate itself from many other businesses and a landline will help do just that.  A landline is the way to go for a business phone.  Earn customers loyalty, trust and business!  Keep the credible and cost effective landline! Keep the landline professional.  For more information on how to save money on long distance service contact Business Network Long Distance!

Keep the Employees Focused

            Productivity is where the business strives.  If you look around, though, do you not see the streets and halls of commerce filled with hunched over humans hovering over their cellphones and oblivious to the worlds around them. To get your people back to work, to get them to focus on the task at hand and increase productivity, the cellphone needs to be put away. Landlines are the solution.gm

            Cellphones interrupt business in a multitude of ways, providing distractions and creating hazards. They actually add to stress and burn-out, too, killing productivity. Here are some ways landlines will ensure that the focus of your business will work.

1.      Remove the cellphone distraction by requiring employees to conduct business on landlines, where social media does not exist. Personal calls on cellphones should be limited. Landlines can also security measures to review contact history, and or record/listen to conversations to ensure customers are being handles properly and professionally.

2.      Focus on meetings and projects by keeping personal or frivolous interruptions to a minimum that are often found on cell phones/smart phones.

3.      Increase security by using landlines, minimizing the opportunity for electronic eavesdropping, intentional or accidental.

4.      Landlines and localized records are much more secure. How dangerous would it be if all of your business information, contacts, and records were on an unlocked cellphone and it was lost or damaged?

5.      The use of landlines creates a separation of the personal life and the professional life, a key component of employee productivity.

6.      In-the- moment text decisions are typically less than productive. The responder is focused on sending a reply, not necessarily on making the best decision or taking time to consult with others to compose the best solution.

Cutting out landlines in your business is actually counter- productive and costly Landlines put the control of the work environment back into the hands of managers and owners, increasing productivity and the quality of services rendered.

            For all of your business long distance needs, contact Business Network Long Distance.

The Smart Phone for Your Business-The Landline

Let's just face it. Nobody thinks about a landline today when you think about phones. Technology and marketing has completely left out landlines for the past few years.  All we hear about is cell phones and the latest greatest device we need to purchase.  This often overrides the relevance of the phones initial purposes, which is contact and communication.

When it comes to your business, how comfortable are you with knowing that your calling abilities are subject to unstable conditions? How comfortable are your clients with your entire business being mobile?  Moreover how safe is your business being totally mobile?

When dealing with cell phones there are too many possible pitfalls that could occur during a crucial business moment for you. Dropped calls can be the most underestimated killjoy of a business call, especially if you're in the middle of receiving information from a client. This results due to weak cell signals or poor coverage areas. Poor quality in certain areas also becomes a buzz kill for clients. Really though, who wants to keep repeating themselves to someone who wants their business, my money?

Another factor is the distractions that occur while on a mobile phone. The distractions range from people around you talking to you, driving, texts coming in, etc. Wouldn’t you rather be answering business calls in a business setting on a designated business line? 

Let’s mention battery life? Think about the T-Mobile commercial with Bill Hader in which he is running from power outlet to power outlet in the office trying to stay connected to a client, and then he eventually loses the client. Can you really afford to re-enact this scene for yourself?

Consider the perception that your clients may have of your business being solely on a mobile phone. What does it really say about your business? How much easier is it to scam a person with a cell phone that is not as traceable as a landline? Many are not comfortable with giving their hard earned money to somebody who is not centrally located where they can contact them and see them when they need to.

Mobile phones for your main business line just do not convey stability to customers. Also consider the impact of not being registered in the phone book. How does that impact your marketing? In America, your image is everything.

Also remember the security!  The landline provides a line that cannot be hacked as easily, making credit card numbers and other information safe!  You as a business owner should feel just as cautious about your own banking info on a mobile. 

Get the landline for your business and call Business Network Long Distance to save money on your long distance costs. 

A Trustworthy Service

            In the United States, a lot of scam businesses have recently appeared to take your information and then use it against you.  Because of this, consumers like to know exactly who they are dealing with. Consumers are leery of being scammed and a registered business landline assures potential customers that your company is legitimate and that the business will not skip town with their hard-earned dollars. The business landline provides a clear channel of communication and is more dependable than a cell phone. Although cellular phones are convenient, especially for contractors who spend the majority of their time at job-sites, cell phones should only be used as a supplement to the business landline.  

            Business landlines have the ability to function during natural or man-made disasters. Unlike cell phones, they do not rely on a power source to recharge the batteries or relay towers to transmit radio waves.  Unfortunately, many contractors who depended solely upon cell-phones lost potential business because they simply could not be reached due to jammed systems, downed cell towers or no power to recharge cell phone batteries during natural disasters. Their current satisfied clientele, as well as, potential new customers were forced to turn to other contractors who had landlines. Customers want immediate business services and they will not wait patiently until their current contractor becomes available, especially when the competition can be reached and is willing to come to their rescue in times of trouble.

            An established business landline is a necessity for keeping current customers and attracting new customers. Do not cancel your dependable landline service in an effort to cut back on expenses. Instead build your business by investing in your financial future by being available the next time a customer needs your business services and their contractor cannot be reached on a cellular phone.   

  

If you are looking to reduce your current bill and you want to save even more money on your long distance service call Business Network Long Distance.

Your Business Line Should Be Professional

When employees use their smartphones instead of business landlines for work, it can be cost-effective for some organizations, but there are downsides to cutting the cord, including problems with call quality and issues around organizational control.

The traditional desktop telephone persists in most enterprise settings today, despite the rise of smartphones.  Before you unplug all your business landlines, think about some of the problems you may encounter. 

Do you want important customers, clients and other contacts to have access to your employee’s personal phone numbers? 

Mobile phones are essential for many personal activities, but employees really don’t need mobile access at work.  It is instead better to have landlines for the work environment.  In these scenarios, employers will appreciate the lower costs of wired services and employees will appreciate the improved reliability. 

“Our advice to clients is not to switch from an office-based phone to a cell phone exclusively,” said Fred Manuel, General Partner at Alliance Cost Containment in Ann Arbor, Mich., a company that works with businesses to reduce costs in all areas of operation.

Manuel said that while his focus is helping customers cut costs, using a cell phone can cost more in the end because it can be frustrating to customers who can’t hear you clearly on the phone.

“What you’re saying to your client is that you care more about saving money than delivering good service and you may be sending the message that you really don’t have the money for an office with a land based phone,” Manuel told Business News Daily.

As you know, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.  Whether keeping a separate landline for your mobile phone is going to work for you or not, would depend on your needs and preferences; but taking them into consideration won’t do you any harm.  Keep your landline and all of its advantages and save even more money on your long distance service contact Business Network Long Distance, your trusted business partner.

Top Three Reasons You Need a Landline

A lot of business owners seem to think landline phones are becoming extinct like the dinosaurs. The large number buttons, hefty handles and long cords aren’t as attractive as the small cell phone.  However, before you let your landline go you may want to consider what the landline does bring to your company.

1.       A Stable Connection - Being able to communicate to others efficiently and effectively is a key factor in business. Stock trades and other business transactions happen at the speed of light, and being on a cell phone while service may become interrupted can have a costly effect. Using a landline will ensure that a business transaction is handled correctly and securely, without the dropped call or out of range static.

2.       Reliable and Dependable – As a business owner, you want the ability to communicate in any storm or emergency.  Overworked or out of commission cell networks and towers have failed in these situations, but the landline continues to reach emergency services or other landlines.  Without any power, the landlines still works effectively and does not rely on being charged regularly.  Companies with a landline have the peace of mind knowing their transactions are safe and secure in these situations.

3.       Cost – This may be your biggest concern as a business owner, if it is, the landline is right for you.  With cell phones becoming more advanced, cell phone companies are constantly finding ways to charge more.  Unlimited plans are a necessity now and cost an arm and a leg.  Businesses are dependent on the profit, where there are possible savings, grab ahold of them. 

These are the top three reasons a business should choose a landline over a cell phone. While there are positives and negatives to both services, no cell phone can offer what a landline does in communication. 

Save money today with Business Network Long Distance. 

Cell Phones in the Workplace: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Cellular phones seem to be a part of society, now even entering the workplace.  Many employers are attempting to go strictly cellular at their businesses and seem to think it is a good idea to let their workers bring their own cell phones to work.  Business owners may be thinking that it can possibly reduce costs, ensure a better work environment because the employees are happier and even attract new and more creative workers.  Despite the good this idea affords, the bad and the ugly can be costly for your business.

Some may think it’s abnormal to think that you would let your employees bring their smart phones to make them happier; nevertheless, while you're paying them for productivity and creativity, they are wasting time on their phones!  As an employer, you are paying them to work for your business and contribute to the company’s growth.  If you were visiting a store or a potential business partner, how would you feel if they were texting and watching videos instead of working? 

Another factor to consider is how easy it is to be distracted by your smartphone.  Cell phones provide enjoyment in all forms and can continually entertain us.  They provide captivating material between the texts, social media and games; you can be entertained for hours without even using the phone as a phone.  So are you paying your employees cell phone bills for calls or for the extras? 

While banning cell phones is an unlikely solution, instead keep the cell phones for personal calls and the business line for work.

One last problem to consider in providing cell phones to employees is that it blurs the line between home and work.  Employees answering personal phone calls at work and working from home can get difficult and stressful quickly. 

Keep the cell phones out of the workplace and save money.  Business Network Long Distance is your trusted business partner, helping you keep cost down and productivity high.

Landline Safety Features

Keeping your landline is the most important decision a home or business owner can make.  While it may seem like a minor detail, there are many reasons that make it a top priority.

Batteries and towers are not required for the use of landlines.  Landlines require no batteries, while some cordless phones need an occasional charging when not in use; the corded landline requires no electricity.  Your cell phone battery goes out and you are unable to contact anyone until it charges.  What if the power is out?  A landline can save a lot of stress if an unpredictable power outage occurs.  During emergencies as well, the cell phone tower can be compromised for bandwidth, causing your cell phone to be unable to make phone calls or text.

Cell phones are at the mercy of weather and geographic features of the area.  Whereas landlines give you five bars everywhere.  No worrying about where you are in your house and if you get a signal, the landline doesn’t drop your call. 

The safety feature included in a landline for your business is especially important when considering the safety of your employees and of your customers. They will remember how you were prepared and could contact emergency services with the landline, while others were stranded because of only mobile phones and signals jammed. 

Business Network Long Distance cares about your safety and your priorities.  Keep your landline and save money with long distance services by Business Network Long Distance. 

Why choose a business landline?

One argument against your business landline you may hear is that it is outdated and no longer needed, because cell phones provide everything a business needs and more. Stop! Don't buy into the hype and cancel your landline without comparing the important differences between business landlines and cell phones.

The primary reason for having any phone is to communicate with your potential clients. Landlines are used for verbal communication, while cell phones have the capability of both verbal and non-verbal communication; such as: texting, tweeting, Facebook, etc... However, cell phone features cannot compete with traditional landline security, reception and dependability.

Traditional phone lines do not use software and calls travel over permanently connected terrestrial circuits. Security against electromagnetic intrusion or spying (cyber security) is a leading security problem in the United States. Cell phones connect with the telephone network using radio waves, which makes them susceptible to attack from eavesdroppers who intercept consumer information from radio frequencies. The entire spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies include: not just wireless calls, but also frequencies used for radios, scanners, microwave ovens, facsimile, video, radars and televisions.

This provides a safer network for new clients to provide credit card or other information.  Cell phones track your incoming and outgoing calls, incoming or outgoing text messages and your location. By using a landline it becomes more difficult for media marketers to send signals to your cell phone. Security systems for your office can be connected directly to the landline. This provides another safety feature to your place of business.

Landlines offer a clear channel of communication without the white noise or dead zones that are common in all cell phone services.  How embarrassing it can be when you are not sure which parts of your office have no bars and your call disconnects. Landlines give consumers added security, by restricting undesired callers from having unlimited access to your cell phone. 

The business landline is more dependable than a wireless cell phone also because they work during power outages. While the power outage may shut down surrounding companies, it would be great for your company to outlast the power outage and continue to take orders and provide great customer service.  This also gives any visiting customers a way to communicate with family and friends where they are in case they are stranded due to it.

Landlines are linked to the address of the line, which provides a 911 guarantee. There is no such guarantee with cell phones and the extra minutes that it could take to find the exact location are not worth the risk.

In order to protect your investment, let your cell phone stay personal and conduct business on your landline. Business landlines are affordable, providing unlimited local calling at a reasonable price and if you want to save even more money on your long distance service, contact Business Network Long Distance.

Your Business Greeting

How do you answer your business line?  

Keep the business line separate and answer it professionally.  This business tip brought to you by Business Network Long Distance.

The Perks of a Business Phone

Have you ever thought the grass was greener on the other side? It may seem that way when considering removing your business landline and going to all cell phones.  However after making the switch you may face some disappointments.

With a landline you have no contacts to deal with and use a long distance provider that only charges you for the calls you make.  There is a nominal fee for your landline that meets your needs and your budget.  The cell phone switch can be expensive and charge overages when you least expect them.  Don’t waste time watching minutes and tracking your employee’s phone usage with their cell phones. 

The shiny small smart phones may seem appealing and tech savvy.  However, your landline gives you a dependable phone.  The business phone as a landline provides a clear connection every time.  Cell phones lose service when you least expect it, that’s never good when talking to a client or customer and you have to repeat yourself due to no bars.

Cell phones also cause distractions at work for employees.  Many employers who have switched to cell phones for their business line have realized how much time employees waste playing games or contacting friends and family.  The landline dials, that’s it.  It’s the perfect communication tool for businesses with unlimited lines.

Landlines may not be the perfect thing for when you are on the road or on a business trip so keep your cell phone.  Just don’t get rid of your landline because you think it will be more convenient.  It causes more of a hassle in the long run.  The grass may look green, but that green grass takes a lot more work than you can see. 

Keep the cell phone private and keep your business professional with long distance services from Business Network Long Distance.  

Cell Phone vs. Landline

There is a price one pays to enjoy the plethora of benefits of owning a cell phone. A cell phone makes life easier and efficient, but annoyance and vulnerability are a part of the package as well.

The cell phone and the landline are natural allies, their inherent abilities and inabilities work well together, let’s consider them.

Cell Phone: Mobility equals around the clock access for everyone to you, which can mean a ton of calls, at any given time, from those you do not need or want to talk with.

Landline: The home phone should be the work horse for receiving calls, an answering machine or service is a great way to screen calls.

Cell Phone: This mode of communication is not operating on a secured system, conversations can easily be intercepted. You are a sitting duck if you give sensitive financial or very personal information over your cell phone. A simple device like a scanner can intercept the analog waves that carry wireless calls.

Landline: You have security of your conversation because it is harder to intercept a conversation through cables compared to radio waves.

Cell Phone: This technological wonder is prone to loss, theft, misplacement and damage.

Landline: The old but faithful is stationary and robust, it has stood the test of time.

In short, make your cell phone number exclusive, like a country club. You do not want everyone to have access to you. Your home number is like the county park, it allows more access to you but it's screened. In addition, the long distance service on the landline is less expensive.

Contact Business Network Long Distance for a great price and great quality with your long distance services.

Functioning Better with a Landline

Do you really only need a cell phone? Landlines and cell phones are two very different communication devices and they are used differently.

Overall, landlines are a cheaper option than cell phones if you are looking at making a lot of local calls.  When money is an issue and every penny counts, as in our present economic situation, holding on to a few extra bucks each month by choosing your landline and a minimal cell package may make a real difference in your budget.  One glorious thing about landlines are the fact that the phone is not always with you.  You're able to keep in touch when you need to, but you are not constantly available.  You can have an evening that's uninterrupted by bells, whistles and text message alerts, if you would like by turning the cell phones off and relying on the landline for emergency situations.  A landline makes shutting down and having personal time easier as you are only available then to family and friends.

Landlines are not dependent on the use of electricity. During a lengthy power outage, if your cell phone loses its charge you will still have a way to make sure everyone else is okay and keep in touch with the rest of the world. Corded phones do not lose their charge, and are therefore always available to you.  How many times have you forgotten to charge your cell phone at night and it loses charge in the middle of the day? While it's charging, you still have a way of getting in touch with people: your landline.  Businesses can’t just stop because cell phones lose power or a cell tower goes out, keep operating with a landline. 

Let's look at the fact that cell phones are not always cheaper than landlines. If you sign up for an unlimited cell phone plan with data service, you could be paying about $100 a month or more.  Basic landline telephone service with no bells and whistles might cost around $20 a month.  The key is to buy what you need. Having a landline means you aren't paying for use by the number of minutes you use, you're charged one flat rate for all the local calls you can make. This may seem like a negative if you don't use it often, but if you are at home and about to make a local phone call, pick up your landline instead of your cell phone and save money. If you make a lot of long distance calls the cell might be cheaper since most plans include long distance with your bucket of minutes.  If you don't talk long distance very often, the landline is probably the cheaper option.  

You can use the landline for local calls and to save money on your long distance service contact Business Network Long Distance.