There are many different phone systems out there, but when it come to choosing one PBX system costs a pretty penny. I did some research and wanted to share my findings with you all.
My company uses the Cisco IP Office. We also have 3 phones lines, 2 of them are landlines, 1 cellphone line. Here's a breakdown of what we spend monthly on our phone service:
$20/month per line - Landline $40/month per line - Cellphone
This was based on the average cost per month before taxes. Now let's break down these numbers further to give you an idea of exactly what you're getting when you signup for a PBX plan.
Line 1 Landline - 4 number area code + local # @ $19.95 Line 2 Cellphone - Local Area Code + Local Number @ $24.95 Total Lines * $5.00 $45.90
Now let's look at the actual cost of running the PBX. Each device has its own monthly fee, depending on the model. Below is a chart outlining prices for each device.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager 1000 Device Features & Pricing Page
Device Type Feature Cost Model Price
IP Phones T3850 Voice Gateway 699.00 Base 799.00
T4300 Dual Standby Voice Gateway 999.00 Base 979.00
SBC SIP Trunking 500 Devices 600.00 Pro 750.00
SBC CUCM 100 Users 1599.00 Enterprise 5999.00
** Note: For CUCM users: Monthly license fees may vary based on user count
*Cost listed reflects current pricing. Prices subject to change at any time.
So for every dollar spent on devices, you'll spend another $8.89 on recurring monthly charges. And since we only purchased 2 lines, the rest of the money goes towards the monthly charge.
I'm sure you've done some searching yourself and found similar information to what I've shared above. Maybe you've even bought a PBX for a small office and been disappointed with the price tag? Well, hopefully this information will help you make a decision that fits within your budget.
Learn More: Guide to understand PBX phone system