RedGage

For budgeting business phone system installation, you will need to consider many things including -

• Phone costs
• Wiring & installation
• Cabinet
• Programming
• Optional accessories
• Configuration
• Reliability
• Gains from enhanced employee productivity
• Potential cost savings
• Maintenance for quality performance

Ultimately, how much the business communication structure will cost depends on the size, complexities, and installation environment.

Breakdown of components

• Wiring
• Telephone stations
• Network services
• IP PBX server or control unit & licensing
• Installation & training

Network services - You will need POTS lines and internet services.

• POTS lines - $40/line monthly
• PRI (23 lines) digital service - $450 monthly
• Internet - Basic DSL ($85) to high speed cable internet ($100), every month

For medium sized business telephone systems and internet estimation amounts to $600 monthly.

Wiring - Each computer and phone will have to be lined to a central location. CAT 5e wires to connect to a location can be approximately $190. In addition, there will be a need of wire management, patch panels, and wall brackets. A budget of $500 will be needed to build data closet. In case you are replacing the current system, then wiring costs gets reduced.

Telephone stations - There are wide varieties of telephone stations to select. The cost will depend on the technology, features, and complexities.

• Digital phone system - $200/station
• IP phone - $350/station
• Reception phone with call director - $750
• Standard conference phone - $650

IP PBX or control unit - A server or cabinet is the common control equipment of phone system. Below control unit’s average cost based on system size is laid out. It will help to select the ideal package for your business.

Small IP-PBX or digital (non server based) includes voice mail & basic unified messaging capacity.

• 5 phones - $1500
• 25 phones - $5300
• 50 phones - $10,000
• 75+ phones - $250/phone

Server based IP PBX including station, IP phones along with desktop interface licensing.

• 20 phones - $6000
• 40 phones - $11,000
• 50+phones - $290/phone

Installation & training - Installing process includes building and mounting control unit, positioning telephones in their locations, labeling the telephones and programming the applications. Ultimately, training administrators and users on how to employ the system properly is provided.

All these steps have to be performed for both small and large systems. The time taken can be nearly as long as it takes to install 10 to 30 phone systems. An approximate installation budget is given below.

• 5 - 15 phones - $1200
• 25 - 50 phones - $3000
• Above 50 phones - $50/phone

Many other variables can affect the final cost though the above guide can be helpful for budgeting.

Make sure to find a reputable phone system installer because of the complexities related to VoIP & unified communication system.

Tips

• IP phone system promise myriads of features, but are locked initially. Software license is needed to access those features. Therefore, discuss which functions are free and which ones need to be paid.
• It is wise to put more wiring before framed walls of new building are enclosed. It will be less expensive than adding wires later.

Budgeting business system is a best way to save extra hundreds of dollars.