Ooma VoIP Phone
  • Business Phone
    • Business
    • Enterprise
    • POTS Replacement
    • Solutions
    • Industries
    Business
    • Hospitality

    • Dental

    • Real Estate

    • Insurance

    • See All Industries

  • Internet
    • Business Internet
    • Backup Internet
    • Check Coverage
    • Check Speed
    • Data Usage Calculator
    • Managed WiFi
  • SALES: 877-353-5168
  • Log in
    • My Ooma Office
    • Partner's Login
  • Search Button
  • Cart Button
    0

    Your Cart

    Your cart is empty.
Search

More results...

  • Business
  • Plans & Pricing
    • Pricing
    • Compare Plans
      & Features
    • Office Pro Plus
    • Office Pro
    • Office Essentials
    • Small Business
      Starter Kits
  • Features
    • Compare All Features & Plans
    • Desktop App
    • Mobile App
    • Videoconferencing
    • Hot Desking
    • Virtual Receptionist
    • Voicemail Transcription
    • Enhanced Call Blocking
    • Multi Ring
    • Call Queuing
    • Call Recording
    • Ring Groups
    • Overhead Paging
    • Fax Online
    • Free Toll Free Number
    • Integrations
    • Caller Info
    • Text Messaging
    • Team Chat
    • Contact Us Website Widget
    • Auto Dialer
    • Shift-to-Text
    • ...more->
  • Industries
    • Hospitality
    • Dental
    • Real Estate
    • Insurance
    • See All Industries
  • Get Phone Number
  • Savings
  • Resources
    • Setup
    • Webinars
    • Case Studies
    • Podcast
    • Business Blog
    • International Calling
    • Customer Videos
    • IT leaders
    • Reviews
    • Toll Free Numbers
    • How to Choose
    • What is VoIP
    • Faqs
    • Marketplace
    • AT&T vs Ooma
    • Comcast vs Ooma
  • Build Your Own
  • Buy Phones
  • Get Started
    CALL 800-920-6943
Search

More results...

  • Small Business Phone Service +
    • Business Phone
    • Features
    • Industries
    • VoIP Phone Systems
    • Cloud Systems
    • Plans
    • Savings Calculator
    • Setup
    • Choose a Number
    • Demo
    • Build Your Own
    • Mobile App
    • International
    • Business Blog
    • Reviews
    • Faqs
    • Locations
    • Buy
  • Enterprise +
    • Enterprise Communications
    • Features
    • Pricing
    • Solutions
    • Enterprise VoIP
    • Marketplace
    • Faqs
    • Become a Partner
  • POTS Replacement +
    • POTS Replacement
    • Remote Device Management
    • Compliance
    • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Partner With Us
  • Internet Service +
    • Ooma Connect
    • Backup Internet
    • Check Coverage
    • Check Speed
    • Data Usage Calculator
    • Managed WiFi
  • Solutions

  • Industries

  • Home Phone +
    • Home Phone Service
    • Residential VoIP
    • Products +
      • Overview
      • Ooma Telo
      • Ooma Telo Air
      • Ooma Telo LTE with Battery Backup
      • Ooma Retro Phone Bundles
      • Senior Home Phones
      • Home Office Phone
    • Free Service
    • Premier Service
    • Accessories
    • Home Phone Savings
    • Ooma Phone Number
    • Home Phone Blog
    • International Calling
    • Reviews
    • Faqs
    • Buy Now
  • Home Security Systems +
    • Home Security
    • Plans
    • Features
    • Professional Monitoring
    • Build Your Own System
    • Mobile App
    • Videos
    • Works With
    • Home Security Blog
    • Reviews
    • Faqs
    • Buy Now
  • Log in +
    • My Ooma Telo
    • My Ooma Office
    • Partner's Login
  • Shop +
    • Buy Home Phone
    • Buy Home Security
    • Buy Business Phone
  • Support +
    • Business Phone
    • Home Phone
    • Smart Security
  • About +
    • Blog
    • Careers
    • Company
    • Contact
    • FAQs
    • Forums
    • Investors
    • Legal
    • Partners
    • Press
    • Team
OOMA Business Blog : business | pbx | small business

Small business PBX: essential phone system guide

Jim Gustke profile image
Jim Gustke
March 20, 2021 | 6 min read

What is PBX?

It’s not to be confused with the PBA, the Professional Bowlers Association, or PB&J, as in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or PBS, the Public Broadcasting System.

PBX stands for private-branch exchange, and it describes business phone systems that allow transfers between extensions within a company and other advanced features. Any business with more than one employee can benefit from a PBX phone system.

However, not all PBX systems are created equal. There’s a variety of features to consider, and different PBX types are suited to different situations.

If you’re just getting started, this guide to small business PBX systems can help you know what your options are and what things you should consider.

What type of PBX phones are there?

Choosing the best PBX phone system for your small business means understanding the two categories of phone systems.

  1. Traditional PBX: This classic multi-line phone system is used by businesses to deploy a network of phone lines with business features such as call transfer and call hold.
  2. IP-PBX: Sometimes called a hosted PBX or virtual phone system, these systems have the functionality of a traditional PBX. However, the underlying technology transmits calls via your internet connection.

These cloud phone systems bring the advantages of VoIP to the framework of a business phone network.

Which PBX phone system is best for small businesses?

At one point, traditional PBX business phones were the only option. However, IP-PBX phone systems have become the preferred phone system. This shift is a natural evolution of businesses discovering that with hosted PBX, they can pay less and get more.

In the past four years, the number of businesses using virtual PBX has more than doubled! When deciding between PBX and IP-PBX, here’s how to determine which phone system is right for you.

Choose PBX if:

a. You’re not confident in your internet connection stability.
If your business is in a rural area with spotty or unreliable internet, you may benefit from using an aging landline phone system rather than depending upon your internet connection for your phone service.

b. Your business provides critical emergency communications.
Internet-based phones can be set up with the backup systems so that you’re prepared for utility outages. For example, call forwarding can help you to never miss a work call. However, lo-fi landline phones still tend to be preferred for emergency service providers.

Choose IP-PBX if:

a. You’d like to spend less on phone service. The cost savings is one of the strongest motivating factors for businesses that switch to business internet phone service. A traditional PBX can cost as much as $1,000 per employee, requiring on-site hardware purchases and professional installation.

However, an IP-PBX system has an average monthly cost of just $25 to $30 per user. Ooma’s small business phone system users save even more, paying only $19.95 per user with unlimited minutes, no contracts, and no installation cost.

b. You don’t want to be responsible for hardwiring.
With a cloud-based phone system, your phone provider takes care of the maintenance, so you don’t have to. This means that your small business can avoid complicated on-site phone switches, and in many cases, all you need is a power outlet to add a new phone. 

c. Your business needs flexibility and scalability.
In today’s fast-moving workforce, your small business infrastructure needs to remain flexible to operational demand. For example, you may start to quickly add new employees, you may take on remote workers such as an off-site sales agent, or you may begin offering a work-from-home option to trusted staff.

The technology powering IP-PBX helps you to remain flexible and adaptable. New lines can be added easily, and the technology helps employees stay connected across many types of circumstances.

What PBX phone features should you look for?

When it comes to features, IP-PBX phone systems usually win out over traditional PBX systems. That’s because the technology makes it easier for companies to go high-tech with their offerings. Whatever type of phone system you’re considering, be sure to check for these business phone features:

  • Unlimited Minutes: Phone calls are essential to business success, and you don’t want to be restrained by monthly call limits or be caught with a steep bill because your staff went over. Look for business phone plans that include unlimited minutes, and if your business is working globally, be sure to also look for low-cost international rates.
  • Calling Essentials: Some business phone systems are heavy-handed about selling bells and whistles. However, their phone plans don’t include the basics. For example, voicemail is an essential part of phone service, but Comcast wants to charge businesses extra for it. Make sure that the phone plans you’re considering include the essentials of phone service.
  • Mobile App: Business phone providers such as Ooma lets users stay connected even when they’re not at their desk. With the Ooma Office free calling app, employees can use their cell phone to receive incoming work calls, make outgoing calls using their business phone number, transfer calls to coworkers, check work voicemails, and do much more.
  • Auto Attendant: You don’t have to be a big business to automate your phone calls. With an integrated virtual receptionist, incoming calls can be automatically routed to a staff member, department, or even a pre-recorded message. Especially for small businesses, a smart phone system with call automation can feel like you’ve added an additional staff member.
  • Unified Communications: Communication today means that we rapidly shift between communication types such as making a phone call, leaving a voicemail, and sending a text message. By unifying text messaging with your business phone service, you’ll have the flexibility to communicate however is most convenient.
  • Call Center: If your small business is on a rapid growth trajectory, you may want to plan for features that you expect you’ll need. For example, the Ooma Enterprise Call Center can help you manage large call volumes as well as data-based analytics and call routing.

What makes Ooma a great PBX system for small businesses?

Here’s why Ooma Office business phone service is trusted by countless small businesses:

  • Savings: High-quality business phone service doesn’t need to break the bank. For small businesses and startups, costs are especially important, and when we did the calculations, a business with three users that switched to Ooma would save more than $6,000 over three years. Use our savings calculator to see how much you can save.
  • Award-winning: We think Ooma Office is great, but don’t just take our word for it. For the past nine years, Ooma Office has been named the #1 Small Business VoIP system in PC Magazine’s Business Choice Awards.
  • Easy to Use: With plug-and-play technology and a user-friendly web portal, Ooma Office’s phone service is easy to use. From set-up to administration, businesses can spend more time using their phone and less time configuring it.
  • Professional Features: The rich set of features included with Ooma Office give you the high-tech tools to be professional with customers and improve office productivity so that you can grow your business.
  • Avoid Headaches: It’s common to be frustrated by big telecom companies with their poor customer service and difficult-to-understand policies. Instead of the runaround that you get with big telecom companies, Ooma can help you avoid headaches with 24/7 support that’s available by phone or chat.

  Learn more about how Ooma Office is providing enterprise-grade phone service at a small business price.

book your consultation today image

Learn more about how Ooma Office can help your business.

Talk to one of our Ooma Office experts today!
CONNECT WITH US

Thank you!

An Ooma Office Sales Representative will be in touch shortly.

866-573-0707

The Ooma Office Logo
Thank you
Learn how ooma can help - consultation image

Learn more about how Ooma Office can help your business.

Just call 877-621-0515 or click this to CHAT. Or, fill out this form and someone will reach out to you shortly.

By clicking below you expressly agree to and acknowledge the statements set forth in this
link. By submitting your contact information, you are giving express written consent to receive on your telephone, mobile or other electronic device auto-dialed, pre-recorded, artificial or other automated telemarketing calls or texts (SMS & MMS) from Ooma, its marketing partners, or third parties acting on Ooma’s behalf, even if your number is a on a corporate, state or federal Do Not Call (DNC) list. Carrier fees may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. It also indicates that you agree to Ooma’s Privacy Policy.
Fix error
About the Author
Jim Gustke profile image
Jim Gustke

Jim Gustke, vice president of marketing at Ooma, has a wealth of experience at the intersection of consumer and technology marketing. As vice president of marketing for Intuit, he helped lead the reinvention of Quicken and launch the first SaaS version of the popular personal finance software. Prior to Intuit, he was responsible for business unit management, global branding and product marketing at Lexar Media, helping grow the flash memory company to over $850 million before its acquisition by Micron Technology. He also served as the founding vice president of marketing for Ofoto, an online photography service, acquired by Eastman Kodak in 2001. A pioneer in internet marketing, he joined America Online in 1996 as the marketing leader for GNN, the company’s first Internet Service Provider, and in 1995, as a marketing manager at Polaroid Corporation, he led the team that launched the company’s first corporate website.

Recent Posts
recent post image:Don’t risk it: password security tips to keep your business and team safe
Don’t risk it: password security tips to keep your business and team safe
recent post image:Top 10 ways to use call recording for your business
Top 10 ways to use call recording for your business
recent post image:Places to list your business phone number for free
Places to list your business phone number for free
More from Ooma Business Blog
  • – Why are traditional copper landlines still working?
  • – How to set up a simple call center
  • – How to design your home office for comfort and productivity
  • – Buyer’s guide: choosing a cloud phone system in 2024
FOR BUSINESS +

  • Business Phone System
  • Enterprise Phone
  • POTS Replacement
  • UCaaS
  • Cloud Phone
  • Mobile App
  • Internet Services
  • Live Demo
  • Video Conferencing
  • Choose a Number
  • International
  • VoIP Phone System
  • Business Phone Services
  • Ooma Office
  • Faqs
FOR HOME+

  • Home Phone
  • Basic Plan
  • Premier Plan
  • Connect Your Home
  • Savings
  • Accessories
  • International Calling
  • Landline Phones
  • Phone Numbers
  • Ooma Telo
  • Reviews
  • Faqs
  • Mobile App
  • Forums
FOR SECURITY+

  • Home Security
  • Professional Monitoring
  • Build Your Own System
  • Plans
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Faqs
  • Mobile App
SHOP+

  • Buy Home Phone
  • Buy Home Security
  • Buy Business Phone
  • Marketplace
PRESS
+

  • In the News
  • Press Releases
  • Awards
  • Press Kit
ABOUT OOMA+

  • Company
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Investors
  • FAQs
  • Partners
  • Support
  • Blog
  • Legal
  • Notice to California Residents
  • Notice to Texas Residents
  • Your Privacy Choices privacy choices icon
VISIT CANADA SITE


  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Youtube icon
  • Instagram icon
Copyright © 2025 Ooma, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Sitemap
consumer report
senior living
Ooma's Better Business Bureau Listing
PC Mag Logo
Best Places to Work
Thank you

Thank you!

An Ooma Office Sales Representative will be in touch shortly.

If you’d like to chat with us right away, just give us a call or start an online chat!

CALL
CHAT ONLINE
Popup images

Let’s talk!

One of our knowledgeable representatives is standing by to provide recommendations and help you get started. Just call 877-621-0515 or click this CHAT button. Or, fill out this form and someone will reach out to you shortly.

By clicking below you expressly agree to and acknowledge the statements set forth in this
link. By submitting your contact information, you are giving express written consent to receive on your telephone, mobile or other electronic device auto-dialed, pre-recorded, artificial or other automated telemarketing calls or texts (SMS & MMS) from Ooma, its marketing partners, or third parties acting on Ooma’s behalf, even if your number is a on a corporate, state or federal Do Not Call (DNC) list. Carrier fees may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. It also indicates that you agree to Ooma’s Privacy Policy.
Fix error

We’ll talk shortly!

To get to know you better and help you, could we ask a few more questions?

By clicking below you expressly agree to and acknowledge the statements set forth in this
link. By submitting your contact information, you are giving express written consent to receive on your telephone, mobile or other electronic device auto-dialed, pre-recorded, artificial or other automated telemarketing calls or texts (SMS & MMS) from Ooma, its marketing partners, or third parties acting on Ooma’s behalf, even if your number is a on a corporate, state or federal Do Not Call (DNC) list. Carrier fees may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. It also indicates that you agree to Ooma’s Privacy Policy.
Fix error
Or Call 877-621-0515
Sepcial Offer

Get a Special Offer Today

Call 877-621-0515 today to learn more.

Offer expires 05/21/25

CALL US START CHAT
Call support icon Call support icon SUPPORT 866-939-6662
Sales Number Sales Number SALES877-621-0515
Get a quote Get a quote QUOTE
Live Chat Live Chat CHAT
QUOTE CALL CHAT
We use cookies and similar technologies to analyze traffic, enhance your experience and allow our partners to serve tailored advertisements. For more information or to opt out, visit our Privacy Policy.
I agree  Learn more