So you have decided to make the switch to VoIP equipment, VoIP phones in particular, and now you are left with the very difficult task of selecting the best phone system for your startup company. So what should you do?

Consult VoIP Supply, a leading provider of VoIP equipment, as the company has a few suggestions.

“Being in a startup company means you’re facing some special circumstances,” Dan Kenitz from VoIP Supply posted recently. “Your budget is tight, your income is fluctuating and uncertain, and the office space always seems to be more ‘space’ than ‘office.’”

“But there are ways to stay lean in these cases, and one of those solutions for cutting office expenses is to use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems for your phones,” he added. “Not only will this technology often be cheaper than traditional phones, but it will be easier and more flexible to manage.”

According to VoIP Supply, there are several good options for phone systems including Nextiva, RingCentral, and Aptela (News - Alert). Nextiva, for example, is built for business and not just residents, which makes it an ideal choice for any startup, according to company officials. Moreover, with Nextiva, you can appear to be a big, bad enterprise as Nextiva offers all of the typical features such as an auto-attendant, a toll-free number, and on-hold music.

With regards to RingCentral (News - Alert), startups can enjoy unlimited long-distance minutes, which are a crucial thing for startups that use technology to talk to clients in every location, according to VoIP Supply.

Like the other two VoIP phones, Aptela offers lots of features – including integrating remote workers –that are available for instant usage. There is also a Web interface to manage everything and a test drive feature that allows startups to temporarily have free VoIP service.

“Do you have to listen to us and choose one of the VoIP service providers above?” Kenitz asks. “Of course not. There are plenty of high-quality VoIP providers out there; but what we ask is that you take a little time to discern which is best for you.”

“Don’t only weigh price, but features: you may find that paying a couple of dollars for a few extra features really helps your start-up in the long run,” he added.