| Do you ever get tired of giving away free advice | | | | formats, and easily create billing statements to |
| to clients over the phone? Do your clients think | | | | send directly to the client. Some programs even |
| that if they call you via telephone instead of | | | | allow you to graph the data in several |
| coming in to your office that they won’t | | | | pre-configured chart options if so desired. The |
| be billed for your consulting time? If this is an | | | | account codes can be forced or verified, |
| issue for your company, then consider using | | | | non-forced and non-verified, or a combination of |
| account codes to accurately re-bill your clients for | | | | both. They may also be changed at any time by |
| your valuable time spent consulting over the | | | | software setting, and new codes can be added |
| phone. | | | | within moments. With this option, account codes |
| Everyone loves to offer advice and to solve | | | | may even be able to be assigned to a call after |
| pressing and complex issues for clients. It’s | | | | the call has begun depending on the package. |
| what you’ve been trained to do. However, | | | | Account codes via telephone company service: |
| if you are in the business of providing such | | | | This is an inexpensive and adequate option for the |
| services to your clients for pay, it is a necessity | | | | right scenario. In this scenario, the local telephone |
| to be compensated for your expertise. That can | | | | company you use allows you to have a block of |
| be a challenge when your clients call you in a mad | | | | account codes for a small monthly fee, and the |
| rush and need an essential answer on the spot. | | | | monthly billing statement will detail out the volume |
| Can you tell them they have to come into your | | | | and length of calls by code. With this option, you |
| office before you can give them the answer to | | | | may also have a combination of forced, verified, |
| their problem? Unrealistic. They will likely go | | | | un-forced, and un-verified codes. Changes to any |
| elsewhere to solve their problem. | | | | settings can be expected to take a couple of |
| Do you bring up how much the advice will cost | | | | business days after requesting the changes with |
| them over the phone before you give them the | | | | your local phone company provider. Account |
| answers they need? Unprofessional and | | | | codes from the telephone company will only work |
| uncomfortable. | | | | on outbound calls, so they may not be a fit for |
| So how do you avoid being taken advantage of | | | | companies that will be dealing with inbound calls |
| and avoid giving your valuable time and expertise | | | | that require re-billing. In the case of an inbound call, |
| away for free? Simple. You use account codes to | | | | the client will often be told they will need to be |
| track client conversations and time frames spent | | | | called right back. This will allow for implementation |
| with them over the phone, and then you re-bill for | | | | of the account codes and proper tracking via |
| your time at the previously agreed upon rate. | | | | outbound call. |
| Key words being previously agreed upon. Billing for | | | | Account codes typically will range in length from |
| consulting over the phone must always be | | | | 1-9 digits long, and must be input into the phone |
| addressed in advance of the actual occurrence.. | | | | prior to making the call. This will allow the |
| For years, certain business professionals such as | | | | software or telephone company to start tracking |
| lawyers, architects, and accountants have all billed | | | | and reporting on that specified call. Speed dials are |
| for their time spent over the phone with clients. | | | | often programmed into phones to make account |
| The only proven, provable, and professional way | | | | codes more convenient for both options, as dialing |
| to successfully track and bill for their time over | | | | a lengthy code up to 9 digits, along with a 10 digit |
| the phone was to use account codes. Account | | | | telephone number could become quite |
| codes track customer conversations by an | | | | cumbersome. Re-billing via telephone company |
| assigned number, as well as track the length of | | | | account codes is a little more tedious, as there |
| the calls. | | | | are no import/export reporting capabilities. The |
| There are two main ways to implement the use | | | | process of re-billing for your time will often involve |
| of account codes and bill for your time. You can | | | | copying off portions of your telephone bill with the |
| either implement account codes through software | | | | assigned account code, transferring that number |
| that interfaces with your telephone system, or | | | | into your billing software, and sending out your |
| you can use your telephone company’s | | | | statement with partial phone bill copy attached as |
| account code service. Let’s look at these | | | | appropriate. The labor involved in this process can |
| two options in more detail. | | | | often eat up the benefit of the ability to re-bill for |
| Account codes via telephone system software: | | | | one’s time, so company’s of any |
| This is by far the best option if you have the | | | | size swiftly move to software based account |
| need or desire to run reports, or if you need | | | | codes for ease of use and efficiency of time. |
| more than just a few codes. With the right | | | | Consult your local telecommunications professional |
| software package, you will be able to run reports, | | | | to determine which option is best for your |
| input minimum billing time increments, hourly dollar | | | | company. |
| rates per customer, export data in a number of | | | | |