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