Telephone and fax service
Getting new business telephone service in a new location can take weeks especially if you're moving into an office building. Call the phone company well in advance of your move-in date to ensure that you have phone service when you are ready to open your doors.
If you are operating out of your home, consider setting up a separate phone line with voicemail for your business. Doing so will increase the professionalism of your venture and allow you to maintain office hours keeping your personal and business lives separate from each other. Other useful items to budget include a headset for your telephone and/or a speakerphone so you can look at files on your computer and talk on the phone comfortably.
Business telephone service is more expensive than residential service, however, having a separate line will allow you to get a listing for your business in the telephone directory. This listing can serve as an indication to potential clients that you are in business and not merely freelancing temporarily. Also, research various long distance providers; rates vary and service is about the same regardless of your carrier.
Fax capability is indispensable in this day and age and can be handled in a number of ways. Whether you choose a fax line with a separate machine, computer based fax capability or an online service, you will be able to expedite a variety of business activities (closing deals, completing projects and submitting invoices more quickly than without one.