How Many Phone Lines? Figure out how often your line is in use.

Sep 13, 2001

Share

You should have one outside phone line for every five employees,depending on the type of business you're in and your callvolume. Still not sure if you need more phone lines? Get a"busy study" from your local phone company that willtrack the number of times a caller receives a busy signal on yourtelephone. They may charge you a small fee for this service, butit'll be worth it.

Excerpted from Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up GuideYou'll Ever Need

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

She Started a Business to Shift the Status Quo in Her Male-Dominated Industry. It Did $250,000 Revenue in Year 1 — Then Tripled That.
Baby Boomers Over 75 Are Getting Richer, Causing a 'Massive' Wealth Divide, According to a New Report
I Didn't Think I Could Afford a Vacation Home — But Now It's My Most Profitable Investment
This Mom's Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: 'It's Crazy'
'I Don't Know How I Know This, But I Know This': Learn This Psychic Medium's Method for Trusting Your Intuition
These Are the Top 10 Burger Franchises in 2025 — And They Can Make More Than $1 Million a Year

Most Popular

See all

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel

Leadership

7 Steps to De-Risking Big Business Decisions Before They Backfire

When the stakes are high, these seven steps can help you avoid costly mistakes, eliminate bias and make smarter decisions that actually scale.

By Adam Horlock

Business News

You Can Get Paid $18,000 More a Year By Adding AI Skills to Your Resume, According to a New Study

Employers are emphasizing AI skills — and are willing to pay a lot more if you have them.

By Sherin Shibu

Leadership

The Difference Between Entrepreneurs Who Survive Crises and Those Who Don't

In a business world accelerated by AI, visibility alone is fragile. Here's how strategic silence and consistency can turn reputation into your most powerful asset.

By Gio Talente

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Here's the Real Reason Your Employees Are Checked Out — And the Missing Link That Could Fix It

Most disengaged employees aren't exhausted — they're disconnected, and storytelling may be the key to rebuilding that connection.

By LaQuita Cleare

Business News

United Airlines Says It Is Adding Extra Flights in Case Spirit 'Suddenly Goes Out of Business'

Rival airlines, including United and Frontier, are adding new routes as Spirit cuts 12 cities from its schedule.

By Erin Davis