It’s important to know that prepaid calling cards can be very useful to saving your business money. You will save more if you take into consideration how the phone card providers you examine tally minute usage, because there are often small details that you may overlook. Additionally, make sure you look at expiration dates, the ability to renew minutes without purchasing a new card, and the different rates for each country you call.

Once you decide which of the phone card companies you will go with, consider the many ways of using prepaid phone cards to benefit your business. Some of your options include the following:

1. Use prepaid international calling cards to stay in touch with overseas clients.

2. Give employees a prepaid phone calling card to use on business trips.

3. Start a prepaid phone cards business all your own.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact clients overseas with international prepaid phone cards

The rates that calling cards provide are typically much cheaper than the rates you get with a typical long-distance service. So, if you have clients, contacts or even offices overseas that you need to contact, you may want to consider using prepaid phone cards for those long-distance calls. Not only will you save money, but it will also help you manage business expenses better, since you purchase the calling time before you use, instead of getting a bill after the fact.

I recommend: International Prepaid Calling Cards provides a list of questions you should ask before purchasing prepaid calling card services. Learn how to maximize your calling card usage from EzineArticles.com.

Call your home or office with prepaid phone cards on business trips

Take calling cards on your overseas business trips to save from extra charges on your hotel bill when you call home. Additionally, you can provide employees with prepaid phone cards when they go on a trip for the company so that they can call home and check in at the office without using up all of their personal cell phone minutes or trying to depend on coverage availability.

I recommend: Visit the Federal Trade Commission for detailed facts about prepaid long-distance phone cards. ZapTel offers information and tips for first-time calling card buyers.

Distribute wholesale prepaid phone cards to customers

Grocers, travel agencies, convenience stores and other businesses provide calling cards for customers to purchase. Consider adding prepaid phone cards to the products offered at your store. You can purchase cards in bulk from wholesalers and get a discounted rate. Most wholesalers require you to purchase a certain amount each month in order to maintain those discounts, so be sure you can keep up before committing.

I recommend: Purchase wholesale prepaid calling cards with you’re private label on them to sell from Phone Card Hotline. You can also become an affiliate for companies like Speedy Pin, which provides helpful tips and tactics for promoting the calling cards you sell, and start your own prepaid calling card business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Prepaid cell phone cards are also available. These services give you the opportunity to use a cell phone without committing to a contract. Simply purchase minutes and, when they're gone, purchase more. It's a great way to limit cell phone usage and expenses when you provide your employees with mobiles.

Save money on business expenses by purchasing prepaid phone cards and using them in lieu of a traditional calling plan. You can decrease your overhead and escape overuse charges and fees with prepaid calling cards.

Besides decreasing your phone usage costs, prepaid calling cards have other uses. You can choose to distribute phone cards amongst your clients as a customer incentive program.

1. Compare the prices of each prepaid calling card business. Rates vary greatly between the different phone card providers. Rates have a tendency to change as well on a monthly basis.
2. Contact a provider of prepaid phone cards. Once you find a reliable prepaid calling card business, contact them to place your order. If you plan to set up a long term arrangement to use their prepaid calling card services, you may get a better price from the vendor.
3. Set up an arrangement to purchase wholesale prepaid calling cards. If you need prepaid phone cards on a larger scale, contact phone card companies that distribute this type for discount pricing information.
4. Implement the prepaid phone cards within your business as a customer incentive. Clients will respond well to you choosing to distribute the prepaid calling cards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the Best Price from a Prepaid Phone Cards Business

You should rely on a name that you can trust when deciding on the provider of your prepaid calling services. Avoid any prepaid phone cards business based out of another country.

I recommend: Try AT&T for their phone card services. They offer reasonable rates and also permit promotional opportunities for their clients. You can print your business name on your purchased calling cards. You can also order cards through Sprint.

Purchase Wholesale Prepaid Phone Cards

When you purchase wholesale prepaid calling cards, you'll likely receive a large discount on your order. Since you are going to use the cards instead of traditional phone plans, you'll likely need a large number of cards.

I recommend: Find wholesale prepaid phone cards on the SpeedyPin site. You pick the type of card and denomination and they’ll give you a discount based on the amount of cards that you order. PrepaidOnline.com allows you to send an instant request to receive quotes on wholesale prepaid calling cards.

Offer Prepaid Phone Cards to Your Customers

Customers often find themselves with many different businesses to choose from to meet their needs. Make your company stand out by giving out prepaid phone cards as an incentive to sign with you.

I recommend: Get help starting your customer initiative program with the prepaid calling card business CorporatePhoneCards.com. You custom design the cards with your business’s information and order the cards at wholesale prices. Find similar features on the Custom Phone Card website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you don't want to constantly replace the prepaid phone cards, look for rechargeable versions. You can set up an account through one of the major carriers in order to add minutes once you run low.
• •  You should purchase prepaid calling cards if you have a large number of international clients. Rates on these calls are much lower than those offered by a long distance call carrier.

A prepaid phone calling card will save you money, time and effort. The process is fairly simple. Users call the toll-free number on the back of the card, enter the individual card number and pin assigned to the card, and then dial the number they wish to call.

There are a few factors to consider before using a calling card, such as how the provider tallies minutes used and if the card has an expiration date. However, as long as you know enough about prepaid phone cards basics and research the card details beforehand, you should be able to use it to your advantage. Consider the following benefits:

1. Using prepaid calling card services instead of a long-distance provider can save your business money.

2. Prepaid phone cards offer convenience, since you can use them from anywhere.

3. Prepaid mobile phone cards provide cell phone access without unnecessary contracts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save money with prepaid phone cards

The rates offered by a prepaid phone cards business are often cheaper than a long-distance carrier will provide. Additionally, with prepaid long-distance phone cards, you know exactly how much you're spending on calls ahead of time. This means no bills and no worries. You will likely obtain a discounted call rate if you purchase wholesale prepaid phone cards in bulk.

I recommend: While there are many benefits to prepaid phone cards, like many services, there are always companies that attempt to cheat consumers. The Federal Communications Commission provides basic information on calling card usage and what to do if you have a problem. PhoneCardSmile.com is an organization that compiles calling card offers from across the globe, so that you can find the best deal for your specific long-distance call needs.

Make calls from anywhere with prepaid calling cards

A great benefit to calling cards is their convenience. You can make calls from anywhere in the world at any time without having to depend on coverage availability. With typical cell phone usage, your plan may have limitations that don't allow you to make calls to or from overseas, or may charge you extra for doing so. You can purchase calling cards for specific locations, such as calling your client in England, or that are all encompassing. Whatever your preference, the convenience these cards provide is unmatched.

I recommend: Obtain more details on calling cards, even how you can consider starting a prepaid calling card business, from the Federal Citizen Information Center. Communications Fidelity offers wholesale prepaid calling cards if you purchase more than $500 worth each month.

Obtain prepaid cell phone cards so that you always have minutes to use

If your cell phone sees minimal usage, you may be better off purchasing a phone that you use with prepaid cell phone cards. You simply purchase cell phone minutes on the card and purchase more when those minutes run out. This way you don't deal with additional charges for going over your allotted minutes, and you're not stuck in a contract if you want to change your cell phone or provider.

I recommend: WirelessGuide.org offers information and selection tips on purchasing prepaid cell phone cards. AT&T provides a prepaid cell phone plan that may fit your budgetary needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You need to be aware of how the provider calculates used minutes on prepaid long-distance phone cards. Some companies calculate usage down to the second, while others will round up your call times. For example, if you talk to someone for 15 minutes and 20 seconds, many providers will take 16 minutes off of your card usage tally. Additionally, some cards have a one-minute usage fee for each call made that they add to your total call time.

Prepaid phone cards are ideal for people who don't have long distance service or don't utilize long distance services often. Phone cards are also great for people who travel a lot and don't want to pay hotel fees for making long distance calls. Businesses are starting to use prepaid phone cards for promotions and employee incentives. Before purchasing a prepaid phone card, businesses and individuals should become familiar with common terms used in the prepaid phone card industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

PIN number

Prepaid calling cards utilize a PIN, or personal identification number, for customers to access the services. These are especially popular with virtual calling cards that email you the PIN number. This way you don't need to carry a physical calling card, but rather just dial into the prepaid calling service, enter your PIN and make the call.

I recommend: Learn more about phone card PIN numbers from MyNetOne.com.

International phone cards

International phone cards usually offer special rates or have deals for people making international calls. International calls consist of calls from the U.S. to another country.

I recommend: AT&T offers a rate finder for international phone cards.

Wholesale prepaid cards

Wholesale prepaid cards are for individuals or businesses that spend more than a predetermined amount per month on phone cards. For example, a company may offer wholesale cards for anyone buying more than $500 per month.

I recommend: SpeedyPin.com offers a nice discount program for buyers needing phone cards in bulk or for large amounts.

Rechargeable card

This term refers to the fact that a customer can keep the same PIN and just add more minutes as needed. Many rechargeable cards have online recharging options. All of them have a phone number where customers can add more time. Some do have expiration dates, but it still lets customers use the same PIN for an extended period.

I recommend: PhoneCardsMart explains rechargeable phone cards and offers different vendors of the card.

Custom prepaid phone card

Custom prepaid phone cards are specifically for businesses or individuals that want to promote their company. They can be used for advertisements or as thank you gifts to employees or clients. A custom phone card can have your company logo, name and contact information. Cards can also have custom messages that play every time a person uses the card.

I recommend: Find samples of customphonecard.com and get ideas for your card.

Billing increments or call rounding

When shopping for prepaid phone cards, you may come across terms such as call rounding, rounding or billing increments. This refers to how companies bill the minutes used on the card. Most cards use one minute rounding, but there are cards that use three minute rounding.

I recommend: Zaptel has a list of prepaid phone card terms and explains call rounding.