If your company buys cell phones for employees, you already know the cost: the device, the monthly plan, the replacements, the IT time to manage it all. And that’s on top of whatever you’re paying for your office phone system.
Two separate systems, two bills, and they don’t even talk to each other. There’s a simpler way, and it saves thousands of dollars a year.
What company cell phones actually cost
A typical 40-person company paying for both systems spends roughly:
- Office phone system: ~$35/user/month
- Cell phone plan: ~$45/user/month
- Cell phone device: ~$22/user/month (an $800 phone amortized over 3 years)
That’s ~$102/user/month — or $4,080/month for 40 employees. Nearly $49,000 a year just for phones.
One system that does both
A cloud phone system with a mobile app puts your business number on the employee’s personal phone. Clients see the business number, not the personal one. Voicemail, call recording, and call routing all work through the app just like a desk phone.
Instead of a company cell phone, you pay employees a small stipend — typically $20/month — to use their personal device. For 40 users, that’s $24.95/user for the phone system plus $20/user for the stipend: $1,798/month. Annual savings: $27,384.
Even if only half your team needs mobile access, you’d save over $13,600 a year. Use our savings calculator to see the numbers for your team.
How we’ve seen it work
A 25-person law firm in Tampa. Attorneys were carrying two phones. After switching, every attorney has the firm’s number on their personal phone. The firm-issued phones were returned. Savings: over $17,000 in the first year.
A 40-person property management company in Orlando. Field staff switched to the mobile app on personal phones, office staff kept desk phones. The company eliminated 28 corporate cell phone lines and cut their communications bill by more than 40%.
A 15-person insurance agency in Fort Lauderdale. Every agent now has the agency’s number on their personal phone. Clients see the agency number on every call. The switch paid for itself in the first quarter.
Common concerns
Employee pushback? Most employees prefer one phone over two. The stipend covers business use, and their personal number stays private.
Call recording and compliance? The app routes calls through your phone system, so recording and compliance rules apply just like desk phones.
Employee leaves? Deactivate the extension. No phone to chase down, no device to wipe.
No smartphone? Not all-or-nothing. Browser-based softphone works on any computer, and desk phones can be deployed where they make sense.
Ready to run the numbers?
Use our savings calculator to see what your company would save, or talk to us directly. We’ll walk through your setup and give you a straight answer.
