On-line Fax Providers Really Are A Need For Just About Any Little Company.
One of the most expensive parts of starting a small business is the capital needed to invest in office equipment. In today’s world, the ability to fax documents is an absolute must. However, that doesn’t mean you need to purchase a fax machine.
Instead, look no further than your computer. That’s right, you can both send and receive fax through your laptop or desktop computer. By using online fax services, you’ll save the money needed for purchasing a fax machine, and nobody will be able to tell the difference. If you’re even on a really tight budget, there are internet fax services you can use for free. This article covers everything you need to start using these services now. Read on to learn just how easy it really is.
Free Online Fax Services
It’s true; there are online fax services you can use for no cost whatsoever. However, there is a catch. You’ll have to put up with some advertising on your fax cover sheet. Typically, this is no larger than a small banner at the bottom of the page. Because the cover sheet isn’t the official document you’re sending, all your important paperwork will still be delivered the same as any other fax.
If your business situation is one where you can accept a little bit of advertising, then congratulations. Your startup cost for a fax machine is nothing. There’s one cost you can completely do away with. This type of free fax service may not be appropriate for some situations such as faxing a business proposal to a prospective client. Government documents, however, shouldn’t be a problem. They have to accept your fax, advertising or not.
Paid Online Fax Services
If your not comfortable with advertising on your cover sheets, then you probably want to make your business seem as legitimate as possible. If that’s the case, then paying for your fax service is the better way to go. Also, the paid services allow you to have a dedicated fax number to receive faxes. The faxes are normally delivered right to your email inbox, so it makes it even more convenient because you have everything right in one place.
The average internet fax service costs somewhere around $7 to $10 dollars a month depending on your needs. For that price, you’ll be able to send and receive in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 faxes per month. If that’s not enough, then you have two options. Some services charge you a small fee of around three cents per fax for going over your limit. Others may simply require you to upgrade to the next tier of pricing plan. Which ever option you choose, it can still be much less expensive than buying a fax machine when you’re just starting out.
The Nitty-Gritty: Details You Need to Know to Start Faxing Online Right Now
Alright, you probably have been thinking this since the beginning of this article. What about your signature? You can’t simply take a pen and scribble on the screen like you would with a piece of paper. That’s true. However, there is a solution. Once you know how to do it, you won’t need to pen your signature for faxes again. In fact, it can often be much quicker than faxing with paper. Here’s what you need to know:
First, the end result is to place your signature into a picture file. Once you’ve got a picture of your signature, you simply place it inside the document you’re faxing. It will be faxed in black and white anyway, so there really is no difference between the picture file and your normal signature.
To get the signature, simply write it on a piece of paper and scan it. You might not have a scanner, though. That would also make sense if you’re trying to keep your starting costs to a minimum. If that’s the case, head on down to your local copy shop. Ask the clerk to scan your signature into a picture file. You might want to tell him to put it in JPEG format because it tends to work better with almost all other computer programs. Remember to bring a USB stick, memory card, or other form of electronic storage. They will need to put the picture file on there.
Conclusion
Using online fax services are an excellent choice for small businesses. Other than saving on the cost of the fax machine, you’ll also be reducing office clutter and the environmental impact of using paper. If you’ll be sending just a few faxes every now and again, then you’ll probably want to go with a free online service. If you’ll be doing much more than that, then go with the paid services.
The author is a creator and specialist of small business software and solutions on topics such as fax to email services. Please visit http://online-fax.choosewhat.com for more info on frequently asked web fax questions.
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