Step 1:3 Get Your Business Phone & Fax Number
You need a business phone number that is listed with 411 directory assistance and online major directories. Having a business fax number is also an important factor.
Module 1: Lender Compliance
Step 1:3 Business Phone, 411 Directory Listing, and Fax
Get Your Business Phone & Fax Number
In this section you will complete the following:
- Ensure that your business has a dedicated business phone number.
- Ensure that your business has a dedicated fax number.
- Submit your business phone number to the national 411 and online directories.
The perception lenders, vendors, and creditors have of your business is crucial to your ability to build strong business credit reports. This perception is why we highly recommend that your business phone number is listed with 411 and online directories along with having a dedicated fax number.
Get Your Business Phone Number
You must have a dedicated business phone number that is listed with 411 directory assistance, under the business name. Do not use your home phone number. Lenders, vendors, creditors, and even insurance providers will verify that your business is listed with 411. A toll-free number will give your business credibility, but you must have a local business number in order to get listed in 411 directory assistance.
CLICK HERE to get a local number for your business
Expand Your Reach by adding a toll-free number
How do lenders, vendors and customers see your business? It’s easy and inexpensive to ADD a toll-free 800 number as one of your business numbers. You can get started with a 7-day free trial with no credit card required.
Even if you’re a single owner with a home-based business, a toll-free number provides the perception that you are a real business.
Try it out by Clicking Here
Whether you’re applying for financing with a lender or net credit terms with a vendor, providing a cell of home phone number as your main business phone line could get you “flagged” as an un-established business that is too high of a risk.
This means we DON’T recommend giving a personal cell phone or residential phone as the business phone number. (note: you can forward a virtual number to any phone number, see the information in the paragraph above)
**If you set up a Virtual Office Solution it will include a business phone number and a 411 listing.
Get Your Business Fax Number
Many people say that faxing is outdated and a thing of the past. That is simply not true when it comes to lenders and credit providers. As a business, you will need a fax number to receive important documents and fax in credit applications.
There are many great services where you do not need a fax machine and all your faxes are sent and received via the internet. CLICK HERE to learn more.
**If you set up a Virtual Office Solution it will include a dedicated Fax number.
Submit Your Business Phone Number to 411 Directory
***Do Not Use Cell Phone or Residential***
To get your business number listed we suggest to contact your local phone carrier and request your business phone line to be added in the 411. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have your phone service with them in order to get a number listed.
Another option is to list your business with ListYourself.net. The service is free and has been proven to be very effective to solve the 411 directory assistance listing. CLICK HERE to submit your business phone number.
Once you have submitted your business phone number, you will need to verify that you are listed under 411. To do this you will: (Dial your area code)-555-1212 and then simply ask for the listing of your exact business legal name. If possible, do not use a cell phone to check your listing.
Submit Your Business Phone Number to Online Business Directories
Since searching the internet is the number one tool used to locate a business today, it’s crucial to make sure your business is listed on major online business directories. While there are many popular online directories to get listed with there are several key sites that play a role in the business credit building process.
Certain online directories are the online equivalent of a modern day phone book so getting listed is a great way for not only customers to find you but also lenders to verify your business listing in the 411.
Here are the top three online business directories to submit your business listing with:
- Express Update – As part of the Infogroup family, Express Update powers and verifies the world’s top search engines. Once you submit your business listing your information is sent to the top Internet search engines, 85% of large public libraries and the leading in-car navigation system. You can submit your business listing or update your information anytime you need to without any cost or ongoing fee.
- Superpages – Superpages.com is an online directory powered by DexMedia™. This is a very popular site used during the initial stages of lender compliance. As you know the key is to get your business listed in major directories so vendors and lenders can easily verify your business listing.
- YellowPages.com – On the main page scroll down for the image icon that states ‘Claim Your Business’. Click on the ‘Claim Your Listing’ tab. If you already created an account with Superpages you can use it to log into the Real Yellow Pages and DexKnows directory.
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1
Task to Complete
Dedicated Business Phone Number Set Up
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2
Task to Complete
Business Fax Number Set Up
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3
Task to Complete
Business Phone Number has 411 Directory Listing
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4
Task to Complete
Business Listing Submitted to Online Business Directories
