Set up a Fax number

Getting a fax number is inexpensive and comes in very handy when working with highly regulated industries like banking, government, legal and medical or with people and organizations that still prefer to use faxes for contracts and purchase orders.

Faxing lets you easily exchange forms, documents, and contracts with customers and clients.

Getting up a fax number for your business will help you communicate effectively and efficiently. The two primary methods of faxing are:

• Online fax service - Allows you to send and receive faxes over the Internet through a website or directly through your email

• Traditional fax machine - Allows you to send and receive faxes through your telephone line.

Which type of Fax Service is right for you?

In most cases, we recommend getting an online fax service. It’s a less expensive investment (an online fax service is cheaper than paying for a fax line and doesn't require a fax machine), there’s no hardware to manage, and it’s typically more convenient to use.

If you trust us that online fax services are a better option than fax machines, click here to see a pricing and feature comparison of the online fax providers.

For a detailed comparison between fax machines and online fax services, read our STARTicle: Traditional Fax Machine vs. Online Fax Service

• Have access to a computer and reliable Internet connection (Our recommended option, online fax service, works by sending and receiving faxes online.)

Online Fax Service

We recommend an online fax service over a traditional fax machine because it it less expensive and more convenient than purchasing a fax machine and a dedicated fax line. There are dozens of online fax services on the market. While pricing and the frequency with which you fax documents will be primary drivers in determining which online fax service you choose, the type of fax number you obtain will be the key factor in your decision.

There are several options available when it comes to deciding on a fax number, and if you choose wisely it will make your experience as efficient and painless as possible. Here are the most common fax number choices and the advantages of each one:

Local Fax Number

If you want your fax number to have the same area code as your business phone number, choose a local fax number. This is ideal for businesses operating primarily in a specific geographic area such as retailers and restaurants. When picking a local fax number, make sure you decide on a fax number based on the associated city name and not just the area code. Many cities and suburbs use the same area code, and if you consider only the area code it's possible that your main business phone number and fax number could potentially be assigned to different cities. For example, Austin and suburb Georgetown both have a 512 area code. If you operate your business in Austin and have a Georgetown 512 fax number, people in Austin will likely try to fax you without first dialing 512, which won't work.

Toll-Free Fax Number

If you expect to receive faxes from a wide range of area codes and don't want the people who are sending you faxes to incur long distance charges, choose a toll-free fax number. You might also want a toll-free fax number if you live in a small town and can't find a provider with your local area code available. It should be noted that some online fax services charge an additional fee for toll-free numbers.

Your Current Number

If you already have an existing number you want to use as your fax line, you can use that number with your online fax provider by porting the number into the service. There is typically a charge to port your number into an online fax service, as well as a charge to port your number out if you cancel or change providers. Typically, you can only port out numbers you have ported in. For more on porting numbers, read our STARTicle: How to Port Your Existing Fax Number to an Online Fax Service.