How Online Fax Can Save You Money

We all appreciate advances in technology for enabling us to do things more efficiently and effectively. But it is the cost savings that new technology brings that really make a big difference in our lives. Such is the case with online fax. Compared with the traditional method of faxing with a fax machine and phone line, Internet fax is more streamlined, providing considerable savings in many areas. The cost savings is the reason why so many people and businesses are switching to online fax.

How Much Money Can You Really Save?

With Internet fax, the savings over faxing with a fax machine are considerable when you consider the costs of items it is replacing. Estimates put the savings around 80% for corporations and approximately 30% for monthly costs, depending on how frequently you fax. Here are the major money savers realized by online fax.

Fax Machine: Online fax makes the need for a fax machine nonexistent. That alone is a major cost savings, especially for at-home users, businesses that do a lot of faxing and start-ups. The only equipment necessary for Internet fax is a computer or a mobile device with Internet access.

Extra Phone Line: With Internet fax, there’s no need to pay for extra phone lines that are dedicated to fax machines or incur their installation charges. Because faxes are sent and received via a broadband connection, you can use your phone and do other things online without it affecting your faxing.

Supplies: With online fax, there are no supplies like paper, ink or toner, that are necessary with a fax machine. This could amount to a huge savings depending on how much of these supplies you or your company use on a yearly basis.

Phone Charges: Unlike traditional fax machines using phone lines that charge for faxing outside your local area code, online fax service providers have a long list of countries where faxing is free to them. Countries not included in the free fax zone fall under international rates, which are much less than phone companies’ long distance and international rates. Furthermore, Internet fax offers lower per fax or per minute rates than faxing with a fax machine.

Other Savings Perks: Online fax also means lower electricity costs because you don’t have to leave a fax machine on 24/7, 365 days. You also save on maintenance or service contracts typically established with fax machines. Many online fax service providers offer you the option of a local fax number or a toll-free number. Some online fax providers do not charge any extra for a toll-free fax number like phone companies do.

Doing The Math

If you take a few minutes to do the math to figure out the cost savings, you can get a better estimate of how much money you will save based on your faxing situation. For example, for a company that sends about 150 faxes and receives 200 faxes, the cost comparison between a traditional fax machine and online fax would look something like this:

Cost of faxing with a fax machine = $56 per month, taking into consideration the dedicated phone line, long distance phone charges and supplies needed.

VERSUS

Cost of online fax = $10 per month, taking into consideration the monthly cost of your online fax service and an overage fee for receiving more faxes than your plan allows. However, this amount could be less depending on the monthly rate for your online fax service plan (some start as low as $4.95 a month) and the number of incoming and outgoing faxes allowed each month before overage fees are charged.

Everyone’s faxing needs are different, which means cost comparisons will vary. But regardless of whether you fax a lot or a little, what stays constant is that online fax is more economical and efficient than standard faxing with a fax machine.