Monthly Plan Costs
Most Australian VoIP providers offer per-user monthly plans. For a small business you can expect:
- Pay-as-you-go (PAYG): $10–$20 per user/month. Calls billed as you make them (around 10¢ per local or national call and 7–15¢/min to mobiles). Best for very low call volumes.
- Unlimited plans: $20–$40 per user/month. Includes unlimited Australian local, national, and mobile calls. Most popular for businesses making 30+ calls/month.
- SIP Trunk channels: $1.50 per channel/month on pay-as-you-go, or $30–$40 per channel/month with unlimited Australian calls, if you have an existing on-premise PBX (3CX, FreePBX, Asterisk).
At PC Madness, our Hosted PBX plans start from $10.90 per user/month on pay-as-you-go, or $20.90 per user/month with unlimited Australian calls included.
Hardware Costs
Hardware is the most variable cost. Your options:
- Webphone App (free): Use your existing Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android device. No hardware cost at all.
- IP desk phones: Yealink handsets range from $129 (entry-level SIP-T31P) to $359 (T54W executive) inc GST. A 10-person office using mid-range handsets should budget around $2,500–$3,300.
- DECT cordless: Yealink W73P base + handset from $299 inc GST.
- Conference phones: Yealink CP925 from $569 inc GST.
Buying a hardware bundle from your VoIP provider often saves 10–15% vs purchasing phones separately.
Setup and Porting Fees
Watch for these one-time costs:
- Setup fees: Reputable providers charge $0 setup for Hosted PBX and SIP Trunks. Be wary of any provider charging $200+ to "activate" a cloud service.
- Number porting: Porting a geographic landline number is normally free. 1300 and 1800 numbers commonly attract a porting fee of around $55 per number, and mobile numbers around $22. Geographic numbers typically port within 5–10 business days.
- 1300/1800 numbers: Expect a one-off activation fee of around $55. Monthly service fee $8–$15/month depending on the inclusion plan.
Total Cost Example: 5-Person Perth Business
Here is a realistic monthly budget for a 5-person service business:
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 × Unlimited Hosted PBX users | $104.50 |
| 1 × 1300 number | $8.95 |
| 5 × Yealink SIP-T31P handsets (amortised 36m) | ~$18.00 |
| Total (approx.) | ~$131/month |
Compared to a traditional Telstra Business phone system, most Perth businesses save 40–60% by switching to VoIP.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Some providers advertise low headline prices but add costs elsewhere:
- International calls: Not included in unlimited plans. Confirm per-minute rates for countries you call regularly.
- Call recording storage: Often charged per GB/month. Clarify how long recordings are retained.
- Overage charges: Some PAYG plans cap minutes then charge high overage rates. Read the fine print.
- Contract lock-in: Month-to-month is standard in Australia. Avoid 24-month contracts for cloud services.