Over the years we have worked with hundreds of customers that were opening up new locations or businesses.  Whether the new location is move-in-ready, a remodel, or new construction, there are lots of things to think about and plan for.  Some of those things may include carpet samples, paint colors, signage, and desks.  But one of the most overlooked, yet vitally important, items is your voice and data network.  I put together a few helpful reminders if you find yourself in charge of opening a new location:

1. Order Early.  One of the biggest mistakes that customers make is that they try to order their telecommunications services at the last minute.  This always leads to added stress and complications.  I recommend ordering your services at least 3 months before you would like to move in.  That should allow for enough time to have the services installed and tested prior to moving in any employees.
2. Turn up your services 1-2 weeks early.  Rather than waiting until the night before you move in, I recommend turning up your services a couple of weeks ahead of time.  This will allow your phone system, and network to be set up, tested and fully operational.  If you wait until the last minute and there is any sort of problem with the service, you will be in a difficult position.  You will have to start paying for the service once you turn it up, but the reduced stress and potential delays is well worth the cost.
3. Setup Market Expansion Lines.   If you need to have working phone numbers in advance of turning up your services, I would advise you to look at setting some Market Expansion Lines.  If you will be spending money on business cards, stationary, advertising or anything else with your phone numbers on them, then “MEL” are great.  All of the carriers have a disclaimer on new phone numbers that they are not guaranteed until there are installed.  However, if you need to advertise.
4. Get Entrance Cables Completed.  One of the steps for all new construction projects is your Entrance Facilities or Cables.  Basically, the construction company digs a trench from the building out to the road.  They then lay some conduit in the trench and call the phone company to come out for an inspection.  If the trench and conduit are approved then they will pull new cable and hook it up to the cables running down the street.  This is an important step because your new services cannot be installed until your entrance facilities are in place.  It is a good idea to make sure that you know when this step will be completed so that you can plan for the turn-up of your services.
5. Establish Backup plans.  Assuming you are like most companies, your connection to the outside world is vital to your success as a company.  So it is important to ask the “what if” questions.  What if our phone lines stop working?  What if our Internet connection goes down?  What if a bulldozer cuts the cable in the street and we have no services for a few days?  The answers to these questions and be simple or complex, cheap or expensive depending on your needs.  I recommend that all businesses at least consider these scenarios to make sure that the business is able to continue to function with limited interruptions.