How to Become a SIP Trunk Provider

December 19, 2023

SIP trunking platforms are one of the best modern workplace communication solutions available to businesses today. Business owners making the transition from legacy phone service to a cloud-hosted SIP trunking platform can save as much as 60% on their communication costs. This technology is known for delivering exceptional call quality and enabling an impressive number of in-demand features. With market analysts predicting a CAGR of more than 14% through 2031, there may be no better time to become a SIP trunk provider.

When you add SIP trunking services to your business portfolio, you can earn a healthy commission based on your monthly revenue. It’s not difficult to learn the basics, and it takes only about 10 minutes to get new clients up and running. With the right partner providing everything you need to get started, becoming a SIP trunk provider is a lot easier than you might expect.

How SIP Trunk Providers Help Their Customers Reduce Communication Costs

SIP stands for Session Initiated Protocol. SIP trunks form the virtual pathways that carry digital data packets over the internet. They can be divided into an unlimited number of channels that support the essentials of modern business communication, including voice over internet protocol (VoIP). Since explaining how SIP works to your clients can involve a lot of industry-specific terminology, resellers often cover the basics by comparing the technology to legacy (analog) phone service.

Incoming and outbound calls transmitted over legacy phone lines are connected through a complex network of cables and wires that link a private branch exchange (PBX) to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). With legacy services, business owners pay for groups of PRI (primary rate interface) circuits that support 23 calls and a single data channel simultaneously. Since SIP trunks are virtual entities, they don’t require phone lines, a distinction that helps reduce the cost of business communication in several ways.

Offering Affordable Prices for Flexible Solutions  

With cloud-hosted communication solutions, SIP resellers are free to choose the best combination of solutions to offer their clients. SIP trunk subscribers can add or delete active users from their accounts as needed and limit access to additional services to specific phone numbers or users. Compared to legacy services, SIP trunk providers give their clients far more control over their communication costs.

Related: Explaining SIP Trunking to Your Customers

Although service quality and bundle pricing can vary, most SIP trunk subscribers have access to their choice of the following business communication essentials:

  • Direct Inward Dial (DID) routing
  • Business texting
  • Local, toll-free, and vanity numbers
  • Fax to email service
  • Outbound international service
  • FAX over IP Service
  • Toll fraud protection
  • E911 routing
  • Call data records

Providing Modernization without Expensive Hardware Upgrades

SIP trunk clients don’t need expensive hardware to benefit from cloud-hosted communication solutions. Technically, they don’t need a phone system at all. All they need to get started is an internet connection, a compatible device capable of supporting a softphone application, and a reputable service provider. Most business phones made in the ’90s or later are already SIP-enabled. Companies with older systems can continue using their current business phones by purchasing inexpensive analog-to-telephone adaptors (ATAs).

Reducing the Financial Burden of Maintaining Connectivity

Outdated technology and aging wires can cause poor call quality and service disruptions. Virtual SIP trunks and channels don’t require physical installation or costly upgrades. Instead of devoting payroll hours to troubleshooting, repairing, or replacing in-house equipment, SIP trunk subscribers have a dedicated team of professionals working behind the scenes to ensure superior call quality, system security, and optimal performance. Connection issues can be detected in milliseconds and rerouted to minimize (or eliminate) the risk of service disruptions.  

How to Become a SIP Trunk Provider: Your Step-by-Step Guide

A reseller partnership is a mutually beneficial collaboration. SIP trunk resellers have the advantage of leveraging a cost-effective communication solution without having to build a platform from the ground up or maintain the infrastructure. 

Instead, they’re generating consistent revenue by marketing the services offered by an established provider and helping their clients select the best combination of communication solutions for their business. Their platform partner benefits from an extended reach.

Not all reseller opportunities are the same. Some telecom providers prefer commissioning agents or representatives who work on their behalf. Others offer co-branding opportunities. Either way, it’s clear to consumers that they’re investing in a service sold by one entity and managed by another.

For resellers with the most to gain by leveraging a telecom service as their own, white-label platforms are the better option. Reselling a white-label service may sound appealing, and knowing how to get started could be just what you need to determine if becoming a SIP trunk provider is right for you.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Reseller Account  

You don’t need a background in technology to resell SIP trunks. But you should consider how long it could take to see a positive return on your investment. Look for opportunities that:

  • Require no upfront payment or long-term contract
  • Pay generous commission rates
  • Offer multi-channel reseller support
  • Automate essential processes to minimize the amount of time you have to devote to administrative tasks

Once you’ve found a SIP trunk provider that ticks all those boxes, sign up for a reseller account, submit your contact information, and upload your logo.

Step 2: Identify Your Prospects

Becoming a successful SIP trunk provider is easy when you have a customer base. It’s also not that difficult to build your brand around a reseller agreement once you’ve built a website. Either way, you’ll need time to focus your outreach by identifying which businesses in your community would have the most to gain from a SIP trunk platform.

Instead of casting a wide net, many resellers find they generate more sales by focusing their efforts on small- to mid-sized businesses. Some of the most successful strategists work on solving the specific pain points of business owners in one industry before branching out and expanding their reach to another.

Step 3: Prepare for a Receptive Audience

Most business owners won’t commit to a service unless it fulfills a need, solves a problem, or helps them achieve a goal. As the person responsible for helping each of your clients choose the best combination of SIP-supported services for their companies, familiarize yourself with the benefits of individual solutions before tossing your first pitch.

Related: 10 Benefits to Becoming a SIP Trunking Provider

Some of your clients will be best served by service bundles giving them an unlimited number of minutes across a small number of channels, others by having a specific number of minutes shared across an unlimited number of channels. As you’re helping your clients implement a plan that meets their current needs, consider suggesting scalable areas they may want to explore as their business grows.

Step 4: Confirm That Your Customers Are Prepared

Some SIP trunk providers expect their subscribers to switch internet service companies. As a reseller, that’s not ideal. After you’ve devoted time to determining the best combination of services for their business, your prospect may have to reconsider while weighing the cost-effective nature of SIP against the hassle (and possible expense) of switching internet providers.

The more questions asked and answered early on, the easier it is to prepare for deployment. Don’t assume clients’ intentions. Most will prefer having you configure the hardware they’re currently using as soon as possible; others may want to delay switching until after they’ve equipped their office with new SIP-enabled hardware.

Step 5: Refine Your Marketing Strategy

Once you’re prepared to present your SIP trunking platform as a cost-effective alternative to legacy phone service, it’s time to start working on a marketing strategy. Although social media platforms help build awareness and nurture relationships, you may also consider investing in search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). 

One of the most popular SEM options is the pay-per-click (PPC) advertising format. SEO, on the other hand, boosts business rankings in search engine page results (SERPS) with keywords identified in website headers, title tags, and meta descriptions. The internet is a great avenue for reaching wide audiences, but be sure your campaigns are targeted at your preferred niche or demographics.

Identify the Best SIP Trunk Provider for Your Reseller Business

SIP trunks bridge the disconnect between analog phone systems and digital telecom solutions. The best SIP trunk platforms work with all major IP PBX, PBX gateways, and open-source PBX projects. When your platform partner offers service provision and payment automation, you’ll have more time to devote to growing your business.SIPTRUNK is designed specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs looking for a way to generate a recurring revenue stream with a brandable service. With our industry-leading support center providing unparalleled access to telco veterans, your business and your subscribers are in good hands. Get started today and learn more about our SIP trunking reseller program, business-friendly practices, and quick path to generating consistent revenue.