Do I have to sign a contract? Find out if if they want you to sign a contract, and if so, get a full list of what you are getting for signing the contract. If the conference call company isn't giving you a large break in price for signing the contract, then don't do it. Conferencing companies are now offering toll free conference calling for 2.5 per minute without contracts or minimums, for conferences with 100 users or less, so unless you're having conferences of more than 100 people, a contract isn't usually worth it.

What are the prices for your services? Get a list of services that are available in the type of account you're interested in. Make sure the list includes prices for everything, so that you don't use a service that they said comes with your account, but they didn't mention it was an extra 3 cents per minute. If you have the complete products, services and features price list in hand, you will have a better idea of the full cost of the conference call services that you are comparing.

How about hidden fees and taxes, are there any? Some conference providers have a monthly minimum usage requirement, or have a monthly access fee, even when the account hasn't been used. Ask to see a bill, and a full list of fees. Make sure you check everything on the bill, and that you aren't paying extra fees that you should be paying.

What is the largest conference you can handle; and still guarantee call quality? Get a copy of their quality guarantee in writing, along with the maximum number of people that you can have in a conference before the call quality suffers.

Can I try it before I buy it? Most conference calling carriers that have good services don't have a problem with you trying out their services. These providers will give you a free starter account, so you can have a conference call and test their features. Test out a couple of companies to see how they compare, then build a pro's and con's list for each, along with pricing, and go with the one that does the best job of fulfilling your conferencing needs.