Frequently Asked Questions
I have an old phone system I am looking for support on. Can Digital Rakes help me?
We provide hourly support for systems not covered under any of our voice or messaging products. Our hourly rate is $75/hour which includes travel to your location.
We will provide best effort and research to try and solve the problem. If we are not able to fix the issue, we will provide a recommendation and quote to replace your existing system with Business or Starter Voice.
Can I keep my numbers?
Absolutely! Local and Toll-Free numbers are able to be ported to our systems!
We can port in your numbers for any carrier. There are requirements that need to be met in order to move your phone numbers to us. All of this information is captured during the setup process.
Do you have contracts for your services?
No! Business and Starter Voice services are provided on a month-to-month basis and do not require long-term contracts. Customers may request plan changes, scaling, or cancellation as business needs change.
Certain service limitations, notice requirements, or account conditions may apply and may restrict immediate changes. Any applicable restrictions or requirements will be communicated prior to implementation.
Is support included? Are there any charges?
Yes. Support is included with all Business and Starter Voice services, with no additional charges for travel or onsite visits for systems and services we provide and manage. We act as your single point of contact, handling issues on your behalf so you don’t have to coordinate with multiple vendors.
Systems or services not covered by us will require hourly support, but our goal is always to keep your communications running smoothly and your experience hassle-free.
How long does it take to get set up?
Do you offer a trial?
Because our services are offered with no long-term contracts, trying our service is simple and risk-free. You can get started quickly, and if it’s not the right fit, you’re free to cancel at any time.
Do you conduct business credit checks and "Know Your Customer" verification?
Why are there taxes, surcharges, and regulatory fees on my invoice?
Phone services are regulated at the federal, state, and local levels. Because of this, certain taxes and public safety fees must be collected on your bill and sent to government agencies.
Government taxes and surcharges are not retained by Digital Rakes and are remitted to the appropriate authorities. Regulatory recovery fees are carrier-imposed charges used to offset compliance and administrative costs and are not government-mandated taxes.
Do you provide after-hours support?
Is Digital Rakes a registered telecommunications provider?
Yes, Digital Rakes is properly registered with the FCC and other applicable regulatory bodies, including USAC, as required to provide telecommunications services in the United States. Our FCC ID is: 838103.
What happens if I need to upgrade my service plan?
When you say "unlimited", do you mean it?
Please be aware that we do have an "Acceptable Fair Use" policy to prevent fraud and abuse.
Can I use my existing phones?
Yes. Compatible phones can be used with our services. For phones not purchased through us, a $5 per phone support fee applies monthly. This covers setup assistance and ongoing support of the device. Phones will be reviewed by Digital Rakes before additional charges are applied to the account.
System-supported phones are available to purchase through Digital Rakes to prevent any compatibility conflicts.
Is there a minimum number of extensions required to sign up?
No! If you are a single-member LLC all the way to an enterprise level company, we can support you! Single members or small teams can easily fit into our Starter and Starter+ plans, while companies with 20 or more users can benefit from Essentials, Pro, or Enterprise plans.
Do you provide onsite support?
Of course! There is no fee or mileage charge!
If there is ever a need to fix a phone or device, we will not hesitate to make the trip to fix the issue.
Is there an extension limit to any of the plans?
Limits apply only to Business Starter plans, which are designed for small teams. (Maximum of 20 users/extensions on both plans.)
As your business grows, upgrading to Business Voice Essentials, Pro, or Enterprise removes these limits and unlocks additional capacity, advanced call handling, reporting, integrations, and greater customization to support higher call volume and more complex workflows.
What are "Pooled" minutes for Starter plans?
Is there an overage rate for Starter plans?
How long does it take before I can use Business SIP?
Typical setup and provisioning takes a couple of business days. There is an option available for same-day setup and provisioning for an additional one-time cost of $25/trunk.
What is a "trunk"?
A SIP trunk is essentially a “line” for your phone system. Each trunk allows one call at a time, so if you want to handle multiple calls simultaneously, you’ll need multiple SIP trunks.
Example: If your business expects to make or receive 8 calls at the same time, you would need 8 SIP trunks to support that call volume.
Do you offer per-minute trunk rates?
We do not.
Our pricing is designed around transparency and consistency, which is why we don’t use per-minute billing. This allows you to budget confidently without worrying about call-time overages.
Do you provide services over any other connection than SIP?
Our voice services are delivered exclusively over SIP Trunking. We do not offer legacy connection types like PRI, POTS, or ISDN, as SIP provides greater flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency for modern phone systems.
Do I need to purchase any hardware?
No. SIP Trunking does not require special hardware. It connects your existing phone system to our backing providers(s) over the internet using secure configuration details. This makes it a great option for businesses that already have a compatible system and want a more affordable and scalable phone service.
Do you have MMS packages or options available?
All of our messaging plans include messaging for both text (SMS) and media (MMS)!
You don't pay for separate messaging with Digital Rakes!
What differentiates a SMS (text) message vs. an MMS (media) message?
SMS (Short Message Service) is standard text messaging used for short, text-only messages.
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows you to send messages that include images, videos, audio, or longer text. SMS is best for simple notifications and alerts, while MMS is ideal for richer, more engaging messages.
What are my overage charges if I go beyond my package limit?
Overages are billed at $0.05 per message beyond your selected package. The overage will be billed on a separate invoice aside of the monthly bill.
Want to save on extra messages? Upgrade to a higher package or reach out to us — we’re happy to help you find the right plan for your needs.
Do you offer "unlimited" for messaging like your voice plans?
No. Unlike voice services, business messaging is subject to carrier regulations, throughput controls, and approved campaign use cases under 10DLC guidelines. Messaging traffic is monitored by upstream carriers, and unlimited messaging plans can create compliance, delivery, and filtering risks.
For that reason, our messaging plans include defined monthly volumes with clear pricing. This structure ensures predictable costs, regulatory compliance, and reliable message delivery for your business.
Why do you need to register my company to send messages using your services? Can I fill out "The Campaign Registry" on my own with your providers?
In 2024, the FCC and major U.S. carriers introduced The Campaign Registry, a mandatory registration process for any company that sends SMS or MMS messages. This ensures that all messaging is legal, secure, and free from spam, protecting consumers and businesses alike.
To send SMS or MMS messages to your customers, your company must be registered. Without registration, carriers and the FCC may issue fines, and your messages could be blocked.
At Digital Rakes, we make registration simple. We’ll guide you step by step, collecting the required information, your company details, messaging purpose(s), and compliance practices. We submit all of this to our backing provider(s) on your behalf.
Completing this process ensures your messaging is fully compliant, effective, and professional.
How fast can I start using Business Messaging?
SMS and MMS messaging is generally available for businesses, though some restrictions apply due to carrier and regulatory requirements. During setup, we’ll guide you through the process to ensure your account is eligible and ready to start messaging.
Once your account is approved, services are typically activated within 7–14 business days. This timing depends on the approval process with The Campaign Registry and our backing providers. Same-day setup for Business Messaging is not available, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
Our Communication Services
Business Voice
Professional phone service for startups and small teams that want affordability without sacrificing reliability.
Starter Voice
Professional phone service for startups and small teams that want affordability without sacrificing reliability.
Business Messaging
Business SMS and MMS for customer communication, alerts, and notifications. Available standalone or integrated with your voice service.
Business SIP Trunking
Reliable SIP connectivity for organizations with an existing phone system that need flexible call capacity and predictable billing.
BBB Accredited Business
Michigan-Based
No Long-Term Contracts
Support Included
