How to Get a Business Phone Number: 5 Options Compared

Most small businesses start on the owner's personal mobile. It works until it doesn't: customers call at dinner, the number is on every flyer and van, and you can't hand the phone to anyone else without handing over your personal life too. A dedicated business number fixes that, and it has never been cheaper or quicker to get one.

Option 1: A VoIP business phone service

Cloud phone providers give you a number that rings through an app on your phone and computer, and usually desk phones too. You typically get call routing, voicemail, business hours, and the ability to add team members.

Best for: businesses that expect to grow beyond one person or want menus and call routing.

Option 2: Google Voice

Google Voice gives you a number that works across devices at a flat monthly price. As of September 2026, team plans start at $10 per user per month and require a Google Workspace subscription. Our Google Voice for business guide covers what each plan includes.

Best for: teams already using Google Workspace.

Option 3: A second line on your mobile

Many carriers and phones support a second number on the same device, through dual SIM or eSIM. Calls to each number are labelled, so you know which one is ringing.

Best for: sole operators who want separation without a new app.

Option 4: A toll-free number

Numbers beginning 800, 888, 877 and similar are free for the caller and signal a national presence. They're usually available as an add-on from VoIP providers.

Best for: businesses selling across the country, or support lines.

Option 5: A traditional landline

Still available and still reliable, but less flexible: the number lives on a physical line and follows you less easily.

Best for: fixed premises that want a wired line for reliability or regulatory reasons.

Local number or toll-free?

A local area code signals that you're nearby, which matters for local services, and many people are more willing to pick up or call back a local number. A toll-free number signals scale and suits national sales or support. Many businesses have both and route them to the same place.

Can I keep my existing number?

Usually, yes. Moving a number between providers is called porting. You request it from the new provider with your account details from the old one. Don't cancel the old service until the port completes, or you risk losing the number. If you just want calls on your existing number handled differently, you don't need to port at all: you can forward it instead. See our call forwarding guide.

What to set up on day one

1. A voicemail greeting that sounds like a business. Borrow one from our business voicemail greeting examples.
2. Business hours, so after-hours calls are handled differently.
3. A plan for calls you can't take. This is the one most people skip, and it decides whether the new number wins business or just collects voicemail.
4. The number everywhere: Google Business Profile, website header, invoices and signage.

The part a new number doesn't solve

A professional number makes it easier for customers to call you. It doesn't make anyone available to answer. If you're on a job, with a customer, or asleep, the call still goes to voicemail, and many callers won't leave a message.

That's what an answering layer is for. With AutomateNexus Voice, calls you can't take are answered in under a second, and appointments are booked into your calendar during the call. It works with whichever of the five options above you choose: you just forward the number. Plans start at $49/month.

Choosing the number itself

Area code

Pick the area code where most of your customers are. If you serve several areas, you can hold more than one local number and route them to the same place.

Vanity numbers

Numbers that spell a word are memorable on vans and billboards, and toll-free vanity numbers are the easiest to find. For most local businesses a clean, easy-to-read local number does the same job.

Number history

New numbers are recycled numbers, so a freshly assigned number can occasionally still get calls meant for its previous owner. It usually settles down within weeks. If a number attracts a lot of unrelated calls, ask your provider for a different one early, before it's printed anywhere.

What it costs

A second line on your mobile or a VoIP number is typically a monthly fee per user or per number. Toll-free numbers usually add a monthly fee plus per-minute charges for inbound calls, because the business pays for the call instead of the caller. Porting an existing number may carry a one-time fee depending on the provider. Get the full price, including taxes and add-ons, before choosing.

List the number consistently

Once you have a business number, use exactly the same number everywhere it appears online: your Google Business Profile, website, social profiles and directory listings. Consistent name, address and phone details help customers and search engines trust that your listings belong to the same business. Update old listings that still show your personal mobile.

Plan for growth from the start

If there's any chance you'll add staff, choose a setup that can ring several people and route calls differently by time of day. Moving from a single mobile line to a proper system later is doable, but it's easier to start with a number you can grow into than to re-print your number in a year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to get a business phone number?

A second line on your existing mobile or a Google Voice or VoIP plan are the lowest-cost options, typically around $10 to $20 per user per month for VoIP-style services. Check current pricing with each provider.

Can I use my personal cell phone number for business?

You can, but it's hard to separate work and personal calls, hard to hand off, and the number becomes permanently public. A dedicated business number avoids that.

Should I get a local or toll-free number?

Local if you serve a local area; toll-free if you sell nationally or run a support line. Many businesses use both and route them to the same place.

Can I transfer my existing number to a new provider?

Usually yes, through a process called porting. Keep the old service active until the port completes.