How to Get a Phone Number For Your Small Business

There are a few things every business needs: a business bank account, good marketing, and a business phone number.

Signing up for a business phone number is quick and easy, and if you stick with a basic number, it’s affordable, too. If you’re ready to stop using your personal number, keep reading to learn more about how to sign up for a business phone number.

Why Do You Need A Business Phone Number?

Every business owner should have a business phone number. A business phone number makes your business look legitimate and professional.

Beyond that, a business phone number also helps you keep your business separate from your personal life. Instead of giving your personal number out to customers, posting it on your website, getting late-night calls at home, and opening your personal line up to spam and scammers, consider signing up for a business phone number—it’s fast, easy, and affordable.

Types Of Business Phone Numbers

Before signing up for a business phone number, determine what type of phone number your business needs. There are a few different types to choose from.

Local Business Phone Numbers

A local business phone number is assigned to a specific area—in most cases, the city where the business is located. It is identified by its area code. This is the most basic type of business phone number.

International Business Phone Numbers

An international business phone number is a number set up for callers in countries outside the United States. Companies that conduct business in other countries typically set these up to support their overseas customers.

Toll-Free Business Numbers

A toll-free number uses a three-digit code (such as 800 or 888) instead of an area code. The advantage of toll-free numbers is that callers throughout the United States can call them without being charged long-distance fees.

Vanity Phone Numbers

A vanity phone number is designed to be easy to remember. It uses the letters on the telephone keypad to spell out a word related to the business. 1-800-FLOWERS, 1-800-CONTACTS, and 1-800-GOT-JUNK are examples of well-known vanity numbers.

How To Get A Business Phone Number

If you need a business phone number, the process is quite simple. Here’s how to get a business phone number in five easy steps.

Step 1: Determine What Type Of Business Phone Number You Need

The first step to getting a business phone number is to determine what type of phone number you need. In the last section, we briefly explained the main types of business phone numbers.

If you’re having trouble deciding, here’s a quick comparison.

Step 4: Pay Fees For Your New Phone Number

After selecting your phone number, you’ll need to pay fees to the provider. These fees vary based on the provider and what you’ve purchased. A basic business phone number with Google Voice, for example, is free, while a complete VoIP phone system loaded with features may initially cost a few hundred dollars (or more).

The type of phone number you chose also determines the price. You may be able to score a free or low-cost local business number. However, you’ll have to pay a fee for certain numbers, like international numbers, toll-free-numbers, and vanity numbers.

Other fees may apply for various services, such as changing an existing number to your new number.

Step 5: Set Up Your New Business Number

Now that you’ve paid the applicable fees, it’s time to set up your new number. For this, you’ll need to:

• Connect the phone(s) that will be used with this line
• Access your user dashboard to set up extensions if necessary
• Set up your voicemail with a prerecorded or custom message
• Take advantage of other business phone features (if applicable) like call routing and automated menus

You should be able to perform these functions through a control panel or dashboard. If you’re unsure of how to perform specific functions, ask your phone provider for more details.

And that’s it! After completing these steps, you’ll have a business phone number that your customers can reach to place orders, get support, or learn more about your business.