How To Get a Business Phone Number

Getting a business phone number is key to communicating with your customers. It allows you to place calls from a recognizable number and make your business appear more professional, as well as ensuring your customers can get in touch if they have questions.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how you can get a business phone number and the reasons it can help your business succeed – especially since business lines don’t need to be a major expense in 2025, with the best VoIP phone providers in the UK starting at less than £10 per month.

What Is a Business Phone Number?

A business phone number is a dedicated line that allows you and your employees to place and receive calls, avoiding the use of personal numbers.

In the UK, your business phone number can be provided by either a landline or a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service. However, since September 2023, there has been a stop-sell on new PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) landlines. In other words (as you might be aware of), you cannot purchase and set up a new analogue landline number service, or make significant changes to existing ones.

For businesses with an existing landline number, there’s a bit more time until the whole UK analogue system is permanently retired on 31 January 2027. Previously, BT set the ‘Big Switch Off’ date for the end of 2025, but this was extended to allow for a smoother transition with primarily older, more vulnerable customers, and to address concerns related to telecare services.

All of this means that, to future-proof your business or prospective venture, your best and only option is to choose a VoIP business phone number. This can be fixed to a location, like a traditional landline, or there are also non-fixed VoIP lines that aren’t restricted to a single landline or physical address. You can place and receive calls from any device that supports your phone provider’s software, including your computer, smartphone, and even some smart devices.

How To Get a Business Phone Number

Getting a business phone number is simple, and if you choose VoIP, you can have your new phone system up and running within a few hours.

Here are the steps to take to get a VoIP business phone number:

Step 1: Decide What Type of Business Phone Number You Need

The first step to getting a VoIP business phone number is to decide on the type of number your business requires. You can choose from local, freephone, international, and other phone numbers. We’ll discuss the different types of business phone numbers further in the next section.

Step 2: Choose a Phone Provider

Select a VoIP phone provider that offers the type of number you want. Keep in mind that different companies offer different pricing and features for your phone system, so choosing the right provider is an important step. Also, make sure you choose a system with the best call quality. Check out our guide to the best small business phone systems to help you find the provider that suits you.

Step 3: Select Your Phone Number

Most VoIP phone providers let you choose your phone number. You can search for a specific number to see if it’s available. If you’re happy with any number, you can have your provider simply assign you one.

Step 4: Set Up Your System

Now, you have your business phone number! Congratulations – however, you’ll find there is a little more setup to do before things work seamlessly.

For one, using your VoIP provider’s software, you can assign extensions to each of your employees. Dialling one of these extensions after your business’s primary phone number will connect callers to a specific employee instead of your company’s main line. Each employee can set up their own voicemail greeting, too, which helps your business look professional when customers need to leave a message.

We also suggest setting up an auto-attendant to route all incoming calls. You can configure this so that customers press “1” for customer service and “2” for sales, for example. Recording a greeting that describes these menu options when customers call your business is a great idea, too.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start making and receiving calls with your new business phone number.

Types of VoIP Business Phone Numbers

There are several types of VoIP business phone numbers to choose from, each with its advantages for different businesses. We’ve neatly summarised the four main types in the table below so you can compare each option side-by-side.

4 Reasons To Get a Business Phone Number

If you’re still on the fence about getting a VoIP business phone number, here are four reasons why it’s a great idea for every UK business.

1. Get Ahead of the Big Switch Off

The Big Switch Off is the wind-down of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), currently scheduled for January 31, 2027. The PSTN is the network of copper landlines that has been in use in the UK since the 1800s. Once the Big Switch Off happens, you won’t be able to rely on a landline phone system to make or receive calls anymore.

Investing in a VoIP business phone system now allows you to get ahead of the Big Switch Off. That way, you won’t have to worry about scrambling to find a new provider just before your phone service is shut down.

2. Give Your Business a Professional Appearance

Having a dedicated business phone number allows you to separate your personal and business communications and appear more professional to customers.

When a customer calls your business number, you can greet them with your company name and be ready to answer questions. If they’re directed to your business voicemail, they’ll hear a message that represents your organisation instead of receiving your provider’s generic voicemail instructions.

In addition, when you call a customer, they’ll see your company name on their caller ID instead of your name. Making a good first impression on the phone can be the difference between landing a new customer and not.

3. Streamline Calling for Your Employees

With a VoIP business phone number, you can give your employees the ability to place calls from any of their devices using your business phone number. You can also give them extensions, allowing them to call one another and receive incoming calls from customers. Each employee can also have their own voicemail inbox, call log, call recordings, and more.

This is a lot smoother than having employees call each other or customers with their personal phone numbers. It also ensures that all employees have access to the same VoIP calling features to enable them to work effectively.

4. Take Advantage of Advanced Calling Features

Many VoIP providers offer advanced calling features that can make your business more productive. These include:

• Call recording
• Voicemail transcription
• Auto-attendants
• Ring groups
• Spam prevention
• AI tools (analytics, voicemail summaries, etc.)

You can also get data about your calls to see how much time your employees are spending on the phone, what percentage of calls to your business are answered, and more. This data can help you identify ways to improve your customer service. Also, make sure you install a VoIP VPN to secure call activity.

How To Get a Free Business Phone Number

If your business is on a tight budget, you might be wondering how to get a business phone number for free. Several VoIP phone providers offer free business phone numbers in the UK, including Number People and CallHippo.

However, before you sign up for a free VoIP phone number, make sure you read the fine print. Some free business phone numbers come with unusually high fees for services like call-forwarding or international calling. Others don’t offer access to certain features like auto-attendants, extensions, or call recording, which can make it more difficult to run your business.

For most businesses, it’s worthwhile to purchase a paid business phone number and get a comprehensive list of calling features. Many of the top VoIP providers in the UK offer free trials, so you can test out their phone service before committing.