You can get a business phone number in a few minutes, on the phone you already own, and you do not need a company registration or a second handset to do it. There are four ways to go about it, and the right one depends mostly on whether you work alone or with a team, and on whether you want the number answered when you are busy.
The four ways to get one
A business phone line in an app
An app gives you a real second number that calls and texts like any other, and it lives beside your personal number on the same phone. This is the quickest route and usually the cheapest, from free to about $20 a month. Some of these, Neuron among them, include an agent that answers calls and texts for you when you cannot.
A free second number
A free number from a consumer service will ring and text, and plenty of people start here. They are made for personal use, so they do not answer for you, and heavy texting to customers can be limited.
A second line from your mobile carrier
Your carrier can add a second line to your plan, sometimes on the same phone with a second SIM. It is a normal mobile number with a monthly charge, and it comes with nothing made for business: no shared inbox, no written-out voicemail, and nobody answering on your behalf.
A full business phone system
These are built for teams, with a seat for each person, extensions, call queues, desk phones and integrations. They are priced per user each month and are the right choice once several people answer the phones.
The services people most often ask about are set side by side on the comparison pages, including what each does better than we do.
What to check before you choose
- Whether the number is a real local number that belongs to you, and whether you keep it if you stop paying
- Whether business texting is included, and who handles the carrier registration that US business texting requires. The registration guide explains it
- What happens to a call you cannot take: voicemail, a phone menu, or an agent that talks to the caller
- Whether the price is for the line or for each person
- Whether there is a contract, or you can leave month to month
- Whether you can bring a number you already have, if that matters to you
How to set one up
Pick a local number
A local area code tells a customer you are nearby, which matters for a cleaner, a mechanic or anyone who works in people's homes. Toll-free numbers suit businesses that sell nationally.
Record a greeting and set your hours
Say your business name in the greeting. If your service offers an agent, tell it what you do, what you charge and when you work, so that callers get answers and not only a beep.
Put the number everywhere
Your website, your Google Business Profile, your invoices, your van and your email signature should all carry the new number, so customers stop using your personal one.
Send your existing customers one text
A short message from the new number, saying it is you and that this is your business line, moves people across faster than anything else.
Where Neuron fits
Neuron is the first kind: a business phone line in an app, built for people who work for themselves. It is free to start, with your own local number and 50 texts, and an agent that answers texts in your tone and takes calls while you are on a job. If you have a team that shares a number, or you need a toll-free number or want to bring one you already have, one of the full phone systems will suit you better.
You can get a free business number in about a minute, or call (415) 723-8881, which is Neuron's own business line, and hear the agent answer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a business phone number cost?
From nothing to about $30 a user each month. Free plans exist, including Neuron's, which comes with a real local number and 50 texts. Paid business phone apps are commonly $10 to $20 a month, and full phone systems for teams are priced per user.
Can I get a business phone number for free?
Yes. Neuron's free plan includes a real local number, 50 texts, and an agent you can try for 30 minutes of calls and 100 replies. Some consumer services also offer a free second number.
Do I need an LLC or an EIN to get a business phone number?
No. A sole proprietor can get a business number and register for business texting without either. The guide to this has the details.
Can I use my personal number for my business?
You can, and many people start that way. A separate number means customers reach a line that is only about work, your personal number stays off invoices and listings, and you can tell a customer call from a personal one before you answer.
Do I need a second phone?
No. A business phone line in an app puts the second number on the phone you already carry.
