How to get a business phone number (without a landline or a second SIM)

The fastest way to get a business phone number is a VoIP app. Sign up, pick an area code, and you’re taking calls in minutes. It typically costs $10-30 per user per month. A second SIM costs less upfront but ties the number to one phone. A landline still exists but usually means an engineer visit and a multi-day wait. Which one fits depends on your team and your budget. Do you need a team to share the number? Are you mobile all day, and how much do you want to spend?

Option 1: a VoIP business number (app-based)

This is a virtual phone number that runs through an app on your existing phone. It uses VoIP instead of a SIM or copper line. No new hardware. No second phone to carry.

How to set it up:

1. Pick a provider and choose your country and area code (or a toll-free/national number).
2. Verify your business details, download the app, and log in.
3. Set up call routing (ring you, ring a team, or go to voicemail after hours).
4. Add teammates as extra lines if you need more than one person answering.

Price range: $12-30 per user per month for most small-business VoIP providers, sometimes with a per-line minimum. Extra numbers usually run $5-6 a month on top. Annual billing typically knocks 15-20% off.

This route wins when you want a number that isn’t tied to a single handset, or when you need more than one person to answer it. It also works well if you want calls logged against a CRM contact automatically (CRM sync).

Option 2: a second SIM or eSIM

A second SIM (physical or eSIM) gives you a separate number on the same phone. You dial and answer it through your phone’s native dialer, rather than an app.

How to set it up:

1. Order a SIM or eSIM from a mobile carrier or a dual-number app-based SIM service.
2. Activate it and, if your phone supports dual SIM, set call and data preferences per line.
3. Configure voicemail and caller ID separately for the new number.

Price range: $5-15 a month for a basic second line, sometimes less for data-only eSIMs with calling add-ons. Cheaper than most VoIP apps on paper. But the number lives on one device only, and adding a second person to answer it means buying another SIM entirely.

This suits a genuine one-person operation: a sole trader, a freelancer, or someone who wants separation from their personal number. They don’t want to pay for team features they won’t use.

Option 3: a landline (or hosted landline)

A traditional landline is a physical line into a premises, usually installed by a phone company engineer. There’s also a hosted or virtual landline number. It still terminates on a physical line, but a VoIP provider manages it on the back end.

How to set it up:

1. Order the line from a phone company or ISP (bundled with broadband, in many UK cases).
2. Book the engineer appointment for physical installation, if required.
3. Configure a desk phone or a VoIP adapter (ATA) if going the hosted route.
4. Set call forwarding to mobiles for anyone working away from the desk.

Price range: $25-60 a month for line rental plus calls, more if bundled with a business broadband package. Hosted or virtual landline numbers through a VoIP provider can be cheaper. They’re often folded into the same $12-30/user pricing as Option 1, while keeping a landline-style number.

A landline still makes sense for a fixed retail unit, an office reception desk, or anyone who wants a number to survive a broadband outage. A basic analogue line keeps working during an outage, since VoIP calling stops the moment your internet does.

Comparing the three

Option	Setup time	Typical monthly cost	Best for
VoIP app number	Minutes	$12-30/user	Teams, remote staff, CRM logging
Second SIM/eSIM	Hours to 1 day	$5-15	Solo traders, simple separation
Landline (physical or hosted)	Days (physical) to minutes (hosted)	$25-60	Fixed premises, reception desks

What actually determines the right choice

Team size is the biggest factor. If more than one person needs to answer the same business number, a SIM-based number stops working. You’d need one SIM per person, with no shared call history and no routing between them. A VoIP number with call routing or a ring group handles that natively.

Mobility matters next. If nobody in the business sits at a desk, a landline is dead weight, even a hosted one. If everyone works from a shop counter or office, the case for a landline-style number gets stronger. It mainly comes down to the psychological reassurance of an area code customers recognise as local and permanent.

Budget rarely settles it alone, since the spread between options is often only $10-20 a month per person. What tends to decide it is whether you want that number to survive you personally being unreachable. That’s really a question about routing and shared access, not the underlying technology.

Getting the number itself: new vs ported

Every option above assumes you’re picking up a brand new number. If you’d rather keep a number you already use, whether it’s your current mobile or an old landline, you don’t have to switch to something unfamiliar. Number porting lets you move it to a new provider instead. It usually costs nothing extra beyond your new plan. It does add a few working days to setup, though, versus getting a fresh number instantly.

A fresh number is worth it when you want a clean split from a personal line you’ve handed out too widely. It’s also worth it when you’re expanding into a country or area code you’ve never operated in before. In that case, a new national or local number makes more sense than porting anything.

What to check before you commit

Ask whether the provider supports the country you’re calling into most. Call rates and number availability both vary a lot by country. Check whether adding a teammate later is a same-day change or a support ticket. And check what happens to your number if you cancel. Some providers release it back to the pool immediately, others let you port it out first, which matters if you ever want to switch again.

wlur is one app for business numbers with simple team routing at $15/£12.50/€14 per user per month. Try it free for 7 days, no card needed, cancel anytime.

FAQ

Can I get a business number without giving out my personal mobile number?

Yes. A VoIP business number or a second SIM both give you a number entirely separate from your personal line. You can screen or forward calls without callers ever seeing your private number.

Do I need a business bank account or company registration to get a business number?

Not usually. Most VoIP providers only need an email, a business name, and a payment method. Some toll-free or vanity numbers may ask for more verification, particularly in the US.

Can I keep my existing number and just make it a business number?

Yes, through number porting. It moves your existing mobile or landline number to a new provider, rather than issuing you a new one.

How many numbers can one business have?

As many as the plan allows. Most VoIP providers let you add extra numbers for a flat monthly fee per number. A team commonly runs one main line, plus a few local numbers for different regions or departments.

Is a toll-free number worth it for a small business?

Only if national reach matters more than looking local. A toll-free number can boost perceived credibility for phone-order businesses. But a local area code often converts better for trades and services with a local customer base.