Essential guide to business telephone and mobile numbers UK

Setting up a dedicated business phone number is a key step towards professionalism, but with the UK’s traditional landline network shutting down in 2027, small businesses should now use a VoIP-based business phone line provider to do so.

The traditional desk phone might be seen as a relic of a bygone era, with companies now relying on a range of communication tools like video calling, CRM systems, and smartphones. But a dedicated business phone number is still crucial for modern businesses to streamline comms with customers.

We’ve been advising small businesses on their communications for over two decades, and in this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about getting a phone number for your business.

Do I need a business phone number?

In short, yes, as having a dedicated business phone number that your clients or customers can reach you on represents a level of professionalism people will expect from a modern company. 

The results of our communication survey told us that while email, team messaging and team conferencing have all pulled ahead of phone calls as the three most dominant methods of communication among small business teams, many customers still choose to pick up the phone when they want to speak to a company.

A company phone number is a dedicated line for your business, giving your customers a clear way to contact you, and your employees can also use the system to contact leads via a professional, secure channel. Your phone number should be shared on all company materials including:

• Business listings
• Your website
• Email footers

With some companies setting strict boundaries for when their staff can be contacted out of house on their mobiles, it can be critical for many businesses to be able to communicate 24/7.

With a dedicated business phone number you can get access to features like ring groups and virtual receptionist functions, to make sure your clients are being handled no matter the time of day or night.

Key reasons to get a business phone number

• Scalability: you can start out with a local number, but you’ll also have the option to switch to a UK-wide number to gain an instant national presence.
• Privacy: giving out your personal number to your customers and clients can be a dangerous game. Having a business number gives you control over when you get contacted.
• Flexibility: thanks to call routing, employees can work anywhere they choose as calls to your business number can be directed to the telephone of your choosing.
• Customer satisfaction: according to Forbes, 85% of customers are “willing to go out of their way to do business with a company that has better service”. By getting a business number through a VoIP provider you’ll also gain access to a suite of call management tools that will enhance your customers’ experience.

Should I use my mobile phone for business?

Now that it’s possible to run all your company communications through smartphone apps, yes, getting a business mobile contract is a popular communication solution for many small businesses. Less than half (46%) of the respondents we surveyed said they use desk phones in their day jobs.

In fact, a lot of organisations have started to implement a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, asking their staff to use personal mobiles that remove the need to invest in company mobile contracts completely.

However, for the reasons we outlined above, we still recommend setting up a shared business phone number that can be routed to the entire teams’ mobiles. Finding a VoIP brand that permits call routing, such as Dialpad, means you can do this for a small monthly fee. Another way to do this is by setting up a follow me number (we’ll explain how these work in the section below).

What are the security risks of a BYOD policy?

The key security concern of a BYOD policy is the lack of control you’ll have as a business owner when staff begin to mix personal and corporate resources.

You won’t have the same level of oversight and access to a personal device as you would a company device. This means there is a higher potential risk of:

• Accidental data loss
• Exposure to malicious software or threats
• Outdated or unsupported devices
• Theft, loss, or damage of devices
• Infected devices

Just make sure you have a well planned-out BYOB policy as part of your overall security strategy.

What are the different types of business phone number?

Here’s a simple breakdown of the top five most common types of business phone number in the UK.

What are specialist phone numbers used for?

While the above are the most popular business phone number options, there are also specialist ones that are used for niche purposes such as:

1. Premium rate numbers (09)
   Callers pay for the call at a premium rate, costing up to £3.60 per minute plus an additional 5p to £6 per phone call. Because some of this revenue comes to you, these numbers are generally reserved for calls you’d want to make money from such as chatlines and phone-in competitions. 🚨 Premium rate numbers also have strict user guidelines. As of February 2025, Ofcom assumed responsibility for this from the Phone-Paid Services Authority (PSA), so be sure to enquire directly with Ofcom if you’re considering using premium rate numbers. 
2. Personal numbering (070)
   Known as follow me numbers, these are virtual business phone numbers that can be routed across the world, with calls being automatically forwarded to the line that’s most likely to be active. You can choose which phone lines each call is forwarded to by setting up a series of priorities determining which staff are most likely to be at their phones at certain times.
3. Vanity or customer phone number
   These use recognizable patterns of numbers or letters, generally to add novelty value and memorability. They can be freephone, local rate, or national rate numbers. These have generally fallen out of favour, as the majority of people use smartphones that can save numbers, making memorability unnecessary, and not all handsets have letters printed on the keys, meaning numbers based on words or a sequence of letters aren’t always helpful.

How do I get a business phone number?

Once you’ve decided on the type of phone number you need, you can get yourself a business phone number by signing up with a VoIP provider. Don’t worry, it’s quick and easy, and you can do it in just three steps.

Step 1. Choose your VoIP provider

Different providers have different plans and features suited to different businesses. You can jump over to our roundup of the best VoIP providers to help you choose the best one for you.

Once you’ve chosen your provider, you’ll need to sign up for the service.

Step 2. Choose your number

Many VoIP providers let you choose your own number. But don’t get overwhelmed by choice, as they can assign one randomly to you if you’d prefer.

Step 3. Set up your system

This will primarily involve setting up an auto-attendant (a feature your VoIP software should come with) to route your incoming calls so callers can be taken to the right team member. That way, when your customers call, they will be given options for what they need: “Press one for sales,” and so on.

You’ll also need to set up extensions for your employees. This can help customers and clients reach specific people faster, and helps your employees route calls to each other much more efficiently.

Always be sure to test your phone system first to make sure it’s working properly, and the call quality is up to par.

Now you should be good to go!

What features should I look for in a VoIP provider?

When selecting your VoIP provider, you’ll need to assess the calling features it comes with and the communication channels you’ll need, as well as your budget and the contract length you’re willing to sign up for.

Calling features

VoIP is generally cheaper and more reliable, and comes with more features than a traditional landline. Some of the basic features you should expect from your VoIP provider are:

• Customisable call greetings
• Voicemail
• Call queues
• Call forwarding

But you should also think about whether you’ll need any sophisticated features. For example, if you’re a sales team, you might need specialist training features like call barge and call whisper.

Communication channels

VoIP systems also often come with a range of communication methods beyond standard phone calling, such as:

• Native team chats
• Video conferencing for in-house staff and external clients
• The ability to send SMS updates to customers

Be sure to assess the range of communication channels available when choosing a provider, so you can choose one that supports your must-haves.

Prices and contract lengths

You should, of course, compare the prices that VoIP providers charge. Having clarified which features and channels you want, you now know which packages to be looking at. Look out for providers that charge less for all the features you need.

Also consider how long you want to sign up for. While some VoIP providers offer rolling contracts, the industry standard is either 12 or 24 months.

While it can be tempting to go for a longer contract with a cheaper monthly rate, consider how long you’re comfortable being locked in for. If this is your first system, you might want to opt for a shorter contract so you can feel it out before committing for longer.

How can I get a FREE business phone number?

At the moment, there are only a handful of providers on the market that offer a free UK business phone number, with Number People being one of the best known options for this.

Just keep in mind that these options can be extremely limited. Many ‘free’ providers make up for their low cost by charging extra rates, such as for forwarding your calls to either a mobile or a landline.

For most small businesses, we’d recommend going with a paid plan. There are some extremely affordable low cost options, such as bOnline, whose prices start from just £7 per user, per month.

Read next: jump over to our dedicated article on VoIP system costs to find out how much you should be paying.