How to get a business landline number for your mobile

As a small business owner, juggling work and personal commitments while maintaining a professional image and creating boundaries is no mean feat.

But there is one simple step you can take that helps with all of the above: getting a business landline number on your personal mobile.

There are a few different ways to do this, and it’s amazing how transformative it is to be able to switch between business and personal calls on one device.

This practical guide explains how to set up a business landline number that works on your mobile in just a few steps.

What is a business landline number for a mobile?

A business landline number for your mobile, sometimes called a pocket landline, is a cloud-based virtual number that allows you to receive work calls on your personal mobile.

Essentially, you can run both a fixed-line number with a local (01/02) or national (0330) prefix alongside your mobile number on a single device. Virtual landline providers offer useful features such as call routing, auto-attendant, and voicemail-to-email, which make it easier to maintain a professional image.

Why use a business number on your mobile?

The key benefits of a business number on your mobile are:

• Maintains credibility – a dedicated business number makes your company look more professional and established from the first call or message, whereas using a mobile number as your primary business line could give the impression that you’re still in the early stages of setting up.
• Builds trust with customers – customers are more likely to answer, reply, and engage when they can clearly see they are contacting a legitimate business, especially if you use a local landline number.
• Other useful features – business mobile number services include features like call routing, voicemail, auto replies, and business hours settings. These can save you time and enhance your credibility.
• More flexibility – you can manage business calls and messages from your mobile wherever you are, without being tied to a desk or landline.
• Improved work-life balance – a separate business number helps you manage calls and messages without interfering with your personal life.
• Stay organised – it’s easier to track customer conversations, missed calls, and business enquiries when they all come through one dedicated number.
• Easier to scale – as your business grows, you can route business calls to multiple devices or team members.
• Greater privacy – a business number lets you protect your personal mobile number while still staying accessible to customers.

Ways to get a business landline number

There are three main ways to get a business landline number on your mobile. Here’s how each option works.

Using a virtual landline service

A virtual landline service allows you to operate a business landline number without needing a physical phone line installed on your premises. You can choose a local, national or freephone number, and any calls made to that number are automatically forwarded to your mobile – whether you’re on the go or in your home office.

Using VoIP apps

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps let you make and receive business calls over the internet rather than through a traditional phone line. You can answer calls using an app on your smartphone or any other internet-enabled device, and make use of features like call forwarding, auto-attendant, video conferencing, and analytics to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Using call forwarding from an existing line

If you already have a traditional landline, you can usually set up call forwarding, meaning incoming calls are redirected to your mobile number. This allows you to keep using your existing business number while making sure you don’t miss calls when you are away from the office.

Step-by-step: how to set it up

The great thing about a virtual landline is that it’s very easy to set up. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be ready to answer business calls on your personal device in no time at all. 

1. Choose a provider – start by comparing virtual landline providers based on pricing, features, reliability, and support. Ensure the provider offers the features that are important to your business at a price that’s within your budget. That could be voicemail, call forwarding, business hours settings, or the option to add more users later on.
2. Select your business number – as long as it’s available, most providers allow you to pick any memorable local or national number. For example, you might choose a local number to give your business a presence in a specific region, or a national number if you want a broader reach. Or you could increase your sales with a freephone number, which allows customers to call you for free. Memorable is the key word here – repeated (22 22) or sequential (12345) digits can be especially effective when marketing your business.
3. Set up your account – create your account and add the basic details for your business. Depending on the provider, you may also be able to set preferences such as when calls should come through, where they should be routed, and how voicemail should be handled.
4. Connect your mobile number – link your personal mobile number to the service, so incoming calls to your business number can be forwarded straight to your device. This is the key step that allows you to take business calls on your mobile without sharing your personal number.
5. Configure your call settings – adjust the features to suit the way you work. For example, you might want to set business hours, record a professional voicemail greeting, enable missed call notifications, or route calls differently depending on the time of day.
6. Update your business details – don’t forget to add your new number to your website, Google Business Profile, social media pages, email signature, and any marketing materials so customers know how to reach you.

How much does it cost?

It costs anything from £4.50 to £15 per month to host a business landline on your mobile, depending on the provider, your plan, the type of number and features you choose, and whether you pay monthly or annually (many providers offer a discount for paying an annual fee up front).

A sole trader may just want an entry-level plan with a UK local number, an app to answer calls and simple features like voicemail-to-email – Virtual Landline’s Starter package (£4.50 per month) is a great example of this kind of simple, affordable plan. A larger business may need minutes included in the plan for calling customer mobiles, a national landline number, and more advanced features like business hours and time-based routing.

You may also be charged for out-of-bundle calls (anything from 2p to 5p per minute), add-on features, or for call forwarding.

Get a quote

Features you need

At a minimum, a business phone setup should include features that help you look professional, stay organised, and avoid missing important calls.

• Voicemail – if you can’t answer a call, your customers should still be able to leave a message rather than hitting a brick wall. A voicemail greeting can also reassure callers that they have reached the right business.
• Call routing or forwarding – your business number should be able to send calls straight to your mobile or another chosen device. This makes it possible to stay reachable without needing to sit at a desk.
• Business hours settings – being able to control when calls come through is important for setting boundaries and managing your customers’ expectations. It also helps you offer a more consistent experience outside working hours.
• Missed call notifications – a good system should make it easy to see when someone has tried to contact you, so you can return calls quickly and avoid losing enquiries.

Pros and cons of having a business landline number on your mobile

Though the pros outweigh the cons, it’s worth taking everything into account. Here’s a snapshot of the advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Creates boundaries – a landline number implies that it’s only in use during your business hours, where a mobile number can give an ‘open all hours’ impression.
• One number, less hassle – it’s easier to divert calls to different parts of the business with a landline number.
• Keep operating in an emergency – if your mobile is lost or stolen, you can direct calls to another handset so that you don’t risk losing customers.
• A stronger and more consistent brand – You only need one phone number across all of your marketing and branding.

Cons

• Lack of clarity between business and personal – with some providers, it might not be obvious if you’re receiving a personal or work call to your mobile during the working day. Look out for a provider that specifies which type of call it is. For example, Virtual Landline will tell you when the call is coming in for your business.
• Greater costs – Even though a business landline number is more expensive than using your mobile number, it can cost as little as a cup of coffee (£4.50) per month.
  It’s best to be on the lookout for introductory rates, where the price shoots up once the initial period is over. Flat, transparent pricing could be the better way to go. Virtual Landline offers this, and you can cancel at any time. Be vigilant with extra costs as well, such as fees to divert calls. With Virtual Landline, there are no divert charges for calls received on the app or VOIP phone or through the Buzz Box.
• Setup difficulties – Configuration issues can lead to confusion e.g. using your personal voicemail for business calls by accident. That’s why it’s worth checking out customer reviews before you sign up. To save yourself unnecessary hassle, some providers have an onboarding team – make good use of them.

Final thoughts

A virtual landline is one of the simplest ways to give your business a more professional presence while keeping the flexibility of using your mobile. It helps you separate personal and business calls, stay reachable wherever you are, and access useful features such as voicemail, call routing, and business hours settings.

For businesses looking for an easy, cost-effective way to get started, Virtual Landline is a fantastic option. Its straightforward service is designed to help you manage business calls on your mobile without unnecessary complexity, with plans starting from as little as £4.50 per month.

Read more

5 business benefits of investing in virtual landline numbers – The internet had truly helped define the term globalisation. Businesses of today aren’t restricted to a geographic boundary

Top 5 virtual landline providers for small businesses – You may already be aware that traditional landlines will be no more from January 31, 2027. Perhaps you’ve been shopping around for virtual landline providers already and feel overwhelmed by the features on a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system. That’s where a virtual landline could come in handy

The 6 best VOIP providers for small businesses – We’ve compared the competition to bring you our pick of the 6 best VoIP providers for small businesses – complete with features and pricing