Category: Business tips

Key Takeaways

1. A dedicated company phone number is crucial to establishing credibility, conveying professionalism, separating personal and professional calls, and allowing for branding opportunities. 
2. There are various types of company phone numbers available, including landline numbers and mobile numbers. Each type serves specific purposes and offers unique advantages for businesses. 
3. Getting a company phone number can be done through phone service providers like BT or O2 for landline and mobile phone numbers… 
4. The most convenient way to obtain a company phone number is by signing up with a virtual business phone number provider.

It’s a common misconception that small businesses cannot establish a professional image to the level that a large corporation can. While bigger companies may have the resources more readily available to them, smaller companies are still able to enhance their professional image with a few tweaks. One of which is to invest in a company phone number.

Importance of a Company Phone Number

Having a dedicated company phone number plays a crucial role in enhancing the professional image of a business. It serves as a distinct point of contact for clients, customers, and other stakeholders, establishing a sense of credibility and reliability. A company phone number conveys professionalism and demonstrates that the business is committed to effective communication. 

It also helps in separating personal and professional calls, ensuring that important business inquiries are promptly attended to. A dedicated phone number also allows for branding opportunities, as it can be customised with a memorable and relevant combination of digits. By investing in a company phone number, businesses can significantly elevate their professional image, build trust with their target audience, and ultimately foster stronger relationships with customers and clients.

Types of Company Phone Numbers

There are various types of company phone numbers you can get: 

1. A landline number – these are numbers tied to a specific location. These numbers usually start with an area code associated with the location eg. landline numbers from London start with 020. Landline numbers help businesses to establish a local presence and can be advantageous for targeting customers in a particular region.
2. Toll-free numbers – also known as freephone numbers. These numbers allow callers to reach a business without incurring any calling fees eg. international charges. These numbers typically begin with 0800 or 0808 in the UK. Toll-free numbers encourage inquiries from customers due to the convenient nature of contacting these numbers.
3. A mobile number – mobile numbers are usually associated with individual and personal use however many small businesses are opting for mobile numbers in the earlier stages. They’re great for business owners and freelancers as it allows customers to directly contact a person from the business.
4. A ‘golden number’ – sometimes referred to as a ‘vanity number’ are phone numbers with a specific order of digits. This can be landline or mobile numbers. They are memorable, brand-building tools that make it easier for customers to remember and contact a business. 
5. International phone number – An international phone number allows businesses to establish a local presence in foreign markets. It enables customers from other countries to contact the business without incurring high international calling charges.
6. Virtual phone number – A virtual phone number operates over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. It allows businesses to have a phone number without being tied to a physical location. This allows teams to work remotely. Virtual numbers can be both a landline number or a mobile number. 

How to Obtain a Company Phone Number

There are various ways you can get a company phone number and the process is not as complicated as it may seem! There are both paid-for options and free options. However, we recommend finding a paid option that fits within your budget for business use as they are more reliable for long-term use. 

To get a landline, mobile number, or toll-free number, you’ll need to contact a phone service provider like BT or O2. They will be able to set you up with an account and provide you with a number. However, please note that BT Openreach (the company responsible for landline technology across the country) is shutting down landline services by 2025. Therefore many providers are no longer providing new landline phone numbers. You will also need to discuss with the provider if you are looking for a golden number and please note that golden numbers are often offered for an additional fee.

However, getting an international phone number may be more difficult. This involves researching and finding service providers in your chosen country, then contacting them to sign up. You may need to provide certain documents depending on the provider’s requirements. Bear in mind that the process will take longer to complete than obtaining a business phone number in the UK. It’s also worth noting that if you use an international phone number in the UK, you may incur roaming charges. 

The most convenient way to get a company phone number is from a virtual phone number provider. They’re able to provide you with the different types of company phone numbers depending on what you need. The process is also much quicker as, to set up your number you will usually only require a smartphone and internet connection to download the virtual phone number provider’s app. Signing up for a virtual phone number can be done by yourself on the provider’s website or if you require more specific features or a tailored package, you can get in touch with their sales teams. 

Enhancing your professional image with a Devyce business number

Devyce is the complete business communications system designed for SMEs. Get more than a business phone number. The Teams Management Portal is where you take control of your company-wide communications by viewing key metrics, setting up call forwarding, and managing the call activity of your employees. You can easily add or remove phone numbers from your company network, giving you full control and visibility over your business communications. 

Create a seamless customer-first experience by allowing your employees to stay connected, wherever they are. All you’ll need is a stable WiFi/data connection. Elevate your business communications with Devyce Teams today!

Key Takeaways

1. Many people choose to have a second phone number to separate their business and personal communications
2. Second phone numbers are also great for those who work/travel abroad a lot to avoid high international fees
3. There are various ways to get a second phone number, both paid for and free. These include mobile apps, dual SIM phones, eSIMs, and virtual phone numbers.  
4. Managing the use of multiple phone numbers can get tricky without some structure and guidelines in place
5. This post provides helpful tips for effectively managing multiple phone numbers, such as organising contacts and messages, setting up dedicated voicemails, establishing communication guidelines, etc. 

Why You May Need a Second Phone Number

There are various reasons why you may need a second phone number. These are some of the most common reasons:

1. Separating business and personal communications – small business owners, freelancers, and agency workers often use their personal phone numbers for business communications to save money. This can lead to confusion between personal and business calls/texts so it may be helpful to have a second phone number to handle work-related inquiries. 
2. Working/travelling abroad – individuals who often travel or work abroad for extended periods of time may find it easier to have a second phone number local to the country they frequently travel to. This is a cost-effective solution to avoid high international call charges. 
3. Privacy & security – when signing up for services or online shopping, you’re often required to provide a phone number. This is collected for delivery updates and then stored for marketing purposes. While these are malicious intentions, your personal information can sometimes end up in the wrong places, compromising your privacy and security. Therefore having a second number can prevent this from happening. 

There are many other reasons to get a second number and most working professionals will have a second phone number. The specific reasons can vary greatly based on individual preferences, circumstances, and the need for organisation or separation in different aspects of life. 

Methods to Obtain a Second Phone Number

If you’re in need of a second phone number, there are a number of ways to get a second phone number. Many options are paid for however, there are also some good free options too. Check out our previous blog post for great free options for obtaining a second phone number. Here we’ll go through the different ways you can get a second phone number and the advantages/disadvantages of each: 

• Through your current phone service provider

The easiest way to get a second phone number is to contact your current phone service provider and set up another phone number with them. This will require you to pay for two lines from them and you might wish to purchase another handset to use the new number or, if you already have another device on hand, you’ll only need to order a sim card. Phone service providers have two options: yearly contracts or pay-as-you-go service. You’ll need to evaluate which option is right for you depending on how you will be using the number.

Advantages: If you’re happy with their services already, you’ll be sure there won’t be any problems with the new line. This means you can quickly obtain a new phone number.

Disadvantages: Not the most cost-effective solution depending on how you wish to use the phone number eg. for business or temporary travel. It may require additional expenses eg. for a new handset. 

• Mobile apps

Several mobile apps offer second phone number services. These apps typically assign you a virtual phone number that can be used for calls and texts within the app. Some services will work by using an internet connection eg. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) while others may piggyback off your current provider’s minutes or texts available in your package. These apps may offer additional features like call recording or call forwarding. There are both paid-for and free options available for getting second phone numbers through apps. 

Advantages: There’s no need to purchase a second phone or sim card, making it convenient to use. 

Disadvantages: There are so many of these apps available it can be hard to find the right one for you. Furthermore, service quality can be poor for some of these apps as, typically they aren’t maintained well with regular updates. You’ll often have to pay for any upgrades to service eg. advanced calling features. This makes them a better option for short-term use. 

• Dual SIM or eSIM phones 

Dual SIM phones are those that have two sim card components. This allows you to have two phone numbers on the same phone and you can switch between them usually pretty easily in the device settings. eSIM phones are those that come with a SIM card embedded in the device. This allows the phone to host multiple phone numbers without the need for physical SIM cards.

Advantages: You’ll only need to purchase a second sim card and can easily switch between the two numbers for dual SIM phones. For eSIM phones you’ll only need to purchase subscriptions for a second phone number. 

Disadvantages: Phones are often tied to a certain phone service provider. This means you won’t be able to get a second phone number from a different provider, meaning this option may not be the most cost-effective solution and you’ll be limited in your options for second phone number providers. 

• Virtual Phone Numbers

Virtual phone numbers are slightly different from VoIP. While VoIP refers to the technology allowing you to make calls and texts over the internet, virtual phone numbers are ones that are not tied to any specific device/SIM card. The phone number is stored in a cloud network and you can access it through any compatible device device eg. mobile phone, laptop etc. This phone number can be used on a WiFi or data connection and often provides additional call functionalities such as call forwarding. 

Advantages: Works on your existing phone so there is no need to purchase a second device. Allows you to stay flexible as you can access the phone number wherever you are as long as you have a stable internet connection. You can also have multiple lines provided by a virtual phone number service.

Disadvantages: There are limited emergency services available when using virtual phone numbers. Sometimes emergency services may not recognise virtual numbers so calls to emergency numbers may not go through. 

There are various options for you to consider to get a second phone number. You should choose the best option for how you intend to use the second phone number as some options are better tailored for certain user types. For example, for business users, we’d recommend paying for a virtual phone number service to get reliable long-term usage with advanced calling features.

Tips for Managing Multiple Phone Numbers

So now that you have a second (or maybe even third number), how can you manage them well? 

If your solution involves purchasing another phone, it may be easier to manage multiple numbers as everything will be kept on separate phones. However, having multiple phone numbers on one device can be hard to stay on top of so here are some of our key tips to effectively manage multiple phone numbers: 

1. Keep your contacts organised – If you opt for apps to get a second phone number, check if there are in-app contacts (allowing you to separate personal and business contacts). Otherwise, you’ll need an effective system to differentiate between business and personal contacts. On iOS devices, you’re able to create contact lists which allows you to select the contacts you want to separate from others. You can find a helpful guide on how to do this on iphonelife’s website. For Android devices, check out this guide on Google’s support page. 
2. Organise your messages – When using apps for second numbers, often you’ll be able to message specific contacts using that number within the app. For both iOS and Android devices, there is currently no way to filter messages or organise them into groups/lists. In this case, you may consider saving certain contacts e.g. business contacts with the word ‘business’ at the end of their names (or something similar to this). This will help you differentiate between the different message threads.
3. Set up dedicated voicemails for each number – Be sure to set up a different voicemail greeting for your personal number and business number. This helps those calling your business number to be sure that they’ve called the right number if they aren’t able to get through to you.
4. Create communication guidelines – It’s important to have clear communication guidelines for how you conduct business communications vs. your personal communications. This includes setting boundaries as to when you can be contacted through your second phone number and you’ll need to make this clear on your business website or to your business contacts e.g. with follow-up thank you text messages. 
5. Use advanced calling features (if available) – features like call forwarding or routing are great for business use if you have multiple numbers. This allows you to direct incoming calls to the first available line. 
6. Create time blocks – if you are a business user, make sure to block out time when you will be concentrating on using the business number e.g. to make sales calls. Then during these times, set up ‘do not disturb’ on your personal or other phone numbers. This ensures you don’t get distracted when working with one number. 
7. Review your processes regularly – remember to assess your usage of multiple numbers regularly. This helps you to identify which numbers aren’t necessary any more so you can consider consolidating or discontinuing them. 

Managing multiple phone numbers can be made easier with the right strategies and tools. Whether you need a second number for business purposes, online shopping, or privacy protection, there are various options available. However, it’s important to consider the limitations and potential costs associated with second phone number services. Thorough research and understanding of terms and conditions are crucial to avoid unexpected charges.

Devyce for Multiple Lines

For business users seeking a reliable and feature-rich solution, investing in a virtual phone number provider like Devyce can provide advanced features, work-life balance, and transparent pricing. Devyce makes working with multiple numbers feel natural. You can easily switch between phone numbers on the app. You’re also able to colour code your different phone number. Each time you call from a specific phone number, the calling screen appears in the correct colour code you can be sure you’re calling from the right number. This helps you to stay organised in your business communications. 

Devyce Teams also provides you with access to a management portal where you can manage the activity of each phone number. Here you can quickly add/remove phone numbers from your network as well as listen to voicemail messages left for each phone number. The Teams Management portal helps you to stay organised when managing multiple phone numbers. 

Get in touch with our lovely team today to get your second business number and manage them like a pro with our all inclusive business number solution today! 

Setting up a business can be a complicated process, especially if you aren’t familiar with the inner workings of a business. We’ve compiled a list of 12 essential things to check off when you start your business, ensuring you get a smooth start to building your business. 

1. Business Idea

It goes without saying, you’ll need a solid business idea before you set up a business. There are endless possibilities to build on however it’s essential to consider the viability of your vision, whether there is a demand for it, and whether there is an opportunity to expand on it. It’s also important to consider whether the idea is something that aligns with your interests and knowledge/skillset. If you build on an idea you don’t fully believe in, your business will fall through very quickly. 

2. Business Plan

The next step will then be to draw up your business plan. This needs to be quite comprehensive and cover areas like short & long term goals, target market, competition scope, marketing strategy, financial projections, and operational details. These plans won’t be concrete and will almost definitely change as you embark on your journey. However, it’s essential to have a very clear idea of how your business will grow in the first year so you know where to start. 

3. Market Research

Once you’ve created a plan, you’ll need to do a lot of research into your chosen market. The research needs to be extensive as you’ll need to gather as much information as you can on your target audience, competitors, industry trends, and customer needs. Doing this research can be tedious as we know you’ll be excited to get started as soon as possible. However, it’s important to get a good grasp on the market to validate your idea, understand how to position your company in the market, and how to market your product.

4. Legal Structure

After doing the research, you’ll then need to determine the legal structure of your company. This can get quite confusing so we’d recommend consulting with a legal professional for this part if you can. Getting the legal structure right is important for the future of your company. While one option isn’t necessarily better than another, each one has its pros and cons that you’ll need to consider based on your needs. Check out this helpful guide to help determine which legal structure is right for your company. 

5. Register Your Business

This involves notifying the government of your business and getting your company incorporated by Companies House. You need to do this in order to have your company be legally recognised. It also ensures you will be paying the correct taxes at the right time.  You’ll be able to do this on the gov.uk site. The process is straightforward and should take under 24 hours to complete. Once registered, you’ll receive all the licenses needed to go ahead with building your business. 

6. Financing

Assess your short and long term needs, and options for financing. Often when starting a business the initial costs are covered by personal savings however it may be worthwhile looking into the options for financing such as loans or investments from trusted third parties, to get the ball rolling. It’s important to map out the financial plan in order to effectively manage start up costs, operating expenses and cash flow. If you don’t have a solid financial map in place, you risk mismanaging the finances which could lead to your business falling through. 

You should also set up a business bank account to separate your personal and business finances. This is important to set up as it will help you to keep track of your business expenses and budgets. Businesses may need a few accounts open so it may be helpful to consult with an accountant. 

7. Location and Infrastructure

Depending on the type of business you are creating, you’ll need to determine whether you want to stay online or whether you want physical locations such as office space or brick and mortar stores. You’ll need to factor in the time it will take to find the spaces you need them. If it’s office space, there are a number of options suitable for start ups: 

• Home office – best cost effective solution for very small teams
• Shared office spaces – lively spaces which would be good for networking and teams of up to 10 people
• Renting a full office – a more long term solution for larger or growing teams

You’ll have to carefully consider which of these options will work best for you alongside your financing as leases and permits can be a large burner of finances. When it comes to office space, you can always move around and change locations while you are growing the business. Therefore it may be best to start small. 

If you require a physical store, there are also a number of options available. Most people may straight away opt for renting out a store in a busy location however, it’s important to do the research into which location your target audience will likely be. You should also consider costs of leasing at the chosen location and any additional costs such as electricity, water etc. These costs can really add up so it requires careful consideration in your business plan.

8. Branding and Marketing

For the creatives out there, this is the fun part – determining your brand identity! You can have a lot of fun with this part and start thinking about how you want to approach your target audience. The research you’ve done on the market will be integral for this part. There are various ways you can approach branding and marketing:

• Doing it in house by yourself
• Working with a freelance marketing expert
• Hiring an inhouse marketing manager
• Working with a marketing agency

This will all depend on your finances and business goals so you’ll need to evaluate how each option fits into your plans to determine which is the best option for you. 

9. Staffing and Human Resources (HR)

Even if you aren’t planning to hire anyone in the short term, it’s important to factor this into your plans. You’ll need to determine the budgets you have for salaries and the HR procedures. Having this in place will make onboarding smoother both for you and your employees. Some HR procedures to determine are: hiring, training, payroll, compensation packages and legal compliance. The best way to do this is to research industry standards eg. if you are planning on hiring a sales development representative, look up the standard salary, benefits packages etc and compare it to your company’s capacity in order to determine what you are realistically able to offer. Once you’ve mapped this out, you can get to hiring your first staff!

10. Technology and Systems Set Up

You’ll need to determine the hardware and software needed to effectively run your business. This can be from computers/laptops to HR management software or your phone system. You can then begin investing in these products and setting them up. Some things we recommend considering are: 

• How will you be handling your business communications? Eg. phone, email etc
• What hardware or software will be essential to your employees/different departments of the business? Eg. laptops, phones
• Long term use of hardware/software – costs, how well it can scale with your business etc

11. Insurance

Assess the insurance needs of your business. You’ll need to factor in the general liability, property needs, professional liability, and workers’ compensation. The best way to go about this is to consult with an insurance expert to ensure you get the appropriate coverage for your industry. It will also help you to mitigate any potential risks in your industry. Once determined, look into choosing the right insurance company that aligns with your business needs and financial plan. 

12. Compliance and Regulations

The last pointer to consider is to thoroughly familiarise yourself with relevant laws, regulations, and compliance requirements specific to your industry. It’s important to ensure you adhere to taxation, licensing, data protection, and health and safety regulations. Otherwise this will create problems that can get complicated to resolve later, so it’s best to nail this part of your business right from the start. This is particularly important if you have physical stores as there will be various risks associated that you will need insurance to cover. 

After all this… you’re ready to go and introduce your product to the world! 

As you’ve probably figured out by now, setting up a business requires careful planning and consideration of various essential components. From developing a solid business idea and crafting a comprehensive business plan to conducting thorough market research and securing the necessary legal and financial foundations, each step plays a crucial role in building a successful venture. By making sure these key aspects are nailed in advanced, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the exciting journey of starting and growing your own business! 

How we can help you

As a small business ourselves, we’re passionate about sharing our knowledge we’ve picked up along the way, to help entrepreneurs on their journey to building their business. That’s why we created Devyce! We’ve learnt for ourselves the importance of flexibility, scalability and cost effectiveness when it comes to investing in the technical infrastructure for your business and created a virtual phone number perfectly suited to companies from startups to medium enterprises. If you’re ready to get onboard with the next generation phone system for your business, we’d love to introduce you to Devyce so, get in touch!