The simplest way to get a second phone number for business in the UK is a virtual number: a real UK number that rings your existing phone through an app or call forwarding, so you do not need a second handset or SIM. The other options are a second SIM or eSIM, a separate business mobile, a cloud phone system and a landline. The right one depends on whether you need to send texts, show a local area code and avoid carrying two phones.
This guide compares the five options side by side, explains how to call customers back from the business number, covers the tax position for sole traders, and shows how to set the number up so it does not become one more phone that goes unanswered.
Why get a second phone number for business?
- Privacy. Your personal mobile stays off your van, your website and your Google listing.
- A professional image. A dedicated line, with a proper greeting, looks more established than a personal number.
- Work stays at work. You can silence the business line in the evening without missing family calls.
- Tracking. A different number for your website, your adverts and your vehicle tells you where enquiries come from.
- A number that belongs to the business. If you change phone or hire someone, the business number can move with the job.
The 5 options compared
| Option | Typical cost | Can it send texts? | Second phone needed? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual number | About £1 to £10 a month | Usually, with a 07 number | No | Sole traders who want a separate line without a second phone |
| Second SIM or eSIM | A SIM-only plan, from a few pounds to about £15 a month | Yes | No, but the phone must support two lines | Owners who want a genuine mobile line on one handset |
| Second handset | Phone cost plus a monthly plan | Yes | Yes | People who want to switch work off at the end of the day |
| Cloud phone system | Usually per user, per month | Varies by plan | No | Teams that share and route calls |
| Landline | Line rental plus calls | Rarely | A desk phone | Shops, offices and premises with a desk |
Prices vary by provider and change often, so treat these ranges as a guide.
1. A virtual number
A virtual number is not tied to a SIM or a physical line. Calls are routed over the internet to your mobile, an app or a desk phone. It is usually the quickest and cheapest way to add a business line, and you can choose a local 01/02, a national 03 or a mobile 07 number. A 07 number can usually send and receive texts, which matters if you want to reply to customers in writing. Our guide on how to get a virtual phone number in the UK walks through the steps, the ID checks you may be asked for and the typical costs.
2. A second SIM or an eSIM
If your phone supports two lines, you can add a second SIM or an eSIM and keep both numbers on one handset. Most major UK networks support eSIM, so you can often set a line up in minutes without waiting for a card. Check what happens when you are on a call: on many phones, a call to the second line goes to voicemail while the first line is busy, unless you use Wi-Fi calling or a phone that handles both lines at once.
3. A second handset
A separate business phone gives the cleanest split between work and home, because you can leave it in the van or switch it off at six. The cost is a second device, a second plan and the risk of forgetting to carry it, which is exactly when calls get missed.
4. A cloud phone system
A cloud (VoIP) phone system gives you business numbers, call routing, opening hours and apps for several people. It is the right choice when a team shares calls, but the per-user monthly fees add up for one person working alone.
5. A landline
A traditional line gives you a local 01 or 02 number and a desk phone, which suits a shop or an office. It cannot go with you, it rarely sends texts, and many providers now sell the same thing as an internet-based line instead. Our business phone number guide explains the number ranges and how long it takes to move a number.
Calling customers back from your business number
This is the part people miss. When you ring a customer back from your normal phone app, they see your personal number, and the second number has achieved nothing. To show the business number you need to make the call from the line that belongs to the business: the second SIM, the eSIM line, the second handset or the app your provider supplies. Some providers let you pick which number to show on each call.
Decide this before you hand out the number. If your customers will save it in their phone and later see a different number calling them, they are more likely to ignore the call.
Can you claim a second phone number as a business expense?
Sole traders can usually claim the business share of their phone costs as an allowable expense. A line used only for the business can generally be claimed in full. A phone that you also use privately needs a sensible business-use percentage. Keep the bills, record how you work out the percentage, and check the details with your accountant or on GOV.UK, because the rules depend on how you are set up.
How to choose: a quick guide
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| want the cheapest, quickest second line and no second phone | A virtual number |
| want to text customers from the business number | A 07 virtual number, or a second SIM or eSIM |
| want a local area code to build trust on your patch | A 01/02 virtual number, after checking whether texts are included |
| need the line to be separate from your personal phone | A second handset |
| have staff who share the calls | A cloud phone system |
Set it up so it works from day one
Pick the number and the way you will call out. Decide which option you are using and how you will make calls that show the business number.
Record a greeting and set your hours. Say your business name and when you will call back. A generic voicemail makes a business look closed.
Test it from another network. Call from a phone on a different network and check it rings, the greeting plays and the caller sees the right number when you call back.
Put the number where customers look. Update your website, your van, your invoices and your Google Business Profile so that the number is the same everywhere.
Plan for the calls you cannot answer. Set unanswered calls to forward somewhere useful. Our guide on how to forward calls on any UK network shows the codes for each network.
A second number does not answer the phone for you
A second line gives you another place to be called, and another place to miss calls. If you are on a roof, under a sink or driving, the call still goes unanswered, and a caller who gets no reply usually rings the next business on the list.
The fix is an automatic text reply: when a call is missed, the caller receives a text within seconds asking what they need. That is what missed call text back does. TextBack Pro assigns a real +44 mobile number to your account when you sign up, included in the plan, and your own phone forwards unanswered calls to it. You can read more about the UK number included in your plan.
Add a UK number that texts every missed caller
TextBack Pro includes a dedicated UK mobile number and replies to missed calls within seconds, 24 hours a day. £47 a month, with a 14-day free trial.
Start your free 14-day trial →Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling back from your personal number. It defeats the purpose of the second line.
- Buying a number that cannot send texts when you wanted to text customers or register WhatsApp Business.
- Choosing 070, 084 or 087 numbers. They cost callers more and put customers off. The business phone number guide explains why.
- Forgetting the greeting and opening hours. A silent or generic line costs you the job.
- Relying on a second handset you do not carry. The call you miss is always the one that mattered.