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How to get a business phone number, free or paid

The short answer

The fastest way to get a business phone number is an app that adds a second number to your cell. Google Voice lists a free plan, but labels it for personal use; its paid plans start at $10 a month. Quo starts at $15 per user billed annually, and Ooma at $19.95 per user plus a $29.95 activation fee. Most let you pick a local area code.

You can have a separate business number on your cell within minutes. The harder part is choosing one you won’t have to change later, because that number ends up on your truck, your invoices and your Google profile.

Updated November 5, 2026. CoveDesk is one of the services on this page; other companies’ prices and features are from their own websites, linked below.

How to get one

  1. Decide what it needs to do. Just calls? Texts? More than one person answering?
  2. Pick a local or toll-free number. A local area code suits a business serving nearby customers.
  3. Choose a provider below and search for a number by city or area code.
  4. Register for business texting if you’ll text customers. US carriers require it, and some providers charge for it.
  5. Put the same number everywhere: your Google profile, website, truck and invoices.
  6. Plan for missed calls. Record a voicemail greeting, and decide who picks up while you’re working.

Where to get a business number

Business phone numbers, as listed by each company
ProviderPriceGetting the numberWorth knowing
Google VoiceBasic $0. Paid plans from $10 a monthSearch by city or area code in the appBasic is labeled for personal, consumer use. No 1-800 numbers.
QuoFrom $15 per user a month billed annually, $19 monthly“Set up a business number in minutes”Texting registration is a one-time $19.50, then $1.50 to $3 a month.
Ooma OfficeFrom $19.95 per user a monthLocal, toll-free or moved from elsewhereFirst number is free. One-time $29.95 activation fee.
RingCentral RingEXFrom $20 per user a month billed annually, $30 monthlyPart of the planCore includes 25 texts per user a month.

Is there a free business phone number?

The one free plan we found from these companies is Google Voice Basic. It needs a personal Gmail account and another phone number, and Google says it’s for personal, consumer use. Quo offers a 7-day trial, which is a test rather than a free number. Read our Google Voice guide before you print it on anything.

Do I need a business number at all?

There’s no rule that says so in most cases, but a separate number means you can see which calls are work, take a day off and sell the business later without giving up your cell number. If you’re keeping your cell for now, the same advice applies: choose how missed calls get handled.

Common questions

How do I get a business phone number for free?
Google Voice lists a $0 Basic plan, but it needs a personal Gmail account and another number, and Google labels it for personal, consumer use. Paid plans start at $10 a month.
Can I get a business number on my cell phone?
Yes. Apps such as Google Voice and Quo add a second number on your cell, so work calls and texts stay separate.
How do I get a phone number for my LLC?
The same way as any business. Pick a provider, choose a number and put it on your LLC’s website and Google profile.
Do I have to register to text customers?
US carriers require registration for business texting. Quo, for one, lists it as required on every plan, with a $19.50 one-time fee and $1.50 to $3 a month. Ask your provider how it works for yours.
Does a business phone system answer calls for me?
Mostly not. It gives you the number, the routing and the voicemail, and someone still has to pick up. Some companies sell call answering as an add-on, usually priced separately. If you’re the one on the job when it rings, look at who picks up, as well as what the number costs.

Sources

What this page says about other companies comes from their own websites, read on November 5, 2026:

Prices and terms change, so check each company’s website before you buy. Company names are the trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify their services; none of them is affiliated with or endorses CoveDesk. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

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