How to get a UK phone number for your business
If you’re starting a business or want to look more established, one of the first things you’ll need is a UK phone number.
The good news is you don’t need a physical office, special hardware, or a long contract to get one.
Today, most businesses choose a virtual UK phone number. It gives you a professional presence, works anywhere, and can be live in minutes.
Below, we’ll explain how to get a UK phone number, the types available, what it costs, and how businesses use SwitchboardFREE to get set up quickly.
What is a virtual phone number?
A virtual phone number is a landline-style number that works via the internet, that customers can call even if you don’t have a physical office.
Instead of being tied to a single desk phone, calls can be:
- Routed to your mobile
- Sent to multiple team members
- Queued professionally
- Answered wherever you’re working
This is what allows modern businesses to appear established without expensive phone systems.
Types of UK phone numbers you can get
With SwitchboardFREE, businesses can choose from several UK number types depending on how they want to present themselves.
01 & 02 geographic numbers
These are linked to UK towns and cities, and each area in the UK has it’s own area code. These types of number are best for:
- Local businesses
- Trades and services
- Companies wanting a strong local presence
03 non-geographic numbers
These are national UK numbers not tied to a location.
They’re a popular alternative to freephone numbers because they’re cheaper to run, while still giving you a national presence. Importantly, calls to 03 numbers are treated the same as standard UK landlines, so they’re usually included in call plans that cover UK landlines and mobiles. These types of number are best for:
- Companies that operate nationwide
- Companies wanting a strong national presence
0800 & 0808 freephone numbers
Freephone numbers are free for customers to call – because the business pays for the calls instead.
That makes them great for removing call barriers, but they can be more expensive to own and run compared to other UK number types. These types of number are best for:
- Sales and customer support lines
- Businesses that want to remove call cost friction
- Companies wanting a strong national presence
084 numbers
084 numbers are often used for information or service lines, but they come with important considerations.
Calls to 084 numbers usually cost more than standard landlines, and callers may incur additional charges, especially from mobiles. Because of this, they can be unpopular with customers.
It’s also important to note that traders and public bodies are not allowed to use 084 numbers for customer service or complaint lines. By law, these must use a basic rate number, such as 01, 02, or 03, so customers are not charged extra to get help.
Best for:
- Non-customer-service information lines
- Businesses that understand the regulatory limits and call cost implications
| Number type | What it is | Cost to caller | Cost to business | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 / 02 (geographic) | Local UK landline numbers tied to a specific area | Standard landline rates (often included in call plans) | Low monthly cost | Local businesses and regional presence |
| 03 (non-geographic) | UK-wide numbers not tied to a location | Treated as a standard landline and usually included in call plans | Low monthly cost | National businesses wanting a professional image |
| 0800 / 0808 (freephone) | Free for callers from UK landlines and mobiles | Free | Higher, as the business pays for inbound calls | Sales and customer support lines |
| 084 | Service and information numbers | Higher than standard landlines; extra charges may apply | Varies | Non-customer-service information lines |
How to get a UK phone number in minutes
Getting a UK phone number is much simpler than most people expect. Here’s how it works with SwitchboardFREE:
1. Choose your UK number
Pick the number type that suits your business. You can select a local, national, or freephone number depending on your goals.
2. Choose your plan
With SwitchboardFREE, UK business numbers start from £5 per month + VAT. This gives you a professional UK phone number, over 40 features included for free and the flexibility to change things as your business grows. You only pay for what you need, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of any size.
3. Set up your call routing
Decide what happens when someone calls:
- Ring your mobile or our app
- Ring multiple phones at once
- Send callers into a queue
- Add a professional greeting
You control everything through an online dashboard.
4. Go live
Once your routing is set, your number is live. There’s no engineer visit and no specialist hardware required. Your business number can be up and running within minutes.
Getting started with SwitchboardFREE
If you’re looking for a fast, affordable way to get a UK business phone number, SwitchboardFREE makes it straightforward.
You choose your number, set up your call handling, and go live – all without long contracts or complicated setup.
Get your UK phone number live today and start sounding like a bigger business from the very first call.