How to Buy Custom Business Phone Numbers: A Complete Guide
Many companies choose to buy custom business phone numbers because a memorable business number improves brand recognition and credibility. Also known as vanity phone numbers, if you aren’t sure how to get a custom phone number for your business, we’re here to help! In this article, we explain:
- The types of custom business phone numbers available
- Can you create custom phone numbers or reserve specific phone numbers
- The best ways to search for custom phone numbers
- How much custom business numbers cost
- The best places to buy a custom phone number
Types of custom phone numbers
The two most common types of custom business phone numbers are:
Custom Toll Free Numbers
- Easily recognized by their 800 dial-codes
- Custom toll free numbers allow your customers to call you without being charged
- Only callers within that country can dial your 800 number
- Custom 800 numbers give your business a more professional appearance
- Also known as toll free vanity numbers
Great examples include: 1-800-WOW-CPAP and 1-888-JOE-N-PIE.
Custom Local Phone Numbers
- Local phone numbers have city-specific dialing codes
- Your customer is only charged a local rate for the call, no matter where you forward it
- International callers can successfully dial your local business number
- In many countries, custom local numbers are a more affordable option than 800 numbers
- Custom local phone numbers give your business a more personal presence in specific cities.
Some countries have a third option called “shared cost” numbers. These are custom business phone numbers that look like toll free numbers, but work the same way as local business numbers. Common examples include 1300 numbers in Australia and 03 numbers in the UK.
What are the best ways to search for custom phone numbers?
Many companies have a tool that allows you to search for specific phone numbers online. However, these tools only search for custom phone numbers in their inventory. Since you cannot search all available business numbers at once, it is a good idea to start with companies that carry the biggest inventories. AVOXI has the largest inventory of custom business numbers in over 160 countries. Other companies with a large inventory include:
- US & Canada:
- Phone.com
- Kall8
- VirtualPhone.com
- UK:
- Telecoms World
- Virtual Landline
- Australia:
- Optus
- Alltel
- eVoice
- International:
- Sonetel
- M800
- TollFreeForwarding.com
- GlobalCallForwarding.com
Cost of custom phone numbers
The charges associated with your custom phone number will generally include:
- Set-up Fees: Set-up fees range from $0 - $100. Fortunately, most providers do not charge an extra fee for reserving a custom phone number.
- Subscription Costs: Some companies charge a "one-time activation fee," which can range anywhere from $9.99 - $40. AVOXI does not charge any subscription or activation fees.
- Per-Minute Costs: Most companies will charge you a rate for every additional minute that you use over your existing plan. The more minutes in your plan, the lower your per-minute costs.
Most importantly, the cost of your custom phone number depends on the provider you choose.
Best places to get custom phone numbers
- Plans starting as low as $29/mo
- Toll free and local custom phone numbers available
- Get a 10% discount on any service plan when you choose to pay annually rather than monthly
- All plans include standard business features, like: call forwarding, voicemail, and usage reports
- Popular for entrepreneurs and startups with 1-10 people in the US and Canada
- Plans starting as low as $12.99/mo
- Toll free and local custom phone numbers available
- International numbers from select countries available from $4.99 - $12.99
- Get a 25% discount on any service plan when you choose to pay annually
- Plans include standard business features as well as add-on features, like: call recording and video conferencing
- Plans starting as low as $7.99/mo
- Toll free and local custom phone numbers available
- International numbers from over 160 countries and over 2,500 cities
- SMS capabilities in select countries
- Plans include over 20 advanced business features, as well as features with upgradable capabilities
- No contracts or set-up fees required
Ready to get a custom business phone number?
Interested in getting a custom business phone number from AVOXI? Buy custom phone numbers online or contact us for help searching for a memorable phone number. If you don’t see the specific phone number you’re looking for online, let us know! If we don’t already have it in our inventory, we can get new custom phone numbers in 48 hours or less.
Buy Online
Purchase custom business numbers online. Afterward, an AVOXI specialist will contact you and ensure your settings are working according to your preferences.
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