It’s quite simple: businesses need business mobile phones. When you get a call or text on that number, you know that it’s about business. It prepares you to answer the call appropriately. That’s why, among the many reasons to have a business mobile phone, the most important one is that it makes you look professional.

The advantages of a business mobile phone

Immediate engagement: An email involves several steps and it may take some time for you to notice them. But a dedicated number makes it easy and immediate.

Separation of personal and professional: It ensures that your personal calls and messages don’t get mixed with your business calls.

Customer queries: They can call that number to book appointments, discuss their orders and to learn more about your products or services.

Privacy protection: Unlike your personal number, you can share your business number without worrying about privacy.

Customer support: Customers will be able to contact you via your business mobile phone instead of publicly stating their grievances online.

Selecting a good business phone begins with an understanding of the different types out there.

The different types of business phones

Traditional: The landlines, set up and operated by regional phone companies, run on analog systems. If you get a landline, you need Private Branch Exchange (PBX) hardware to generate extensions.

Do you need it?: If yours is a traditional company, you can have it along with other systems. But as a small business or startup, there are better options.

Cloud-based: Unlike the traditional landlines, cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems work over the internet. The hardware is usually placed offsite. They’re extremely cost-efficient and don’t require experts to set up or maintain.

Do you need it?: If yours is a small business that doesn’t have an IT team, this could be the right option for you.

VoIP: VoIP systems use the same internet connection that your business may use. They bring added features to small businesses that were only available to large companies earlier. These include voicemail to email, call queuing and accessibility for remotely placed employees.

Do you need it?: If your business is in the early growth stage and handles several calls in a day, a VoIP system is ideal for you.

How to choose the right phone for your business

Your choice of a business mobile phone will eventually come down to five factors. These will vary from business to business and the stage of growth.

The number of locations: If you have several branches, a traditional landline, although reliable, might prove to be expensive.

Staff needs: How many people work for your business? Do they all operate out of the same location? If it’s the same location and you don’t need any advanced features, a traditional landline could be the answer. But if they spend time outside the office or are remotely placed, you should look at VoIP solutions.

Features: If you need extra features like call queuing or forwarding but within a limited budget, you can opt for VoIP solutions. If your staff would need access to voicemail, these systems would be of considerable help.

Budget: You shouldn’t spend more than you need on either hardware or software. The cloud-based systems will require you to pay for the phones. These may range from £35 to upwards of £400.

Ease of installation and maintenance: With cloud-based systems, you can get it going without any IT help.

But do you really need a business phone?

Here’s why you might not need a business phone and should get a second phone number for business instead. With a second-line app, you can get a dedicated business number without having to buy a second device.

You also get value-added features like auto-reply texts for missed calls and voice response, all within an exceptionally reasonable monthly subscription fee. Moreover, it’s effortless to set up and only takes a few minutes.

In short

A business mobile phone is your customer support and acquisition tool. It tells your clients and customers that you’re professional and you value their efforts to get in touch with you. But with a second-line app, you get a bundle of extra features without the need for a second phone.