Hello ~
I'm in the early stages of starting a Professional Organizing business. I'm wondering what you all do about having a separate phone number. If I have a separate cell phone that I use just for my business do I need to open it as a small business account? I don't want to incur any unnecessary fees, so if I can just have a separate number (and do it ethically) then I'm assuming that would be my least expensive alternative. Apologies if this is a silly question! Denise

Hi Denise- Welcome to the forum!

So, if I have this straight, what you want to know is if you can use any number (cell or home) as a business number or if you have to BUY a business line?

Anybody have an idea?

I have one phone - my cell. No more land line. I do pay it from my business account but on my taxes I probably can't claim it 100% (I am a sole proprietor)

When I answer it, if I don't recognize the #, I just say "This is Diane". Some day I'll change my vm to include my business name.

I have a regular individual plan, the biz plan was the same price.

Hi Denise,
I also have no landline, and use my personal cell phone for business. My business pays for the cell phone bill. My husband does our taxes, so I'm not sure how much of it is deductable. It may vary state to state, depending on their business laws.

During normal business hours I usually answer the phone with my business greeting - unless it's my mom or some other number I recognize from my personal life. My voicemail is always set with my business greeting. Everyone in my personal life knows what I do, so they can deal.

If you are interested in using a phone number that isn't your personal number, you might look into Google Voice. Google can assign you with a phone number that will ring to your phone. When your phone rings, you will be able to tell which number is being called - personal or Google - so you can answer accordingly.

Google Voice is available by invitation only. But you can request an invitation. It might take a couple of weeks to get through the whole process. Just search the term "google voice", and you should be able to find information on it pretty easily.

You can use one number as both business and personal. My parents own a service-type business and have done this for years with the land line. The answering machine has both our name and the business name in the message.

The downside to doing that was that we couldn't get a yellow pages listing without paying for a separate business line. We probably lost some business not being in the yellow pages and having the business name in the white pages, but being in a rural area, just couldn't envision getting enough extra business to be worth the expense of a business line.

I do not know how it works with cell phone plans.

I just simply don't think people turn to the Yellow Pages anymore. Do you use them? I am at my computer and I google what I want. I would NEVER be without a website but I see no reason to have a phone book ad.

I found one on my front walk the other day (that's where they throw the new ones) and I put it right in the trash. I honestly haven't used one in years. I'm sure some still do but...

Your responses were so helpful! I currently have a landline and a personal cell phone. I would like to just use my cell as my business phone, as the added expense of a business line just doesn't seem like it would make sense. I figure I can use customized ringtones for people in my contact list to assist with caller id. If my contact list (on my phone) is kept fairly current it shouldn't be a problem. My landline is rarely used, and we've considered getting rid of it, though we have a great rate and it is nice in a power outage as we still have a corded phone in the basement.
Again - many thanks!
denise

That Google Voice idea is fantastic Teri! I do not have a landline either, and use my cell for both business & personal. I wonder if you could get a Yellow Pages listing if you have a Google Voice number... One benefit to having a Yellow Pages listing is that it is published online as well & one extra link tied to your business.

I only have a cell phone, and it's my personal and business. I have had no problems doing this, I just changed my voicemail to include my business name. I also make more of an effort to answer any call in a more professional manner (if I don't recognize the number) and be prepared for it to be a prospect!