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Why give your LLC its own number
- Privacy. The number on your invoices, website, Google profile and state filings gets copied everywhere. Keep your personal cell out of it.
- Separation. Business calls, texts and voicemail stay apart from personal ones — the same logic as a separate bank account.
- Continuity. A business number can move to an employee, a receptionist or a buyer if you sell.
- Credibility. Banks, lenders and directories often check that a business has a listed phone number.
Your options compared
| Option | Typical cost | Good for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your personal cell | $0 | Day one, very low call volume | Your personal number ends up on invoices, Google and public listings; no separation when you sell or hire |
| Virtual business number (app) | From ~$14–$15/month | Solo owners and small teams: local or toll-free number, calls and texts in an app on your existing phone | Business texting needs carrier registration; international calls cost extra |
| Virtual receptionist | From $250–$300/month | Service businesses that lose jobs when they miss calls | Priced per call or per minute — costs grow with volume |
| Traditional business line / VoIP desk phones | Varies | Offices with desk phones | Hardware, contracts and installation |
Virtual business phone numbers
A virtual number is a local or toll-free number that works through an app on your existing phone and computer. Calls, texts and voicemail stay separate from your personal line, and most services let you bring (port) a number you already use.
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
From $15/user/mo (annual)
- Local or toll-free number included per user
- Unlimited US/Canada calls and texts
- Port your existing number free; 7-day trial
Watch out: Business texting requires a one-time $19.50 carrier registration plus $1.50–$3 a month
Grasshopper
From $14/mo
- Virtual business number on your existing cell phone
- Plans from $14 a month
- US and Canada
Watch out: Service and sign-up only available in the USA and Canada — not for owners living abroad
Virtual receptionists
If missed calls cost you jobs — contractors, law and accounting practices, clinics — a live receptionist service answers in your business name, screens calls, takes messages and can book appointments. Pricing is per call or per minute, so estimate your monthly volume first.
Smith.ai
From $300/mo (30 calls)
- Live receptionists answer, screen and transfer calls
- Month-to-month, no setup fees
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Watch out: Priced per call — $11.50 per extra call on the Starter plan
Ruby
From $250/mo (50 min)
- Live receptionists, priced by minutes used
- No setup or onboarding fees
- Local or toll-free number hosting
Watch out: Plans differ only in minutes — estimate your call volume first
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Verified October 19, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
How to set it up
- Pick a local or toll-free number. Local numbers suit businesses that serve one area; toll-free suits national or online businesses.
- Register for business texting if you’ll text customers — US carriers require it, and providers charge a small fee.
- Use the number everywhere your business appears: website, invoices, Google Business Profile, bank and state filings that ask for a phone.
- Set business hours, voicemail and call forwarding so calls after hours go to voicemail or a receptionist.
- Pair it with a business address and email. See virtual addresses and a website and email for your LLC.
Frequently asked questions
Does an LLC need its own phone number?
No state requires one, but a separate number keeps your personal cell off invoices, websites and public listings, makes the business look established, and lets you hand the number to an employee or buyer later.
Can I get a business number without a second phone?
Yes. Virtual phone services give you a local or toll-free number that rings in an app on the phone you already have, with separate calls, texts and voicemail.
How much does a business phone number cost?
Virtual numbers start around $14–$15 a month: Grasshopper advertises plans from $14 a month and Quo’s Starter plan is $15 per user a month billed annually ($19 monthly).
Can I keep my existing number?
Usually. Quo and Smith.ai both let you port an existing number at no charge.
Why does business texting cost extra?
US carriers require businesses that text customers to register (10DLC). Quo, for example, charges a one-time $19.50 carrier review fee plus $1.50–$3 a month.
Can I get a US business number if I live outside the US?
Some providers serve owners abroad; Grasshopper says it is available only in the USA and Canada. Check each provider’s sign-up requirements before you pay.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.