How to Get an 800 Number for Your Business in 3 Easy Steps
Corey McCraw is a staff writer covering VoIP and Unified Communications. Corey has over a decade of experience in marketing, tech writing, and corporate communications and has even penned content for the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
Marianne is a staff writer at Fit Small Business who covers business phone services, VoIP, and video conferencing tools.
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
There are three simple steps for learning how to get an 800 number: find a service provider, choose a prefix, and set up your account. Decide if you need a business phone system, a virtual phone number service, or a standalone toll-free phone number platform. These providers offer a single number for free or an option to purchase multiple phone numbers. In this article, we also explore the top 800 business number providers, their benefits, and other alternatives.
Step 1: Choose a Service Provider
For those who don’t have phone service yet, you’ll find companies like business phone systems and virtual phone providers that will help you set up an 800 phone number. Business phone systems like RingCentral include a free 800 number as part of their monthly subscriptions and let you purchase additional phone numbers. Virtual phone providers act as call forwarding services and let you add multiple toll-free business numbers to your subscription.
If you’re currently subscribed to a phone service, ask them if they offer toll-free numbers. You might get a better price deal if you’re an existing customer. If not, consider a standalone toll-free number provider that usually charges a flat, one-time fee to secure an 800 phone number. If you go with a third-party provider, port the number to your existing phone service.
Many voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) providers offer call management tools and integrations to make the most out of your subscription. Learn how to get an 800 business number from the top three VoIP services:
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*RingCentral and Nextiva offer discounts for annual billing and bulk purchases.
Click on each provider below to learn how to get an 800 number for your business.
RingCentral
All RingCentral plans come with one free 800 or local number. Upgrading to the Standard plan gives you the option to select toll-free numbers in more than 100 countries and route them to your business. Toll-free minutes range from 1,000 on the Standard package to 10,000 on the top-tier Ultimate plan. Additional minutes are at 3.9 cents per minute.
RingCentral charges $4.99 per month for an extra toll-free number. An additional $30 setup fee applies for true 1800 toll-free numbers and toll-free vanity phone numbers. International toll-free numbers cost $14.99 per user, monthly, plus a one-time fee of $25. Check out our RingCentral review to learn about the features that make this provider stand out.
Ooma
Ooma’s office phone plans include a local or 800 number for small businesses. Every toll-free number provided by Ooma comes with 500 minutes per month, and overages cost 3.4 cents per minute afterward. You can also choose from two toll-free calling plans: 1,500 extra minutes for $15 a month or 3,000 minutes for $30.
Ooma’s entry-tier plans cost less than Nextiva and RingCentral, making it a great choice for a solopreneur or small business. Learn more about its advanced calling and unified communications capabilities in our Ooma review.
Nextiva
A Nextiva subscription includes one local or toll-free number. It also provides the highest number of toll-free minutes on calling plans ranging from 1,500 on the Essential plan to 12,500 on the Enterprise tier. Nextiva also offers a toll-free fax number for online fax service without any usage fee.
Unlike Ooma and RingCentral, Nextiva’s per-minute fee is cheaper, costing 2.5 cents versus 3.9 cents with RingCentral and 3.4 cents with Ooma. Plus, all accounts include free number porting for existing 800/866/888 numbers. Chat with a Nextiva representative if you need an additional phone number. Learn more about Nextiva as a comprehensive VoIP provider in our Nextiva review.
Step 2: Pick a Toll-free Prefix
Once you’ve selected a provider, the next step is to choose the prefix for your business toll-free number. The most common prefixes include 800, 888, 833, 844, or 877, with 800 being the most popular. Note that toll-free numbers come on a first-come, first-served basis, which means there’s a chance the number you have in mind is already claimed by another business.
Take the time to search the provider’s toll-free number database and consider alternative prefixes. Providers like Ooma populate a list of available 800 phone numbers, whereas RingCentral lets you edit your number by picking a prefix and typing your chosen digits to see if they’re available. If you want something memorable, other providers allow custom 800 numbers (e.g., 1-800-FLOWERS), which involve number or word combinations.
Step 3: Set Up Your Account
Once you’re satisfied with your toll-free prefix and phone number, choose the pricing plan that best suits your business needs, then have your account set up. After this, you may now assign extensions from your new toll-free number to each of your employees or departments.
Who Needs a Toll-free Number?
Getting an 800 number is ideal for small businesses or startups wanting to establish a national presence. Instead of tying your brand to a specific area code, toll-free numbers project an image that a company is capable of serving customers across the country. If you plan on expanding into new areas, this type of number helps in boosting credibility and client engagement in new markets.
Toll-free numbers also benefit businesses wanting to track the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. Assigning 800 numbers to your website, billboard, or print ad makes it easy to associate which specific marketing channel a call came from.
Advantages of Having 800 Number
Toll-free services have provided potential customers with a free and convenient way to contact businesses, according to the Federal Communications Commission. They also positively affect every aspect of a company, including its marketing efforts, customer service, and brand credibility. Read below to explore its benefits for businesses:
Expand Your Business
Toll-free numbers are country-specific—they allow anyone within a country to call your business without being charged. This enables your local business to be perceived as a nationally recognized company. If you want to reach a global consumer base, RingCentral offers international toll-free numbers, allowing your customers worldwide to contact you.
Enhance Credibility
In a study by 800response, a provider of toll-free and vanity numbers, 58% of consumers say they prefer to call a toll-free number than a local one to reach a business. These numbers send a clear message to customers that a brand is large and established enough to have its own toll-free number.
Added Portability
Since toll-free numbers have no geographical restrictions, you’re able to answer business calls anywhere you go. In a business phone system, toll-free numbers are set up in a way that makes it easy to transfer calls to an internet protocol (IP) phone or personal phone. Even if you change providers, you can take your number with you via number porting.
Be Easily Remembered
According to Craig Stark, Ph.D., director of the University of California at Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, toll-free numbers lead to automatic associations, which make the numbers themselves difficult to forget. In this case, if customers are able to remember your business phone number, it’s easy for them to reach you anytime.
Track Marketing Campaigns
As mentioned earlier, toll-free numbers are an effective tool for tracking your marketing efforts. Attributing toll-free numbers to a specific marketing campaign allows you to measure its impact based on the number of incoming calls.
Alternatives to 800 Numbers
Other forms of virtual phone numbers like local, vanity, and international numbers also open countless opportunities to businesses with unique needs. Before picking a phone number, here are other popular options to consider:
Local Numbers
A local phone number is typically included free with your VoIP service. You choose a phone number with a local prefix from the region where your business is located. If you live in a small or rural area, you may prefer to pick a business phone number in a larger city. Likewise, it’s possible to expand to other sites by selecting local phone numbers in states where you want to reach a new market.
Vanity Numbers
Vanity phone numbers are custom phone numbers that typically spell out a memorable word or phrase. They work with a local area code or toll-free number prefixes. Some examples include 212-NY-PIZZA and 1-800-FLOWERS. Most businesses choose vanity numbers to generate brand awareness and make customers easily remember their contact numbers. A provider like Grasshopper lets you create a vanity number when you sign up for a plan.
International Numbers
If you’re expanding your business worldwide, international numbers help you establish a presence in other countries. RingCentral offers local and toll-free numbers in over 100 countries. This encourages foreign clients to call your business without worrying about expensive international charges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get an 800 number on my cell phone?
VoIP services let you forward incoming calls to an 800 phone number through your mobile phone or any connected device. Simply assign a number or extension to your toll-free number, and it automatically forwards them to your cell phone.
How much does an 800 number cost?
The cost of this type of phone number varies among providers. Many VoIP services include a free 800 business number with their business phone plan, costing $15 to $50 per user, monthly. Standalone toll-free number providers charge between $10 and $20 per user, per month.
How do I change my toll-free number?
Changing your number may vary greatly, depending on your current provider. The best way to go is to contact your provider and request a number change. However, make sure to have a good reason prepared in case they ask you why. They may also likely charge you an additional fee for a new toll-free number. A representative will then guide you through the process.
Bottom Line
An 800 business phone number is an excellent way to establish your national or global presence. It enhances your brand credibility, tracks your marketing performance, and makes your business more memorable. While getting a 1-800 number for your business is fairly easy, it’s important to take time to decide on the right provider for your specific needs.
If you’re interested in getting a toll-free number, our top recommendation is RingCentral. It provides domestic and toll-free numbers in more than 100 countries, along with plenty of business-friendly features, including a full-featured call management system and video conferencing tools. Check out your 800 number options and get started with a 14-day free trial.
