An 800 number, also called a toll-free phone number, allows long-distance calling, with the recipient being charged for the call instead of the caller. Get one by choosing a service provider, picking a prefix, and creating an account. 800 numbers enable small businesses to project an image of a large, reputable company and make a great marketing tool since they’re easy to remember. Continue reading as we further explore the steps of how to get an 800 number.
Step 1: Choose a Service Provider
The first step in getting an 800 number is subscribing to a service provider, wherein you have two options: a standalone toll-free number solution or a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone system.
A standalone toll-free number solution is ideal for small teams that primarily need the 800 number and a few simple phone features like call forwarding and text messaging. Refer to the tabs below for some standalone toll-free number providers:
800.com allows businesses to customize their toll-free numbers, spelling out a word to form a unique phone number that can be used to increase brand recall. Aside from improving brand awareness, you may use the numbers for call tracking. This helps you understand which marketing campaigns work well and plan how to calibrate strategies moving forward.
To know more about this provider, read our comprehensive 800.com review. Its monthly pricing starts at $23 and includes one phone number.
Choose among the toll-free numbers available on 800.com. (Source: 800.com)
FreedomVoice has an extensive catalog of toll-free numbers. Each subscription plan includes calling minutes, allowing small businesses to save on communication costs. The highest-tier package is ideal for solopreneurs who frequently take and receive customer calls since it supports unlimited minutes. The provider’s entry-level plan costs $9.95 monthly and offers 400 minutes. Learn more about the provider in our FreedomVoice review.
Display your toll-free number in the caller ID when making calls on FreedomVoice. (Source: FreedomVoice)
NumberBarn features an easy-to-use tool for searching for available toll-free digits. Simply select your preferred toll-free prefix, and the platform will automatically generate a list of business phone numbers. To narrow down your search, filter according to industry category, number pattern, and pricing. Aside from 800 numbers, this vendor offers number porting and provides an option to park numbers in case you won’t use them for a specific period. Its Port Away plan is priced at $2 per number.
Type your preferred toll-free prefix on NumberBarn to see available numbers. (Source: NumberBarn)
Alternatively, you may choose a VoIP phone system vendor as your 800 number provider. This option is especially ideal for companies wanting advanced business phone capabilities to manage customer calls. Choose among our top-recommended cloud-based phone systems below.
RingCentral is a robust unified communications platform that offers a toll-free number in all of its subscription plans. Each user gets a dedicated phone number. If you need more toll-free numbers for team members, an extra fee of $4.99 applies. The provider has a robust knowledge base that features articles on how to get an 800 number and maximize its phone features.
In addition to toll-free numbers, toll-free minutes are available, with the highest-tier plan offering 10,000 minutes. Aside from domestic calls, you may use the toll-free number to place calls abroad and connect with international clients. Handle those calls more efficiently by maximizing the platform’s multi-level auto attendant, shared lines, and receptionist console. Subscribe for $30 per user monthly. To learn more about the pricing tiers, refer to our RingCentral review.
Add toll-free numbers to your RingCentral account using its number inventory. (Source: RingCentral)
Along with toll-free numbers, business phone solution Ooma offers toll-free minutes in its subscription plans. Access up to 500 calling minutes, regardless of the package you choose. Its call management system includes a virtual receptionist, call transfer, ring groups, and extension dialing and monitoring. Collaborate with your team easily by messaging members on the chat and meeting them via video meetings. The video conferencing system can host up to 100 attendees.
If you’re keen on using this VoIP phone system, read our Ooma review first. Check the provider’s support articles for the specifics of how to get a 1-800 number. Ooma’s pricing starts at $19.95 per user a month. The fee for extra phone numbers is $9.95.
Find your toll-free number on Ooma. (Source: Ooma)
Grasshopper, one of the best virtual phone number providers, lets businesses secure toll-free numbers with its easy-to-use number lookup tool. It readily generates a list of available phone numbers and features a button for refreshing the number inventory in case they want to explore more batches of number options.
Its entry-level plan is designed specifically for solopreneurs, including one phone number and one extension, for only $18 a month. This covers essential VoIP features like call forwarding, call screening, call transfer, voicemail, and voicemail transcription. Additional toll-free numbers cost $9 monthly. Read our Grasshopper review to know more about this no-frills virtual phone system.
Choose a toll-free number from Grasshopper’s catalog. (Source: Grasshopper)
Similar to RingCentral and Ooma, Nextiva includes toll-free numbers and toll-free minutes in its subscription plans. The most expensive package has 12,500 toll-free minutes, which suits businesses fielding a large volume of long-distance calls. Aside from 800 numbers, the provider has robust phone capabilities, including auto attendant, advanced call routing, call analytics, and priority alerts.
It supports team chat and video calling, facilitating smoother team coordination and reducing the need for third-party collaboration apps. If you’re keen on using this solution for business communications, familiarize yourself with its features, which we discuss in our Nextiva review. Its monthly subscription plan starts at $30.95 per user.
Port your toll-free numbers to Nextiva. (Source: Nextiva)
Step 2: Pick a Toll-free Prefix
The second step in getting an 800 number is to choose a toll-free prefix, or the first three digits of the number. These are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888—with 800 being the most popular. A national registry lists all the country’s toll-free numbers. Responsible Organizations (RespOrg) are the phone carriers that manage the registration and distribute numbers to various businesses. Number ownership depends on who comes first to get the number.
Since toll-free numbers are on a first-come, first-served basis, be open to multiple number options in case your preferred digits are already taken. One way to approach it is to customize the rest of the numbers once you’ve decided on a toll-free prefix. Spell out a word associated with your brand or industry, say, 1-800-CLEANUP or 1-877-ROOFING, or use repeating numbers, like 1-800-777-7777.
Step 3: Set up Your Account
After subscribing to a service provider and choosing a toll-free prefix, the final step in getting an 800 number for your business is to create an account. Download the service provider’s mobile or desktop apps to register and log in. Refer to the phone number settings to see the registered numbers for your account. If you need more guidance on how to obtain an 800 number, use the self-help resources provided by your service provider.
Who Needs a Toll-free Number?
An 800 phone number is ideal for any business 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, 800 numbers boost brand credibility and client engagement in new markets.
Toll-free numbers can also track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Assigning 800 numbers to a website, billboard, or print ad lets you identify which marketing channel a call came from. Check out our video below to better understand when to use 800 numbers for business:
Benefits of Having an 800 Number
Toll-free services have provided customers with a free and convenient way to contact businesses. They positively affect every aspect of a company, including its marketing efforts, customer service, and brand credibility. Thus, knowing how to get a 1-800 number for your business proves valuable in the long run. Read below to further explore its advantages:
- 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.
- Enhance credibility: Customers associate toll-free numbers with large companies with a national audience. Thus, 800 numbers help establish a reputation for serving several customers.
- Gain mobility and portability: Toll-free numbers have no geographical restrictions, allowing you to answer business calls anywhere. They 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 800.com, toll-free vanity numbers use a neuroscience approach called memory chunking. A vanity number enables the brain to associate the words and digits with the brand, making the numbers themselves difficult to forget. So if customers can remember your business phone number, it’s easy for them to reach you anytime.
- Track marketing campaigns: Attributing toll-free numbers to a specific marketing campaign allows you to measure its impact based on the number of incoming calls. According to toll-free number provider 800.com, vanity phone numbers increase call rates by as much as 84% for billboard and print ads, 58% for radio and television commercials, and 20% for online ads.
Alternatives to Toll-free 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, consider these popular options:
A local phone number is typically included with a VoIP service. You choose a phone number with a local prefix from the region where your business is located. You can also expand to other places by selecting local phone numbers in states where you want to reach a new market.
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 (e.g., 212-NY-PIZZA and 1-800-FLOWERS). Most businesses choose vanity numbers to increase brand awareness and make customers easily remember their contact numbers.
If you want to expand your business overseas, international numbers help establish a local presence in other countries without actually opening an office. This encourages foreign clients to call your business without worrying about expensive international charges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1-800 numbers’ cost depends on your service provider, but most VoIP phone systems include the toll-free number in their monthly subscription plan, which costs from $18 to $30. If you need additional numbers, the fee ranges from $5 to $10 a month.
No, Google Voice doesn’t offer toll-free numbers. However, it has local numbers, which are included in its monthly subscription packages with a starting fee of $10 per user. Local numbers are available for free as well, as long as you have a Google account. Google Voice is among our top picks for free business phone number apps.
The choice depends on your business and communication goals. If you want to establish a strong presence in a targeted community, a local number is the better option. If you aim to project an image of a large, established company, toll-free phone numbers should be your choice.
Bottom Line
An 800 number enhances brand image and improves customer service. It builds up a business’s reputation, enabling it to serve a huge clientele base while allowing callers to reach out to the business without being charged. Subscribe to a virtual phone system today to access a vast catalog of toll-free numbers and call management capabilities.
If you want to explore other ways to connect with your target audience and professionalize your brand, refer to our guide on getting a business phone number.
