How to add a business line to your cell phone: VoIP, carrier, and eSIM

Imagine this: Just as you sit down for lunch with your partner, your phone starts ringing. “Sorry,” you sigh, glancing at the caller ID. “It’s a client.” Fast forward to the weekend — you’re lining up the perfect shot on the golf course, ready to sink that elusive hole-in-one — when your phone goes off again. You can’t ignore it, but you really wish there were a better way.

Using your personal phone number to take business calls is never ideal if you want privacy and a work-life balance. But carrying around two mobile phones? That doesn’t make sense either.

So, can you add a business line to your cell phone? Yes, in three different ways:

1. A VoIP app gives you access to business numbers inside a dedicated app. They’re easy to set up and cost-effective for teams. 
2. A carrier second line adds a cellular number to your existing account for roughly $10 to $15 a month. However, it needs a phone with a free eSIM slot. Providers like Verizon offer it as an add-on to your existing phone plan. 
3. Dual SIM phones are another option for you to add two phone numbers to a single device. You can get a second phone number with your existing carrier or a different carrier. Add numbers with a physical SIM or an eSIM. 

VoIP phone services are often the best option for fast-growing teams. All it takes is finding the right VoIP phone service, getting a business phone number, and inviting your teammates to get started. But if you’re a solopreneur who needs a second phone number, you might be better off getting an additional number with your carrier. 

Keep reading to learn what questions you need to ask before choosing a business line. Find out how to set up a business line, and why having a second number on your VoIP cell phone is beneficial.

Luckily, you don’t need a second bulky device to separate business from personal — you can have two phone numbers on a single device. Adding a business line to your cell phone is all about finding the right VoIP phone service. 

Once you’re subscribed to a VoIP service, all you need to do to get a business phone number is download an app on your cell phone. Your business phone will run entirely on the internet.

Keep reading to learn what questions you need to ask before choosing a business line, how to set up a business line, and why having a second number on your VoIP cell phone is beneficial.

3 ways to add a business line to your cell phone

Here’s a breakdown of each of the methods you can use to get a second phone number:

1. VoIP apps

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP for short, apps make calls and send texts using an internet connection. They manage virtual phone numbers that aren’t tied to a specific device. They also offer more business-friendly features than carrier-provided numbers. You can share numbers with your teammates, automatically log calls in a CRM, and even have AI agents take calls for you. 

VoIP providers like Quo make it easy to get a business phone number in minutes. Simply install their app, pick a business phone number, and invite your team. No SIM and no carrier involvement needed. Another advantage of using VoIP apps is that you can access your VoIP number across devices. That includes your laptop, tablet, and computer. 

However, VoIP apps have one downside you should keep in mind as you consider adding a business line to your cell phone. They can’t accept mobile phone verification codes. Since they’re so easy to acquire and use, institutions like banks, ride-hailing apps, and government entities don’t accept them for verifying your identity in their systems. As telephony infrastructure provider Twilio mentions: “As with account signup, users with multiple accounts and VOIP numbers are potential signals of fraudulent intent.”

2. Carrier second line

Major carriers sell a packaged second number as an add-on to your existing account. This is a phone number tied to their cellular networks. To get access to this second number, you need a cell phone with dual SIM or eSIM capabilities. While these phone numbers can accept verification codes for you, they come with several limitations you should know:

• No shared numbers. You can’t share these numbers with your team, unless you physically hand over your device to a colleague. 
• Single device only. A carrier-provided second number lives in your cell phone. You can’t access it on your computer or on another phone. 
• No additional business phone features. These types of numbers are limited to what they can do on your phone. They don’t have CRM syncing, automatic call summaries and transcripts, or automated texting features. 

Examples of these second lines include Verizon Second Number, which is available as an add-on to your existing plan at $10 to $15 per number per month. Similarly, AT&T, and T-Mobile offer additional lines in their existing plans. 

3. Dual SIM phones

A dual SIM phone is a mobile device that has the option for two SIM cards. Each SIM card connects to its respective mobile network; you can choose to make calls from your second SIM card. It’s also convenient if you’re traveling and need to quickly get a local SIM in your destination country. 

This is essentially the same method as getting a carrier-provided second line. The difference is you manually acquire your second SIM instead of buying it directly from your existing carrier. You might choose this approach to combine SIMs from multiple providers to increase your chances of always having a signal to make calls. 

Just like carrier-provided second lines, dual SIM phones also fall short for business use. They’re locked to an individual device, so your team can’t access it easily. Plus, setup time can take hours if you have to purchase a new SIM from your carrier.

How to add a business line with Quo

Adding a business phone line to your cell phone is easy with Quo — it only takes minutes. All you need to do is follow these simple steps to get the second number you need:

1. Create and verify your Quo account

When you sign up, you get a free seven-day trial to see if Quo is the right fit for you on your mobile device, tablet, or computer.

1. Enter your email or sign in with your Google account and tap Continue. You’ll receive a six-digit code in your email. 
2. Enter the code and tap Continue to proceed.
3. For security purposes, you’ll need to provide your current phone number. This helps prevent bad actors from spamming others after signing up for an account. 

If you have trouble verifying your account, reach out to our support team.

2. Select your preferred business phone number

With Quo, you can choose a US, Canadian, toll-free, or vanity business phone number. Or we can assign a number to you. 

Each user on your plan comes with one free number, which allows every team member to have their own number. If you need more phone numbers, you pay just $5 per number per month for each additional number.

You can also port your business phone number, landline, or virtual phone number from your current carrier to Quo. You have the right to port numbers between carriers, according to FCC number portability rules. 

This process typically takes between 5-10 business days. After porting over a number, you can easily delete the number you selected when you signed up for your account.

3. Provide your payment information

After you’ve picked your business phone number, you need to select a subscription plan and provide your credit card details. 

Your credit card won’t be charged until after your seven-day free trial ends, and you can cancel anytime. Keep in mind that we’ll do a security check to validate your payment method, which means a temporary $1 hold will be applied to your card. This isn’t an actual charge — you’ll see the $1 hold removed from your card within a few days. We’ll also send you a heads-up email when your trial is set to expire.

6 questions to consider before you add a business line to your cell phone

Choosing a VoIP service provider can be a tough decision. Like any business phone service, every VoIP system has pros and cons. Here are six questions to consider before you add a business line to your cell phone.

1. Which VoIP services fit my budget?

Still on the fence about what business phone solution to use? Adding a business line to your cell phone shouldn’t break the bank. But it shouldn’t just be about getting a phone that can do the job. Prioritize the VoIP solution that helps you build strong customer relationships at scale. 

Quo offers the most business-friendly rates, with plans starting at $15 per user per month. With features like local and toll-free numbers, CRM integrations, shared inboxes, and contact properties, it can help you personalize every conversation and reduce repetitive admin work. 

Quo isn’t the only VoIP platform to consider. Here are a few other VoIP services that offer cost-effective rates:

• RingCentral offers a VoIP platform with desk phone rentals if your team works from a physical location. Plans start at $20 per user per month. 
• Grasshopper offers multi-digit extensions to teams in its VoIP platform. Pricing starts at $14 per month. 
• Dialpad is a platform designed for larger contact center teams. Pricing starts at $15 per user per month. 

While you can get a free business phone number from Google Voice, there are several limitations. For starters, you can only have one number per account, making it hard to scale with a team. You also must be in the US to use the free version of Google Voice, and there’s no customer support for troubleshooting issues.

2. Which apps are user-friendly for my team?

When you want to work efficiently, you need a VoIP app that offers ease of use. Take advantage of free trials to figure out how easy they are to understand and navigate.

Consider how long it takes you to get the hang of the tool. If you have team members, keep their skill levels in mind. After all, not everyone is a tech pro.

One way some VoIP apps make the experience more difficult to use is by splitting customer interactions into different views. Tools like Google Voice and RingCentral silo customer interactions into different views. Your conversations with a single contact are split based on whether you had a call or a text conversation. 

In contrast, platforms like Quo bring all your customer interactions into a single place. Calls, texts, voicemails, and other interactions are logged in one view. Why does that matter for businesses? See what a former Google Voice user had to say about its interface compared to Quo:

“After using Google Voice, I appreciate that Quo is made specifically for business. I enjoy that every interaction with a customer is available in a single thread. Google Voice has call history, voicemail, and messages spread out across 3 different tabs, making it hard to stay on top of things.” — Daeshawn Ballard, Founder & CEO, Real Estate Optics

3. What business phone features do I need?

One of the biggest differentiators between VoIP services is the features they offer. 

Consider specifically what features you need as you shortlist providers, including:

• Automatic call recording
• VoIP call forwarding
• Auto-attendants
• Third-party integrations
• AI call summaries
• AI call tags

Don’t overlook the most basic business phone features, though. Some VoIP platforms don’t even include text messaging in plans. When they do, some only support SMS but not MMS messages. Quo includes all these business phone features plus automated texting options to help you save time.

4. What’s the location of the people I call frequently?

Most VoIP services can support domestic phone calls and texts. However, if you need to reach people internationally, it’s crucial to look for a provider that can help you reach the right countries at reasonable rates. Quo, for instance, offers free calls and texts in the US and Canada, as well as low international rates.

5. Do I need a toll-free or local number?

When you use a VoIP service to add a business line to your cell phone, you’ll usually have the option to choose your area code. However, some providers offer more options than others.

Most VoIP providers support local numbers, which have area codes tied to specific locations, like 206 for Seattle or 602 for Phoenix. A local number can help you build trust with clients in a specific area, the same way you might be more likely to take a call from a neighbor than a stranger across the country.

If you’re doing business across North America, a toll-free number can be a great alternative to local numbers. Getting toll-free phone numbers gives you area codes that are widely recognized, like 888 or 800 phone numbers. They make your business appear more established to your customers. They also allow callers from over 20 North American countries and territories to dial your number for free.

6. What level of customer support does my business need?

One major pro of using a VoIP app for your business line is that you don’t need your own IT team to set up or maintain your phones. The best VoIP solutions are readily available so you can text and call from your computer or smartphone.

But you still want to make sure you can get support if things go wrong.

Consider what times are most critical for your business calls. Make sure you choose a VoIP provider that’ll have your back during those times. Bonus points if they offer support on the most convenient channels for you. 

Quo offers support Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. Just shoot us a chat message or email. Plus, we offer additional resources to help you get up and running if issues come up:

• Our Resource center for frequently asked questions and additional resources for getting started 
• A chatbot you can use to help surface specific Resource center guides
• Video tutorials that contain step-by-step instructions that walk you through how to use Quo and its features

We also provide a public status page so you can view our performance in real time. See how all our features and apps are operating as you get your work done.

5 Benefits of having a separate business line on your cell phone

If you’re still not sure if getting a second phone number for your personal cell phone is worth it, take a look at these five benefits.

1. Know when incoming calls are for business or personal

Answering a business call with “What’s up?” or “Hi, who is this?” is a nightmare no professional wants to go through. And if you answer your best friend with “Thanks for calling XYZ Company,” you’ll never hear the end of it.

When you get a second number using a VoIP app like Quo, your personal calls will look different from your business calls. They’ll appear with a distinct inbound call screen and mention “Quo Audio” under your business contact’s name.

2. Keep business calls to your working hours

If you use your personal cell number for business, there’s no way to prevent business calls from coming in outside your working hours. But when you have a separate business line, you can set up business hours to hit snooze on professional calls at the right times. You can route your callers to Sona, our AI voice agent, a backup call forwarding number, or voicemail. Your business phone app won’t ring when you’re not working.

3. Keep your personal number private

Using your personal number for business makes it easily searchable online. Even if you don’t have it displayed on your website, social media pages, or business listings, some of your business records may still be public. 

Access to this type of information means people can potentially find your current or past home addresses, as well as the names of your friends or family members, which can put you at risk of identity theft and more. For example, a NYTimes reporter hired a security researcher to look up his personal phone number and see what information came up. The researcher accessed personal details like the reporter’s past addresses, current address, and the full names of his family members. 

The best way to protect your privacy is to use a separate business line for your professional calls and texts.

4. Call and text from virtually any device

If you get a second number with an app or VoIP service, you won’t be limited to making calls on your Android or iPhone. Many VoIP services offer apps compatible with any internet-enabled mobile device or computer. You can switch between devices or stick to your preferred one.

Quo offers desktop, web, and mobile apps to make your life easier no matter where you’re working.

5. Add anyone to your business phone system within minutes

If you have teammates, you can easily add them to your business phone system.

With Quo, it’s as easy as inviting team members via email and adding a small per-user fee each month. This process is significantly easier than adding a team member on a landline or desk phone system. There’s no need to buy a new device or hire a pro for the setup. 

All your team members need to do is follow the step-by-step instructions in the email they receive from Quo. That way, they can download the app and start serving customers in no time.

VoIP platforms don’t just make it easy to share a number with your team. They also ensure your business isn’t affected when a team member leaves. When a team member moves on, they don’t take your business number and your contacts with them. You can remove them from your workspace and continue communicating with your customers. Your team has access to all your customer context and can pick up where a colleague left off. 

Ready to add a business line to your cell phone?

With the best small business phone systems like Quo, you no longer have to choose between using your personal phone number for business and carrying two phones. Getting a business line is as simple as downloading an app. You’ll get all the features you need to build a more professional call experience, stay organized, and build a connected team.

If you need a business line to accept verification codes, you should buy a carrier second line and understand that you’re getting a number, not a phone system. But if you’re looking to get a business number to share with your team, go with a VoIP phone system. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Thousands of businesses choose Quo as their business phone system. We’re rated #1 on G2 for customer satisfaction. 

“Running a Dog Training Elite franchise means I’m often working on the road, and Quo makes sure I never miss a call, whether I’m in the office or not! The app and web applications are easy to operate for my entire team, and the option to have multiple lines allows us to provide an even higher level of service to our clients. There is minimal downtime, and we rarely have dropped calls. Quo has been amazing for our operation, and the continual app improvements and feature enhancements just make it better and better!” — Whitley Cheatham, Owner, Dog Training Elite San Antonio 

Get started with Quo today. Sign up for our seven-day free trial.

Frequently asked questions about adding a business line to your cell phone