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Buying vs. Renting a Phone Number

In the fast-paced business landscape we’re currently in, the right phone number is more than just a point of contact – it’s a vital asset to shape your brand identity, enhance customer trust and drive growth.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur who wants to keep your personal number private or are leading an established business, we’ll walk you through the processes, benefits, and regulations surrounding this choice.

Keep reading to discover how a seemingly small decision can impact your company’s success and operations.

Phone Number Types Available to Buy or Rent

A business phone number, often called a virtual phone number, is a dedicated phone number used by businesses to manage and streamline client, customer and partner communication. Unlike a traditional phone number tied to a specific device or physical location, a virtual phone number can be routed online using cloud-based technology and an internet connection.

Calls and messages can be directed to any phone, mobile device or computer.

Flexibility makes them an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises.

In Australia, there are several types of available business phone numbers, including the following:

1800 numbers

These are toll-free for the caller, so the business takes on the cost of incoming calls. These are good for companies that want to provide a national customer service line without cost barriers to customers.

1800 numbers are widely available for rent and also often available to purchase.

1300 numbers

These shared-cost numbers have callers pay a local rate, and the business covers the rest. They’re popular for marketing and customer service purposes because they’re cost-effective. 1300 numbers are commonly rented for specific campaigns or short-term needs, and they can also be purchased for consistency in branding.

Virtual Local numbers

Tied to a specific geographic area, these are good for businesses that cater to a particular region or want to establish a local presence. They enhance trust and familiarity with local clients. Virtual Local numbers are frequently rented by businesses wishing to test new markets or if they need a temporary local presence. They’re also often available for purchase for stability in a particular market.

Vanity numbers

These are custom numbers spelling out a word or brand name, enhancing customer recognition and recall. They can be rented for short-term campaigns or promotions, but they’re also available to buy if a company wants to make the number part of its long-term branding strategy.

Can You Choose Your Own Business Phone Number When Buying or Renting?

Choosing your own business phone number, especially one that’s memorable or premium, may be a key consideration for your business. You can generally choose your number in Australia when buying and renting phone numbers.

Many service providers offer a range of options when choosing a business phone number, allowing you to pick a number that suits your brand and business needs.

For premium or vanity numbers, service providers will usually let you search for and select those numbers, whether you’re buying or renting. Even for local numbers, you can often choose an easy-to-remember sequence that aligns with your brand identity.

Regarding the differences between buying or renting your own number, when you buy one, you have more control and flexibility over choosing it. As the owner of the number, you can use it indefinitely, move it to other service providers or sell it in the future.

Renting lets you choose your own number, but depending on availability and the terms of your rental agreement, you may have fewer options. Since you don’t own the number, it can be reassigned to another business.

As you’re choosing a number, factors to consider include:
1. Availability: Not all telephone numbers or virtual numbers are available for both buying and renting, especially if they’re highly sought-after premium numbers. Check with your provider to see what’s available regarding new numbers or a specific number you’re considering.
2. Cost: Premium and vanity numbers are usually more expensive, and rental fees could be lower upfront but accumulate over time.
3. Long-term plans: If you think you’ll use the virtual number long-term, buying may be the better option.

How to Buy a Phone Number for Business

Buying a phone number for your business in Australia is a straightforward process. While you can rent a number, buying can be the preferred choice because of the simplicity and the broader availability of services geared toward ownership. Here’s a guide to buying a number for your business:

Step 1: Understand the Role of the ACMA

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the main regulatory body that manages and allocates phone numbers in Australia. They oversee the numbering system and make sure numbers are fairly distributed in accordance with regulations.

ACMA manages the pool of numbers, but businesses don’t usually interact with them directly when they purchase a number.

Instead, service providers like Telcoworks streamline the process by outsourcing numbers from ACMA and offering them to businesses in a user-friendly and accessible way.

Step 2: Choose a Service Provider

Next, you’ll choose a service provider that offers business phone numbers, like Telcoworks. These simplify the process and provide additional services and features tailored to your business. As you compare providers, think about their reputation, customer support and the range of features and numbers they offer.

Step 3: Select Your Phone Number Type

You’ll decide on the phone number type that best suits your business, such as local numbers, 1300, 1800 or vanity numbers. Your provider may have a search tool or catalogue so you can browse available numbers based on custom features, type or location.

Step 4: Purchase the Number

After you select a number that fits your needs, you’ll proceed with the purchase. This usually involves verifying that the number is available, completing your payment, which could include a one-time purchase fee and maybe an ongoing maintenance fee, and going through the ownership transfer process.

Step 5: Set Up and Integrate

After purchasing your number, the final step is setting up the number within your business communication system.

This might involve connecting the number to your phone system, whether a mobile network, VoIP system or traditional PBX.

You’ll set up many services, including call routing, voicemail, and IVR capabilities.

Then, you’ll conduct test calls and messages to ensure everything functions as expected before going live.

Our support team at Telcoworks can help with the setup and integration process.

How to Rent a Phone Number for Business

Renting a phone number is a flexible solution, especially if you need a temporary communication line, are testing a new market, or would rather not make a long-term commitment.
Here’s what to expect when you rent phone numbers:

Step 1: Determine Your Business Needs

Before renting a number, consider whether you’re renting it for a specific campaign, customer support or general business use. How long do you think you’ll need the number, and what type of number do you need? Will it be a temporary number related to targeted ads, for example, or will you need it for longer?

Step 2: Choose a Service Provider

Once you determine your needs, you’ll choose a service provider that offers phone number rentals. Consider availability to ensure the provider has the number you need, compare rental fees and additional costs like setup fees or charges for extra features, and look for providers with flexible rental terms.

Step 3: Select Your Number

After you choose a provider, you’ll select the number you want to rent.

Step 4: Sign Your Rental Agreement

After you select a number, you’ll have to sign an agreement outlining the duration of your rental and payment schedule and any other conditions related to using the number. You often pay on a monthly basis or at fixed intervals.
The rental agreement will include details on rental fees, setup costs and charges for additional services like voicemail, call forwarding, SMS capabilities, and termination conditions. This will let you know what happens to the number at the end of your agreement.

Step 5: Set Up and Configure the Number

After signing the rental agreement, the provider will help you set up the rented number based on your specific needs. You might link it to your existing phone system, whether a landline, VoIP service or mobile network. You’ll configure and test it to ensure it functions correctly and can be used in your business operations.

Step 6: Managing the Rental

Once setup is complete, you’ll have to manage the number during the rental period to ensure it meets your specific needs.
Monitor usage and keep track of call volumes and missed calls to see how effective it is. Adjust as needed, and at the end of your rental period, you’ll decide whether to renew it, switch to a different number or end your agreement.

How to Check If a Phone Number is Available

Checking availability is the first step when securing a business phone number. The ACMA is a reliable source for checking available phone numbers.
However, it’s often best to talk directly to a service provider like Telcoworks for more tailored insights on 1300 and 1800 numbers. They can quickly inform you of available numbers, guide you through the selection process, and help you find the ideal number for your specific needs.

Benefits of Buying a Business Phone Number vs. Renting a Phone Number

The benefits of buying a business phone number include:
1. Ownership and control:
When you buy a number, you outright own it, giving you full control over use, customisation and transferability, ensuring stability and consistency in business communications.
2. Long-term cost efficiency: Although the initial cost to buy a number can be higher, it’s usually more economical in the long run, especially when the number becomes a key part of your brand identity.
3. Branding and professionalism: Owning a number can build brand recognition over time, reinforcing trust and professionalism with your customers.
4. Reliability: A purchased number offers more reliability because it’s permanently yours, reducing the risk of losing the number if you change providers or cancel a service.

The benefits of renting a business phone number can include the following:
1. Flexibility: Renting may be ideal for temporary campaigns or businesses anticipating changes in their communication needs.
2. Lower upfront costs: Renting usually requires less initial investment, so it’s cost-effective if your business has budget limitations or needs a temporary solution.
3. Ease of setup: Renting can be a simpler setup process, and your provider handles most of the logistics.
4. Scalability: When you rent, you can easily scale up or down, making it a good option for rapidly growing or changing businesses.

How Telcoworks Can Help Businesses Buy Your Phone Number

We simplify buying a business phone number to ensure you get the perfect number that enhances your brand and optimises operations. We offer access to various numbers sourced from ACMA and expert guidance to help you choose a number to suit your needs. Our team makes the process smooth and straightforward, so you have a reliable communication tool you can own and control for years.

If you’re ready to secure a quality business number, contact us today to get started and drive your business forward.

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FAQs

Can I Change My Phone Number in the Future?

Yes, you can change your phone number in the future. Whether you bought or rented a number, most service providers, including Telcoworks, offer options to change your number if your business needs evolve. That could involve additional fees, and you need to update your contact information across all platforms and important accounts and make sure clients are aware.

How Long Does It Take for a Phone Number to Activate In Australia?

The activation time can depend on the service providers. Generally, it can take a few minutes to 24 hours for a number to be fully activated and ready for use. Telcoworks ensures a quick, seamless activation process.

Can I Rent the Same Phone Number Again After Pausing Payments?

Once you pause payments and release a rented phone number, it can be reassigned in most cases. If the number is still available when you resume payments, you may be able to rent it again. It’s best to talk with your provider to understand their specific policies about number retention and reactivation.

Customer Reviews

What our customers are saying

I called to find out how best to use the services that I had paid for and God blessed me with Ash who picked up... I have in the past found this company to have very good customer support people on the phone, but Ash was just a delight - helpful, ensured I got everything I asked answered and was prompt and professional and knew everything without wasting any time... loved it and 10 stars if they were here
Devin from Telcoworks was super responsive, knowledgeable and problem solved to find and offer solutions that worked for my business. Within a few hours he had set up my international telecommunication needs. I am seriously impressed! Cheers Richard M - The Stylesmiths
Signing up for a 1300 number with Telcoworks for our business was so easy. The value for money is outstanding as we have full control through their easy to use portal. The customer service I received from Kristen to setup what we needed through the portals was also very friendly and easy - thank you

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