Shopify is mandating a business phone number. Any ideas for an expensive second phone number?

Kinkajou

Hi! I'm setting up as a sole trader selling business to consumer using Shopify and Etsy. Shopify require a business phone number for customer receipts.  Giving my personal number is not an option, do you have an ideas for how I can get a business number inexpensively?  I don't want to buy a second mobile phone, I was thinking some kind of Voip app on my phone???Apparently Google Voice is free in the states, but not here, and I'm unaware of a suitable UK option.  Have you used a service you can recommend? Without this I cant even open the Shopify store, let alone take any orders.  Thanks!

tightauldgit

If you really don't want to use your personal numbers then the cheapest way to do it is going to be just to get a PAYG sim card which you can use for incoming calls - can you put a second SIM in your mobile or use an eSIM? Or else just buy the cheapest handset you can find.

Kinkajou

tightauldgit said:

If you really don't want to use your personal numbers then the cheapest way to do it is going to be just to get a PAYG sim card which you can use for incoming calls - can you put a second SIM in your mobile or use an eSIM? Or else just buy the cheapest handset you can find.

Thank you! I've got a iPhone so the second sim thing isn't possible. I might have to get a second handset😩, thanks for your reply.

tightauldgit

Kinkajou said:

tightauldgit said:

If you really don't want to use your personal numbers then the cheapest way to do it is going to be just to get a PAYG sim card which you can use for incoming calls - can you put a second SIM in your mobile or use an eSIM? Or else just buy the cheapest handset you can find.

Thank you! I've got a iPhone so the second sim thing isn't possible. I might have to get a second handset😩, thanks for your reply.

does it allow eSIMs? I think the latest versions do. 

Singlemummy_2

E-sim or virtual landline number 

Savvy_Sue

Cheap handset and 1pMobile SIM. Big advantage that you don't have to answer it out of hours.

DullGreyGuy

Kinkajou said:

tightauldgit said:

If you really don't want to use your personal numbers then the cheapest way to do it is going to be just to get a PAYG sim card which you can use for incoming calls - can you put a second SIM in your mobile or use an eSIM? Or else just buy the cheapest handset you can find.

Thank you! I've got a iPhone so the second sim thing isn't possible. I might have to get a second handset😩, thanks for your reply.

Which model? Since the iPhone XS it has supported one physical sim and one esim

Personally, I'd prefer two phones as whilst the phone is good at helping you steer calls/texts etc from one phone or the other there is always the risk of human error meaning you start giving your personal number to customers.

Depending on what you are selling etc personally, though more expensive, I'd go for a VOIP solution. To me a company using a mobile number screams small part time business which raises concerns when thinking of buying from them etc.