How Many Phone Numbers Does A Business Need

For most Australian businesses, the answer is one: a single published inbound number that every customer uses. Extra numbers are the exception, not the rule — a tracking line for a campaign, or a keypress menu that sorts callers inside the one number. This page sets out when one number covers the job and when a second number earns its place.

The one number to start with

One 1300 or 1800 number published on your website, signage and invoices gives customers a single way to reach the business. The choice between the two ranges comes down to who pays for the call:

1300: a shared-cost business number. Callers pay a local call rate and the business pays the per-minute rate. Published plans start at $10 per month.
1800: free for callers in the stated Australian 1800-number context. The business pays the call charges. Published plans also start at $10 per month.
Phoneword: either range can carry a word spelled on the telephone keypad, from $40 per month, with availability and desirability affecting the price.

The full plan and call-rate tables sit on the pricing page. The 1300 numbers and 1800 numbers pages explain each range in detail.

When one number is enough

If callers all want the same thing — a quote, a booking, support — one number with one answering routine is the simplest setup to run and to publish. Where callers need to reach different people, the published add-ons sort calls inside the one number rather than adding numbers: the IVR Keypress Menu ($35 per month) is an auto-attendant menu that routes callers by keypress. Add-ons can be selected during sign-up or changed later from the online console.

When a second number earns its place

Two situations justify another number. First, measuring a specific campaign: Call Tracking Numbers ($5 per month) show which ads and campaigns drive calls, so a tracking line is published only where that ad appears. Second, genuinely different caller arrangements: a shared-cost 1300 sales line and a caller-free 1800 support line serve different purposes, and some businesses publish both. Beyond those cases, each extra number adds a plan fee and another contact detail to keep current.

Finding the number itself

Find a Number searches available 1300/1800 Phonewords if you want the number to spell a word. It does not promise that a particular word will be available or what it will cost — the exact number and price are confirmed before connecting.

Questions about the number of phone lines a business needs

Do I need a separate number for each department?

Not necessarily. The IVR Keypress Menu add-on ($35 per month) routes callers by keypress within one number. Whether that suits depends on how your team handles calls; the add-on's published purpose and price are on the pricing page.

How much does each business number cost?

Published 1300 and 1800 plans are $10, $15, $39, $79 and $99 per month. Call rates are per minute, billed per second, and all pricing is ex GST. The current tables are on the pricing page.

What is the difference between a 1300 and an 1800 number?

A 1300 number is shared-cost: callers pay a local call rate and the business pays the per-minute rate. An 1800 number is free for callers in the stated Australian 1800-number context, and the business pays the call charges.

Can I run a campaign number alongside my main number?

Yes. Call Tracking Numbers ($5 per month) are published add-ons that show which ads and campaigns drive calls. They are listed on the pricing page and can be added during sign-up or later from the online console.

Am I locked into a contract?

Standard 1300 and 1800 plans are month-to-month with no lock-in. Premium numbers such as Phonewords (from $40 per month) carry a 12-month rolling contract and a $50 setup, subject to number selection and availability.