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0800, 03 or local: choosing a UK business number

The number you advertise changes who calls you. Here's what each type says and when to use it.

Blog · Published 21 August 2026

Local area codes

An 0113 or 0161 number tells customers you're nearby, which matters enormously for trades and local services. You don't need premises in the area to hold one, and callers pay standard rates included in most bundles.

03 national numbers

03 numbers read as national and cost callers exactly the same as calling a landline, including from mobile inclusive minutes. They suit businesses serving the whole country that don't want to appear tied to one city.

0800 freephone

Free for the caller and strongest for consumer-facing sales lines. The cost falls on you per minute, and some callers associate freephone numbers with call centres — worth weighing if you're a small local firm.

You don't have to choose just one. Multiple numbers can point at the same phones, which also lets you track which advert generated which call.

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