// phone system
Small business phone system
You probably don't need a phone system. Most small businesses need a professional number that rings the mobile they already carry, a receptionist menu for busier days, and a written card for each transcribed voicemail: what the caller wanted, how urgent it is, and what to do next. That is what LineHQ is: the number, routing and memory of every call, not a PBX with desk phones and a long contract.
// the short answer
LineHQ is deliberately not a phone system. It is a UK business number - local, 07 mobile, 0800 or 03 - that rings the phones a small business already owns, with business-hours routing, ring groups, a virtual receptionist, call recording and a free AI call card for each transcribed voicemail. If you need desk handsets, internal extensions and per-seat licences, buy a hosted PBX; if you need calls to reach you and to know what each one was about, LineHQ is the lighter answer.
Last reviewed September 2026
Numbers + routing
Choose a local, 07 mobile, 0800 or 03 number, then ring one person, a small team or a timed rota.
Receptionist menu
Add a press-1 menu for Sales, Support and Accounts when one line needs to serve more than one role.
Recorded call memory
Use recording, voicemail-to-email, transcription and free AI call cards so missed calls become follow-ups.
No PBX contract
Start online without a PBX box, engineer visit or 24-month phone-system contract.
// buyer guide
When should a small business choose LineHQ instead of a full VoIP phone system?
The right answer depends on how your team actually uses the phone. Many small firms need inbound call handling, not a full handset estate.
Choose LineHQ for inbound calls
If the main job is to publish a business number, route enquiries and capture missed calls, LineHQ keeps the setup lean.
Choose PBX for desk-phone workflows
If your staff spend all day transferring calls between extensions, managing queues or using desk handsets, a hosted PBX is the better fit.
Avoid per-seat spend too early
A small team can route calls to existing phones before it pays for a licence and handset for everyone.
Keep the number portable
Start with the number and routing you need now. If the business outgrows LineHQ later, your number can move with you.
Small business phone system vs hosted VoIP vs basic forwarding
| LineHQ | Hosted VoIP/PBX | Basic forwarding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Solo businesses and small teams that mainly receive calls | Teams that need extensions, transfers and handset workflows | One owner with one destination |
| Hardware | None for basic forwarding; app, SIP and desk phones are optional | Desk phones, provisioning and licences | None |
| Setup | Choose a number and route calls in minutes | Account setup, devices and contract config | Forward one number |
| Call handling | Hours, ring groups, receptionist, recording and voicemail-to-email | Full PBX features, queues and extension logic | Usually rings one phone |
| Call memory | Free AI call card for each transcribed voicemail | Depends on provider and add-ons | No written record |
| Cost model | From £4.99/mo, no contract, prepaid forwarding minutes | Often per-seat plans and longer terms | Low cost, limited controls |
LineHQ is built for receiving business calls and knowing what happened. If you need outbound campaign dialling, complex queues or internal extension workflows, use a specialist phone-system or contact-centre platform.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special hardware or a PBX?
No. LineHQ is a cloud phone system with no PBX box or installer. Basic forwarding rings the mobiles and phones your team already uses; optional LineHQ app, SIP apps and compatible desk phones are available when you want device calling.
When should I choose LineHQ instead of a full VoIP phone system?
Choose LineHQ when you mainly need inbound calls to reach the right person, a professional number on your website, voicemail-to-email and a clear record of what callers wanted. Choose a full hosted VoIP or PBX platform if you need internal extensions, heavy call transfers, wallboards, contact-centre queues or a sales dialler.
Can LineHQ replace a full VoIP phone system?
For many small businesses, yes. It can replace the phone-system features they actually use: a business number, forwarding, opening hours, ring groups, receptionist menus, recording and voicemail. It is not a full PBX for large teams with complex extension dialling or contact-centre workflows.
Can it handle a small team?
Yes. You can add team members, build ring groups and department menus, and route calls to the right person, all from the dashboard.
Does LineHQ include a virtual receptionist?
Yes. From the £19.99 package upward you can add a virtual receptionist that greets callers and routes them through a press-1 menu, for example Sales, Support and Accounts. Lower packages still include a UK number with forwarding and voicemail.
How is it billed?
Packages start from £4.99/mo with a calling credit for forwarding minutes - you only pay for what you use, with no contract and no surprise invoices.
How many users can the phone system support?
LineHQ scales from a single person to a small team. You can add team members, build ring groups so several phones ring together or in turn, and route calls with a virtual receptionist from the dashboard, on the mobiles and phones your team already uses, with no handsets to buy.
Do team members need their own handsets or licences?
No. Basic forwarding rings mobiles and phones your team already own, so there are no per-seat handset licences. You add members in the dashboard and route calls to them with ring groups and menus; optional app, SIP and desk-phone devices are there when a team wants internet calling.
Is LineHQ an outbound dialler?
No. LineHQ is centred on inbound business numbers, call forwarding, routing, voicemail, recording and call summaries. If your main requirement is outbound campaign dialling or call-centre queue management, a specialist dialler or hosted phone system is a better fit.
Can I keep my numbers if I outgrow LineHQ?
Yes. There is no lock-in - your numbers are yours to port away if you ever move on, and there is no contract to see out. Equally, LineHQ grows with you: add numbers, team members, recording and a receptionist as you need them, without changing the numbers your customers already dial.
Is a cloud phone system reliable for business calls?
Yes. Calls are handled on LineHQ's UK carrier network and forwarded to ordinary phones, so there is no on-site box to fail and no single handset to break. If a phone is off or unanswered, calls fall through to the next in your ring order or to voicemail-to-email, so an enquiry is never simply lost.
// related
Ready when you are
Set up a professional UK line in minutes. From £4.99/mo, no contract, cancel anytime.