// phone system
Small business phone system
Give customers one professional number, then route calls to the mobiles or phones your team already uses. LineHQ is built for sole traders, service businesses and small teams that need a cleaner setup than a personal mobile, without buying a full office VoIP system.
// the short answer
LineHQ is a cloud phone system for small businesses that need a UK number, routing, voicemail, call recording and receptionist menus without a PBX. Calls can ring mobiles, landlines or small teams, with business hours and fallback rules managed online. It is built for practical inbound call handling, not complex office hardware.
Last reviewed July 2026
Keep your personal mobile private
Use a business number customers can keep calling even if staff, phones or premises change.
Start small, add features when needed
Begin with call forwarding from £4.99 per month, then add recording, voicemail-to-email, ring groups or a virtual receptionist when the call pattern proves you need them.
Route calls to the right person
Send calls to one phone, several phones at once, or a simple menu for sales, accounts and support.
No PBX box or desk phones
LineHQ runs in the cloud, so there is no engineer visit, no hardware contract and no desk handset rollout.
Personal mobile vs virtual number vs full VoIP
| Personal mobile | Virtual number with LineHQ | Full VoIP or PBX system | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | One-person businesses testing demand | Sole traders and small teams that need a professional number and routing | Larger teams needing desk phones, outbound users and deeper integrations |
| Customer-facing number | Your personal mobile | Local, 0800 or 03 business number | Business number plus user extensions |
| Where calls ring | One handset | Existing mobiles or phones with forwarding and ring groups | Desk phones, softphones or apps |
| Setup | Immediate but informal | Online setup, usually live within 24 to 48 hours | More configuration and sometimes an engineer or IT support |
| Cost shape | Cheap at first, but hard to separate work and personal calls | From £4.99 per month plus prepaid forwarding usage | Usually per user, per month, plus hardware or setup costs |
| Best next step | Move off it once calls matter | Start here if you want a business number without a full phone system | Choose this if you need a larger team phone stack |
If you mainly need a professional number, routing and missed-call handling, LineHQ is usually a lighter starting point than a full VoIP rollout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest phone system for a small business?
For many UK small businesses, the simplest setup is a virtual business number that forwards to existing mobiles, with voicemail-to-email and simple time rules. It gives customers a professional number without forcing the business into desk phones or a PBX.
Is LineHQ a full VoIP phone system?
LineHQ covers the phone-system jobs many small businesses need first: numbers, forwarding, ring groups, virtual receptionist menus, call recording and voicemail-to-email. It is not trying to be an enterprise UCaaS platform with heavy per-seat software.
How much does it cost to start?
LineHQ packages start from £4.99 per month. Forwarded calls use a prepaid wallet, so the right budget depends on call volume, number type and features such as recording or a virtual receptionist.
Can I use my existing mobile?
Yes. Customers call your LineHQ business number and calls can forward to your mobile or team phones. Your personal mobile number stays private.
Can I add more people later?
Yes. You can add team members, ring groups and call menus as the business grows, without changing the number customers already use.
What happens if nobody answers?
You can send calls to the next phone in the ring order or to voicemail-to-email, so missed enquiries are easier to spot and follow up.
Ready when you are
Set up a professional UK line in minutes. From £4.99/mo, no contract, cancel anytime.