Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats—sales, customer service, marketing, admin—and staying in touch with customers is at the heart of all of it. One of the easiest ways to improve how your business communicates is by using a local forwarding number.
It’s a simple tool, but it can have a big impact on how customers view your business, how flexible your team can be, and how many opportunities you convert into sales.
What Is a Local Forwarding Number?
A local forwarding number is a telephone number with a specific area code—like 01273 for Brighton or 0161 for Manchester—that automatically redirects incoming calls to another phone number. That might be your mobile, an office line, or even a VoIP system.
To your customers, it looks like they’re calling a local business number. But behind the scenes, you can answer from wherever you are—at your desk, out on-site, or even abroad.
You can have one or several numbers, all routed to one or more devices, depending on how your business operates. And the best part? You don’t need to set up any new phone lines or install expensive hardware.
Why Local Numbers Matter to Your Customers
Customers are more likely to trust and contact a business that has a local phone number. It’s familiar, it’s friendly, and it gives the impression that you’re just around the corner—even if you’re not. Especially compared to a mobile number.
Imagine you’re a homeowner in Leeds looking for a plumber. You search online and find three options: one with a mobile number, one with a London number, and one with a Leeds number. Even if all three offer the same services, you’re probably going to call the local one first.
That’s the power of local numbers. They build trust and improve the chances of your phone ringing.
Benefits for Small Businesses
Local forwarding numbers don’t just help your customers—they also make life easier for you and your team. Here’s how:
- Appear local in multiple regions: Want to grow your customer base in nearby towns or even across the UK? You can get a local number for each area you serve without needing a physical office.
- Answer calls anywhere: Whether you’re working from home, visiting a client, or on holiday, you won’t miss a call. Forward calls to your mobile, another landline, or a virtual receptionist.
- Keep your personal number private: Using your mobile for business calls? A forwarding number keeps your personal number hidden, maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life.
- Improve customer service: Direct calls to the right person or department, or set up backup routing to ensure calls are always answered—even if you’re unavailable.
- Boost your brand image: A dedicated business number (especially one that’s local to the caller) gives a more polished and trustworthy impression than a standard mobile.
Real-World Examples of Local Forwarding in Action
We work with small businesses every day who’ve used local forwarding numbers to save time, win more customers, and expand their reach:
- Tradespeople and contractors often advertise in nearby towns. Rather than using a mobile number or multiple SIMs, they use local numbers that all forward to one mobile—keeping things simple and professional.
- Online businesses without a physical shopfront can still offer a friendly customer service experience by using local numbers to make their support line more approachable.
- Growing businesses can test the waters in new regions. By setting up a local number, they can gauge interest before investing in a physical location or local marketing campaign.
Easy Set-Up With Carden Telecoms
We know that as a small business owner, your time is valuable. That’s why we make setting up a local forwarding number as easy and stress-free as possible.
Here’s what you can expect with Carden Telecoms:
- Fast setup: Get your local number activated quickly, often within 24 hours.
- Tailored call routing: Choose where your calls go and when. Forward to a single phone, a group of users, or even change based on time of day.
- No complicated systems: You don’t need to install any extra hardware or make big changes to your existing phone setup.
- Full support: Our UK-based team is always here to help if you need to make changes, or add extra numbers.
Ready To Get Started?
A local forwarding number is a smart, affordable way to make your business look more professional, improve customer service, and stay connected no matter where you’re working from.
Whether you’re a sole trader, part of a growing team, or expanding into new areas, we’re here to help.
Speak to Carden Telecoms today, and let us show you how easy it is to upgrade your business phone setup with local forwarding numbers that work for you.
