Ok, first I'm a homebased business so I work with my home phone number. I called to check if I can add my business name in the phone book, but I can't do that. Let me explain... Here in Quebec, the phone company has two different type of phone numbers: residence or business. If it's a residence number you can't advertise with your phone number showing... duh I need people to call me if I want to do business!!! Well I had to change for a business line. My number doesn't change but geez the price did! At least I can deduct this now. But as a result, I have a yellow page inscription (free) and I can advertise. Even just handing business cards with my phone number was illegal. It's a chance I called myself, she told me that if someone else called them to tell them that I was advertise my home phone number or if the phone company saw it, they would've sue me to get all the money they didn't get, since the opening of my business in April..... Now that would've been ARRGH!!!! Glad I called today... but I never thought about this... I don't like the fees more (50$ more each month) but at least they don't charge me for the 6 months I've been in business!!! But I get all kinds of free stuff (which I think I'm paying for it, since all th fees they charge!) I get caller ID (number and name) and conference calls, tranfers of calls to another number.

At least I don't have to worry about getting sued!!! But still.....
I guess I'm really in business now!
Thought I'd share so maybe others will check with their phone company first.....

Yup... Same here in NY. and WOW the price difference for businesses. Also, once I applied for a wholesale account for supplies with an internet company, and they verified me through my business phone listing!! Who knew?

Ok let me just clarify this for my own understanding... so if you advertise with your home phone number, the phone company can sue you? Does this include cell phone numbers?

for cells I don't know, but I'm sure they can. It must be a business number or you can't advertise. That's what I understood. A residential number can't be associated to a business. But for a cell phone I don't know really.

We own a chimney cleaning and repair business and our business phone bill is 146.00 per month and our home bill is 65.00 and that is 2.95 for high speed internet included in that price..LOL

Well, I use a voicemail messaging system phone number from E-Voice when I advertise. I wonder if that would be illegal?

What's up with that? Just today I confirmed my yellow page ad and they know it's my residential phone number! I even asked if the number would show up on the internet yellow pages as a business and they said no because it is a residential number. But they had no problem selling me a yellow page ad with my residential number! So just let them try and sue me.

I have both. Since my bakery is on the same land as my house, I have the business phone and extensions for both services in both locations. But your right the price goes up when you say Business anything. It is aggravation when half the bill is taxes and misc. fees.I guess its just the price of doing business. MY yellowpage listing is under Bakery and Weddings.

My husband has his own business and uses his cell phone as his business line. As far as I know, it is the same price here in Va for that and he has it posted in the yellow pages, on business cards and on billboards. You might want to check that.

I never heard anything about this. I live in Mo. Does it depend on who you have for phone service? I use time warner cable for my home line. I'm not in business yet but I wsa planning on using my cell phone as the advertised number. Guess I'll be looking more into that idea.
Darn! It just can't be easy can it.

I agree, why can't it be easy for once? I have an appointement with an accountant next week. She's going to tell me exactly what I can deduct and everything, so when I do my taxes I won't have to pay much, or not at all! It's part of a program I got in when I first started. Since I'm under 35 I can use a lot of services. That's one I want to use. I have the first meeting free, so I can get started! But from what I know already, what I'll deduct because it's now a business phone line, it'll be like I am paying less for my phone/internet. We'll see!! The caller ID will be my business name, so I guess it's a plus!!

here's an easy solution:

call your local phone company business department and tell them you want to order a "remote call forwarding number for business". This is a business phone number listed in the business name, 411, and the yellow pages (general free listing) for around $18 a month; some phone companies such as Bellsouth may require the remote call forwarding number be forwarded to a cell phone and NOT a residential phone number.

Again, a RCF number is not a landline number! Calls to this number are forwarded to the number of your choosing but the phone company may require it be a non residential number. Once again, this should be ordered through the business department.