How to Get a 1300 Number in Australia (2026 Guide)

Getting a 1300 number takes less than a week and costs $10-30/month. You get one through a carrier or VOIP provider - not directly from ACMA. This guide covers exactly how the process works: what you are actually buying, how to choose a number, what things cost, and the one contract clause you need to check before you sign anything.

This guide is specific to Australian businesses. The 1300 number system is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and operates differently to toll-free numbers in other countries. If you want to understand what a 1300 number is and how it works before getting one, read that explainer first.

What You Are Actually Buying

A 1300 number is two separate things bundled together, and understanding this distinction will save you a lot of grief later.

The number itself is allocated by ACMA to a licensed carrier (Telstra, Optus, a VOIP provider, etc.). ACMA does not sell numbers directly to businesses. The carrier holds the allocation rights. When you sign up with a provider, they are assigning one of their allocated numbers to your account.

The service behind the number is what actually answers calls and routes them somewhere useful. This includes call routing rules, hold music, IVR menus, voicemail, call recording, and reporting. The service is entirely separate from the number itself.

Why does this matter? Because if you ever want to leave your provider, the number and the service are treated as two different things. The number can be ported to a new provider - but only if you own it. More on that in the ownership section below.

Most small businesses who get a 1300 number through a standard VOIP plan are in effect renting the number. The provider holds the carrier licence and the number allocation. You are a customer of that service, not the owner of the number. This is completely fine for most businesses - it is just important to know it upfront.

Step-by-Step: How to Get a 1300 Number

Here is the standard process for getting a 1300 number through a provider. This applies whether you use a specialist 1300 provider or add a 1300 number to an existing VOIP phone system.

Step 1: Choose a Provider

You have two main options:

A specialist 1300 number provider - Companies like 1300 Easy, 1300 Australia, or similar services focus specifically on 1300/1800 number products. They offer a wide range of available numbers, flexible routing options, and call reporting dashboards. This is a good option if you just need a 1300 number added to an existing phone setup (like routing calls to your mobile or existing office number).

A VOIP phone system provider - If you are also setting up or migrating your business phone system, most VOIP providers include 1300 numbers as an add-on to their plans. This keeps everything under one account: your desk phones, softphones, and inbound 1300 number all managed together. When assessing providers, check whether 1300 numbers are included in the plan or charged separately, and what the inbound call rate structure looks like. See our guide to the best VOIP phone systems for small business for a comparison of AU providers.

Telstra also offers 1300 numbers on their business plans, but typically at a higher monthly cost than specialist or VOIP providers. The benefit of going with Telstra is the billing simplicity if you are already a Telstra business customer.

Step 2: Choose Your Number

Once you have chosen a provider, you pick your number. There are two categories:

Standard available numbers - Your provider has a pool of pre-allocated 1300 numbers. You can often browse available numbers in their portal and select one. These are random sequences (e.g. 1300 847 293) or sometimes partial patterns. No auction required. Typically included in the plan setup fee or a one-off allocation charge of $0-50.

SmartNumbers - These are easy-to-remember numbers (e.g. 1300 FLOWERS, 1300 123 456) available through ACMA's SmartNumbers auction system. See the next section for how that works.

For most small businesses, a standard random number works fine. Customers rarely dial 1300 numbers from memory - they click a link, tap a website button, or read it off a business card. The memorability of a SmartNumber matters more for high-volume call centres and national brands.

Step 3: Configure Call Routing

This is where you tell the system what to do when someone calls your 1300 number. Your options depend on the provider, but common routing configurations include:

• Forward to a landline or mobile - The simplest setup. Calls to your 1300 number ring through to your existing phone. Works with any phone, no hardware changes needed.
• Forward to a VOIP extension - Calls route into your VOIP phone system, where you can set ring groups, business hours rules, IVR menus, and voicemail. This is the full-featured option.
• Time-based routing - Different destinations during business hours vs after hours. Route to your office during the day, mobile in the evening, voicemail overnight.
• Geographic routing - Route calls from different area codes to different offices or staff. Useful for businesses with multiple locations.

If you are routing to an existing VOIP system, check with your provider that the SIP configuration supports inbound DID (direct inward dialling) routing. This is standard on most AU VOIP platforms but worth confirming before you sign up.

Step 4: Understand the Cost Structure

There are typically three cost components:

• Monthly access fee - A flat fee to hold the number. Typically $10-30/month for a standard 1300 number through a VOIP or specialist provider.
• Inbound call charges - This is where most businesses get surprised. The caller pays a local call rate to dial your 1300 number. Your business pays the remainder of the call cost. This is usually charged per minute or per call. Rates vary by plan and provider - check the rate card carefully, especially for mobile calls (callers on mobile pay more, and the business may also be charged a higher rate on mobile-originated calls).
• Setup fee - Some providers charge a one-off setup fee of $0-100. Shop around, as many waive this on standard numbers.

The full cost breakdown is covered in detail in the section below.

Step 5: Go Live

Once you have completed the sign-up and configuration, your provider activates the number. For a standard new 1300 number (not a port), activation typically takes 1-3 business days. Some providers can activate same-day or next business day for simple routing setups.

Before you add the number to your website, business cards, or any advertising, call it yourself from a mobile and a landline to confirm the routing works as expected. Check both business hours and after-hours routing if you have time-based rules configured.

Standard Numbers vs SmartNumbers: ACMA's Auction System

ACMA operates a public auction system called SmartNumbers for memorable 1300 and 1800 numbers. If you want a number like 1300 LAWYERS, 1300 123 456, or any other easy-to-remember sequence, you will need to bid for it through this system.

How SmartNumbers works:

• ACMA releases batches of premium numbers for auction periodically. You can also request specific numbers to be released.
• Bidding is online at smartnumbers.acma.gov.au. Auction periods are typically 10 business days.
• You need a carrier sponsor - a licensed telecommunications carrier who will hold the number on your behalf. Your VOIP provider or 1300 specialist can act as your carrier sponsor.
• Winning bid prices vary enormously. A basic memorable number might go for a few hundred dollars. Highly desirable vanity numbers (1300 FLOWERS, etc.) can go for tens of thousands.
• After winning, you pay ACMA the bid price plus an annual reservation fee (currently $58/year per number for standard 1300s, plus the carrier's monthly service fee on top).

When is a SmartNumber worth it?

For most small businesses - it is not. The ongoing cost and auction complexity is rarely justified. SmartNumbers make sense when:

• You run a high call-volume business where a memorable number meaningfully increases inbound calls (trade directories, emergency services, high-frequency advertising)
• You are running national TV or radio advertising where a memorable number has direct recall value
• Your business name or category maps cleanly to a vanity number (1300 + 7-letter word)

If none of those apply, get a standard number from your provider. It costs less, takes less time, and most callers will tap a link rather than dial from memory anyway.

For the full regulatory picture on 1300 numbers and ACMA's role, see our article on ACMA regulations for 1300 numbers.

Cost Breakdown: What a 1300 Number Actually Costs

Here is a realistic cost breakdown for a small business running a 1300 number on a standard plan.

Realistic monthly cost for a small business receiving 20-50 inbound calls per day:

Assuming 30 calls/day average, 5 minutes average call duration, 20 business days/month, mixed landline/mobile callers:

• Access fee: $15-20/month
• Inbound call charges: approximately $60-150/month depending on call mix and per-minute rate
• Total: roughly $75-170/month

At lower call volumes (5-10 calls/day), total costs are typically $20-50/month. At higher volumes (100+ calls/day), call charges dominate and you should negotiate a volume rate or capped plan with your provider.

Some providers offer bundled plans with a set number of included minutes rather than per-minute billing. These can be better value at predictable high call volumes. Read the fine print on what counts as an included minute and what overages cost.

Who Owns the 1300 Number? The Clause That Matters

This is the section most businesses skip - and the one they regret skipping when they want to change providers.

In Australia, 1300 numbers are issued to carriers by ACMA. The business customer does not have direct ownership rights unless they have won and registered a SmartNumber through ACMA's auction system themselves (with a carrier sponsor). In the standard provider-allocated model, the carrier owns the number allocation.

What this means in practice:

If you leave your provider, you can port the number to a new carrier - but only if your contract allows it and the provider cooperates. Number portability is a right under Australian telecommunications law, but providers can make the process slow or administratively difficult.

Before you sign, check your contract for:

• Number ownership clause - Does the contract say the number is assigned to you or allocated to the provider? Some contracts are explicit that the number reverts to the provider on termination.
• Porting rights - Is porting permitted? Are there porting fees? What is the notice period? Some providers charge $50-200 to release a number for porting.
• Minimum term - If you are locked into a 12 or 24 month contract, the number is effectively tied to the provider for that period even if porting is technically allowed.
• Number suspension on account suspension - If you miss a payment and the account is suspended, can someone else be allocated your number? This is rare but worth checking.

For a detailed guide to porting rights and the porting process in Australia, see our article on porting your number.

The safest option if number ownership matters to you: Register the number yourself through ACMA's SmartNumbers system (even if it is not a memorable number - ACMA can release standard numbers via the system too), and then engage a carrier as your sponsor. This gives you direct ACMA registration and cleaner porting rights. It is more administration to set up but eliminates the provider-dependency issue entirely.

1300 vs 1800: Which One Do You Need?

The short version: 1300 numbers share call costs between the caller and the business. 1800 numbers are free for the caller - the business pays the full call cost.

For most small businesses, 1300 is the right choice. The difference in call cost to the business can be significant at scale - 1800 inbound call rates are typically higher than 1300 rates because the business absorbs 100% of the cost.

The decision is covered in depth in our comparison article: 1300 vs 1800 numbers. Read that if you are still deciding between the two.

Routing Options: Pointing Your 1300 Number at Your Phone System

Once your 1300 number is active, you configure it to route calls to your phone infrastructure. The routing layer is entirely separate from the number itself - you can change routing at any time without affecting the number.

Route to a mobile: The simplest configuration. Calls ring your mobile directly. No VOIP system required. Good for sole traders and very small teams. Limitations: no hold music, no business hours rules, no call recording, no extensions. Callers hear your personal voicemail if you do not answer.

Route to a landline or office PABX: Calls forward to your existing office number. Works well if you already have a phone system you are happy with and just want a professional inbound number. The 1300 number acts as a front door - all the routing intelligence lives in your existing system.

Route to a VOIP phone system: The full-featured option. Calls hit your VOIP platform and can be handled with ring groups, IVR menus (press 1 for sales, press 2 for support), call queuing, hold music, voicemail-to-email, and detailed call reporting. This is what most growing small businesses set up. If you do not have a VOIP system yet, getting a 1300 number is often the trigger to set one up properly rather than routing calls to a mobile.

Hosted IVR: Some 1300 specialist providers offer hosted IVR as part of their 1300 service - you do not need a separate VOIP phone system. You configure a call flow in their portal (menu options, routing rules, voicemail) and calls are handled entirely by the provider's platform. This is a lighter-weight option for businesses that do not need a full phone system but want something more professional than straight mobile forwarding.

If you are also assessing whether to upgrade your phone system at the same time, our guide to the best VOIP phone systems for small business in Australia covers the main platform options and pricing.

Common Mistakes When Getting a 1300 Number

These are the mistakes that cause the most frustration for small businesses.

Mistake 1: Not checking the porting clause before signing

The most costly mistake. Businesses sign up with a provider, get a 1300 number, build it into marketing materials and their website, then decide to switch providers two years later - and discover the provider either charges a large porting fee or disputes their right to take the number at all. This is avoidable. Read the contract before you sign. If the porting rights are unclear or restrictive, ask the provider directly to clarify in writing, or choose a provider with clear porting terms.

Mistake 2: Ignoring mobile-originated call costs

Many businesses look at the access fee and the landline inbound rate and assume those are the main costs. In 2026, the majority of inbound calls come from mobile phones. Mobile-originated calls to 1300 numbers cost the caller more than a local call, and they may cost the business more per minute too. Check the mobile inbound rate specifically, not just the landline rate, when comparing providers. At 30+ calls/day, the difference between a $0.08/min and a $0.15/min mobile rate is hundreds of dollars a month.

Mistake 3: Getting a SmartNumber when you do not need one

Some businesses chase a memorable vanity number (1300 + their business name) because it sounds professional, then end up in an ACMA auction bidding against competitors and paying thousands. Most callers reach businesses via Google, a link, or a QR code - they do not dial from memory. A standard number costs a fraction of the price and works identically. Reserve the SmartNumber investment for businesses running broadcast advertising where memorability genuinely drives call volume.

Mistake 4: Routing to a mobile with no after-hours voicemail strategy

A 1300 number gives your business a professional inbound number - but if calls fall through to your personal mobile voicemail after hours with a casual personal greeting, the professional image evaporates. Set up a proper after-hours message on your routing (most providers let you record a business greeting and voicemail for after-hours calls), or route to a VOIP system where after-hours handling is configurable.

Mistake 5: Treating activation day as go-live day without testing

Call your own 1300 number from a mobile and a landline before you publish it anywhere. Confirm the routing works, the hold music plays (if configured), and the after-hours message triggers correctly when you call outside business hours. Providers occasionally misconfigure routing on activation - five minutes of testing saves you from publishing a number that does not ring anywhere.

Your Next Steps

Here is a practical checklist for getting your 1300 number set up:

1. Decide whether you need a SmartNumber or a standard number. For most businesses: standard is fine. If you want a memorable number, check the SmartNumbers auction at smartnumbers.acma.gov.au before committing to a bid budget.
2. Choose your provider type. Specialist 1300 provider if you just need an inbound number routed to an existing setup. VOIP provider if you are also building or migrating your phone system.
3. Compare at least two providers on: monthly access fee, inbound call rate (landline AND mobile), porting terms, and minimum contract length.
4. Read the porting clause before signing. If you cannot find explicit porting terms in the contract, ask before you sign.
5. Configure routing. Decide where calls will route: mobile, landline, or VOIP system. Set up business hours rules and after-hours handling before the number goes live.
6. Test before publishing. Call from a mobile and a landline. Check business hours and after-hours routing. Confirm voicemail works.
7. Go live. Add the number to your website, email signature, and business materials.

If you are setting up a VOIP phone system at the same time, or want a recommendation for AU providers that handle 1300 numbers well alongside a full phone system, get a tailored recommendation based on your business size and setup.

How long does it take to get a 1300 number in Australia?

For a standard new 1300 number (not a port), activation typically takes 1-3 business days. Some providers can activate same-day or next business day for simple routing configurations (e.g. forwarding to a mobile or existing landline). If you need a SmartNumber through ACMA's auction system, the process takes longer - auction periods run for approximately 10 business days, and post-auction registration and carrier activation can add another week. If you are porting an existing 1300 number from another provider, allow 5-10 business days for the port to complete.

Can I keep my 1300 number if I switch providers?

In most cases, yes - but it depends on your contract. Number portability is supported under Australian telecommunications regulations, and carriers are generally required to cooperate with porting requests. However, some providers charge porting fees ($50-200 is common), impose notice periods, or include clauses that make porting administratively difficult. Before signing with any provider, read the contract for explicit porting terms. If you want the clearest ownership rights, register the number yourself through ACMA's SmartNumbers system with a carrier sponsor - this gives you direct ACMA registration that is not dependent on your service provider's cooperation. See our full guide on porting your number in Australia for the step-by-step process.

What is ACMA SmartNumbers?

SmartNumbers is ACMA's (Australian Communications and Media Authority) public auction system for memorable 1300 and 1800 numbers - sequences that are easy to remember, like 1300 123 456 or 1300 + a word. Businesses bid for these numbers through an online auction at smartnumbers.acma.gov.au. To participate, you need a carrier sponsor (a licensed telecommunications carrier who holds the number on your behalf - your VOIP provider or a 1300 specialist can fill this role). Winning bidders pay ACMA the auction price plus an annual reservation fee (currently around $58/year). For standard non-memorable numbers, you do not need to use the SmartNumbers system - your provider allocates a number from their pool directly. See our article on ACMA 1300 number regulations for more detail on the regulatory framework.

How much does a 1300 number cost per month in Australia?

A standard 1300 number through a VOIP or specialist provider typically costs $10-30/month in access fees. On top of this, you pay inbound call charges - typically $0.04-0.12/minute for landline-originated calls and $0.08-0.22/minute for mobile-originated calls, with the caller paying a local call rate and your business paying the remainder. For a small business receiving 20-30 inbound calls per day, total monthly costs are typically $50-150/month depending on call volume, call duration, and how many callers ring from mobiles. Some providers offer bundled minute plans which can be more cost-effective at predictable high volumes. Telstra's 1300 number products generally cost more than specialist or VOIP providers for similar features.

Can I get a 1300 number without a business phone system?

Yes. The simplest setup is to get a 1300 number and route calls to your mobile or existing landline. No VOIP phone system or additional hardware is required. Specialist 1300 providers and some VOIP providers offer standalone inbound number products that forward calls to any destination you specify. The trade-off is that you miss out on features like call queuing, IVR menus, hold music, and call recording that a full VOIP system provides. If you only need a professional inbound number and your current call volume is low, mobile forwarding is a perfectly reasonable starting point - you can migrate to a VOIP system later without changing the 1300 number (as long as your contract allows porting).

Do I own my 1300 number outright?

Not automatically. In Australia, 1300 numbers are allocated by ACMA to licensed carriers, who then assign numbers to business customers. In the standard provider model, the carrier holds the allocation - your business has usage rights, not ownership rights. If you want direct ownership, you need to register the number yourself through ACMA's SmartNumbers system (even for non-memorable numbers, ACMA can release specific numbers on request) with a carrier sponsor. This is more administrative but gives you cleaner rights if you ever change providers. For most small businesses, the standard provider model works fine - just confirm the porting terms in your contract so you are not locked in if you want to switch later.