Getting a standard 1300 number commonly takes a few business days. Costs generally include a monthly access fee, inbound usage charges and any setup fee. Standard provider-issued numbers come through a telco or business phone company; Smartnumbers can be purchased through ACMA's Numbering System and then connected by a telco. 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. Still deciding between a 1300 number and another option? See our guide to getting a business phone number in Australia.
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 is allocated under ACMA's numbering system to a registered carriage service provider, which may be a licensed carrier or a provider operating over another carrier's network. Standard numbers are usually obtained from a telco, while Smartnumbers can be bought through ACMA's numbering system and then connected by a telco. The registered carriage service provider holds the allocation, whether it is itself a carrier or operates over another carrier's network. 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. An active 1300 number can generally be ported whether or not it is a Smartnumber; the receiving provider may choose whether to accept the request, and existing contractual payment obligations may still apply. More on that in the ownership section below.
Most small businesses who get a 1300 number through a standard phone system plan are in effect renting the number. The number allocation is held by a registered carriage service provider, which may be a licensed carrier or may use another carrier's network. 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
Getting a 1300 number does not require setting up a new phone system. The number connects to whatever phone you already have, whether that is a mobile, a landline, or a cloud phone system. You pick a provider, choose your number, configure where calls route, and you are live. Configuration time varies by provider and routing complexity.
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 business phone companies 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 business phone companies. 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 allocation system (a fixed-price purchase through The Numbering System, not an auction). See the next section for how that works.
For most small businesses, a standard random number works fine. Depending on how they find and contact a business, customers may not need to dial its 1300 number from memory. 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. Calls can usually be forwarded to an existing Australian landline or mobile, subject to the provider's supported destinations and configuration.
- 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. Inbound-number and SIP configuration varies by platform, so confirm the required delivery and routing method before signing 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 (the caller's charge depends on their mobile plan, while the business's inbound rate can depend on the provider, call origin and answer point).
- 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. Activation time varies by provider and setup, from near-immediate provisioning for some stock-number services to several business days for others. 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 Numbering System
ACMA sells available Smartnumbers through The Numbering System (thenumberingsystem.com.au), managed by ZOAK Pty Ltd on behalf of ACMA, at fixed prices determined by the number's classification. Smartnumbers are no longer sold by auction, the last Smartnumber auction was held on 9 July 2015. If you want a number like 1300 LAWYERS, 1300 123 456, or any other easy-to-remember sequence, you purchase it through this system at its listed fixed allocation charge.
How SmartNumbers works:
- Search for an available Smartnumber through The Numbering System; only numbers shown as available Smartnumbers can be purchased through that process.
- Numbers are listed with a fixed allocation charge based on classification (from $250 for Standard numbers up to $20,000 for Platinum, at audit time).
- Purchase the number at its listed price, no bidding involved. You then obtain the Enhanced Rights of Use (EROU).
- Once you have the EROU, ask a telco that offers the relevant inbound service to connect the number; a telco is not needed for the purchase itself.
- Buying a Smartnumber involves the fixed allocation charge plus a one-off Numbering System account registration charge (verify current amounts on The Numbering System before purchasing), and a small annual government-set Numbering Charge that carriers typically pass through.
When is a SmartNumber worth it?
For most small businesses, it is not. The cost is rarely justified relative to a standard number. 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 + 6-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.
1300 Number Cost Components
| Typical Range | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly access fee | $10-30/month | Flat fee to hold the number. Standard range for VOIP/specialist providers. Telstra typically higher. |
| Inbound call charge (landline caller) | $0.04-0.12/min | Business pays the portion above the local call rate. Per-minute billing most common. Rates vary materially by provider; compare each provider's complete rate card. |
| Inbound call charge (mobile caller) | $0.08-0.22/min | Mobile-originated calls cost more. Callers pay more, and business may also pay a higher rate. Rates vary materially by provider and may also depend on call destination/answer point; compare each provider's complete rate card. |
| Setup fee | $0-100 one-off | Many providers waive for standard numbers. May apply for number reservation or porting. |
| SmartNumbers allocation charge | $250-$20,000 fixed allocation charge | Smartnumbers are no longer auctioned (the last auction was 9 July 2015). Current Smartnumbers are purchased through The Numbering System at a fixed allocation charge based on classification (Standard $250 up to Platinum $20,000 at audit time), plus a one-off account registration charge. Applies to memorable/vanity numbers only. Standard provider-issued numbers do not carry the Smartnumber purchase price, but statutory allocation charges apply at the CSP level and the provider may also charge the customer setup or allocation fees. |
| Annual Numbering Charge | ~$0.57-$0.70/year | Small annual government-set Numbering Charge, typically passed through by your carrier. Not an auction/reservation fee, applies regardless of whether the number was purchased as a SmartNumber. |
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: at 3,000 inbound minutes per month (30 calls/day x 5 minutes x 20 business days), usage would be approximately $120-$660 at the stated $0.04-$0.22 per-minute rates, before adding the access fee. Rates and structure vary materially by provider, compare each provider's full rate card.
- Total: approximately $135-$680/month depending on provider, call mix and rate
At lower call volumes, total cost still depends on average call duration, answer point, included minutes and the provider's rate structure. 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, ACMA allocates 1300 numbers to registered carriage service providers, which issue them to customers. The business customer does not have direct ownership rights unless they have purchased and registered a SmartNumber EROU through ACMA's Numbering System themselves. In the standard provider model, the registered CSP holds the allocation and issues the customer rights to use the number.
What this means in practice:
The current provider must facilitate a valid port request for an active 1300 number, although the receiving provider does not have to accept the service and contractual fees or final bills may remain payable. 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.
Buying a Smartnumber makes the purchaser its EROU-holder, with enhanced rights to use, trade, license and reconnect the number. It is not outright ownership, and a registered CSP is still required to connect the service. The short version: 1300 numbers share call costs between the caller and the business. 1800 calls are generally free from standard fixed lines and most Australian mobile services, while the business pays the inbound call charges. 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. 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. Straight forwarding to a mobile does not itself add these features, but many hosted 1300 services can apply IVR, time-based routing, recording or voicemail before forwarding calls to the mobile. 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. 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. Mobile-originated calls can be a significant part of a business's inbound call traffic. Charges to the caller depend on their mobile plan, while the business's inbound rate may or may not differ for mobile-originated calls depending on its provider and answer point. Check the mobile inbound rate specifically, not just the landline rate, when comparing providers. At sustained call volumes, even a small per-minute rate difference can materially affect the monthly bill, depending on average call duration. 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 paying a four- or five-figure fixed allocation charge for a premium-tier SmartNumber. 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. Here is a practical checklist for getting your 1300 number set up: 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. Activation time varies by provider and setup, from near-immediate provisioning for some stock-number services to several business days for others. 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, purchasing it through The Numbering System is generally quick since there is no auction or bidding period, but carrier activation afterward can still take a similar timeframe to a standard number. Porting time varies by provider and complexity; ask the gaining provider for its current 1300-number timeframe and allow for delays if the request is rejected or requires correction. Usually, yes, if the number remains active and the new telco accepts the port; contractual fees, notice obligations and final bills may still apply. Number portability is supported under Australian telecommunications regulations, and carriers are generally required to cooperate with porting requests. However, some providers charge porting fees-around $50-$100 in current examples-impose notice periods, or include clauses that make porting administratively difficult. Before signing with any provider, read the contract for explicit porting terms. Purchasing an available Smartnumber through ACMA's Numbering System gives you Enhanced Rights of Use, including rights to trade or license it, but it is not outright ownership and a telco is still required to connect the service. See our full guide on porting your number in Australia for the step-by-step process. SmartNumbers is ACMA's numbering allocation system (via The Numbering System, thenumberingsystem.com.au) for memorable 1300 and 1800 numbers, sequences that are easy to remember, like 1300 123 456 or 1300 + a word. Businesses purchase these numbers at a fixed allocation charge based on classification, no bidding is involved, SmartNumbers have not been auctioned since 9 July 2015. You obtain Enhanced Rights of Use (EROU) on purchase, then ask a telco that offers the relevant inbound service to connect the number. A small annual government-set Numbering Charge applies (typically passed through by your carrier), separate from the allocation charge. 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. 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, rates vary materially by provider and can depend on call origin, destination and answer point, so compare each provider's full rate card rather than assuming a universal per-minute figure. Total monthly cost depends on billable minutes, plan inclusions, answer point, call origin and the provider's complete rate structure; calculate it from a current rate card rather than a universal call-count range. 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 business phone companies for similar features. 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 business phone companies 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 usually migrate to a VOIP system later without changing the 1300 number if it remains active and the new provider accepts the port, although contractual charges may still apply. Not automatically. In Australia, ACMA allocates 1300 numbers to registered carriage service providers, which then issue them to customers; the CSP may be a licensed carrier or may use another carrier's network. In the standard provider model, the carrier holds the allocation - your business has usage rights, not ownership rights. If you want enhanced rights, you can purchase an available Smartnumber through ACMA's Numbering System; this gives you Enhanced Rights of Use rather than outright ownership. 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. Not sure which provider to use for your 1300 number, or want help setting up a phone system that handles inbound calls properly? Get a free recommendation tailored to your business size and setup.1300 vs 1800: Which One Do You Need?
Routing Options: Pointing Your 1300 Number at Your Phone System
Common Mistakes When Getting a 1300 Number
Your Next Steps
How long does it take to get a 1300 number in Australia?
Can I keep my 1300 number if I switch providers?
What is ACMA SmartNumbers?
How much does a 1300 number cost per month in Australia?
Can I get a 1300 number without a business phone system?
Do I own my 1300 number outright?