Why You Need a Separate Phone When Working From Home

Whether you work remotely for a company or you’re self-employed and working from home, it’s best to have a separate business phone. It doesn’t matter if it’s a landline or a cellphone, but it should be a separate device and phone number. Although it might seem easier to use one phone or a dual SIM, here’s why separating everything is the better option.

1. It’s easier to separate your expenses

When the time comes to document your business expenses for tax purposes, it’s much easier when you have a separate bill for your work phone. When you use the same phone for personal and work purposes, you can only put a percentage of the bill on your itemized business deductions. For example, say you buy the new Samsung Galaxy S25 and a sturdy case from i-Blason. You might claim 60% of your bill as a business expense, and then calculate the phone’s depreciation based on that number.

While the math isn’t hard, it’s still an extra step you need to take to get your taxes done. Separating your expenses eliminates this extra step. It also makes your deduction more believable. For instance, if you deduct 80% of your phone bill as a business expense, the IRS might see that as a red flag. Even if you’d save a few bucks, the convenience is worth keeping your phone-related expenses separate. 

2. It’s easier to disconnect after work

If you only have one phone for business and personal use, you’ll be more likely to continue working after hours as new emails and notifications come in throughout the night. Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, working around the clock is unhealthy.

When you have a separate business phone, you can set strict business hours and ensure anyone contacting you after hours will be greeted with a voicemail message.

Separating your personal and business phone expenses will make it easier to disconnect after work and enjoy your personal time. You won’t get notifications from clients or your boss, and you won’t be tempted to check your work email while you’re eating dinner.

3. Your professional contacts won’t get your personal number

 Having a business phone with a separate number gives you more control over who has access to you. If you have one phone number, you’ll need to give it to everyone, including your business contacts, like clients, customers, and even the general public if you post it on your website. Professional contacts will have access to you around the clock, and may not respect your working hours. 

If there’s ever an issue where you need to change your number, it can disrupt your life. For example, you’ll need to change your phone number for all of your personal accounts that use two-factor authentication, and if you miss any, you’ll get locked out.

4. It’s easier to get reimbursed

Depending on what state you live in, your employer might be required to compensate you for using your personal phone for work. For example, in California, employees are supposed to receive a cell phone reimbursement stipend of some kind for using a personal mobile device to talk to clients, access work email, or perform any other kind of work.   

Depending on how you get reimbursed, it might be easier to submit a separate bill. If your secondary phone wasn’t issued by your employer, it will be considered a personal device, and you probably won’t get reimbursed for the cost of the phone. However, choosing to use a separate device for work gives you the ability to turn it off after hours.

5. You can use call forwarding

With a separate business phone, you can take advantage of digital VoIP features, like call forwarding. Say you go on vacation and need someone to field your calls while you’re gone. If you only have one number, you’ll be stuck working throughout your entire vacation. With a separate number, you can forward calls to a temporary secretary and enjoy your vacation in peace.

6. You’ll appear more professional

Having one phone means everyone will hear the same voicemail greeting, and if it’s too personal, it might put clients off. With two separate phones, you can create a professional voicemail greeting for your business line, and include additional information, like your business hours.

Separating your phones is practical and smart 

The decision to maintain a separate business phone is practical, but it’s also an investment in your personal wellbeing. While it will cost a little more to set up, the long-term benefits for both your personal and professional life are clear.