In the past, if you wanted to switch phone providers, you were also forced to change your phone number.

To a business, phone numbers are a lifeline to their customers. Changing a business phone number often meant having to print new marketing materials and reach out to all their customers to inform them of the change. Still, some customers might miss the memo and continue to call the inactive number, leading to lost sales.

The hassle of switching over is weighed against the stagnancy of staying with vendors providing poor service, which still results in missed opportunities. It was a lose-lose situation.

Nowadays, though, changing phone providers as your business grows is made easier with number porting.

What is number porting? How does it work?

Number porting is the process of taking an existing phone number from one phone service provider and transferring it to another one. It can be done with personal and professional phone numbers.

What are the benefits of number porting?

Business is uninterrupted.

As there’s no need to change your number even if you’re moving to a new provider, customers who already know your number can continue to reach you. Business goes on as normal, even during the number porting process.

You’ll get to switch to a provider with better service, improved functionality, and more diverse features—all without having to miss a single call.

No need for new marketing materials.

Since you’re keeping your number, you don’t need to spend time or money changing the contact information on your website, advertising, or print materials. You won’t have to go through the trouble of messaging all your customers asking them to save your new number. Best of all, you won’t lose business from customers calling an inactive number.

Get the services you want.

You’re probably considering changing providers who offer features that will help you keep up with your growing business. Number porting is an easy way to move to a new provider that can support your evolving needs.

You can switch to a provider like Grasshopper that makes number porting painless while giving you more features. You can add virtual phone systems, VoIP calling, voicemail transcription, call-forwarding, cloud storage, and more to your plan—all while retaining the number your customers already have saved on their phones.

How to port a phone number to Grasshopper

1 - Determine if your number can be ported.

Check with your current provider that your number is eligible for porting. A port could be rejected for reasons such as incorrect billing information or outstanding balances with your old provider.

Make sure you tie up any loose ends so you can proceed with the porting process seamlessly.

2 - Tell your old provider you’re switching.

If all your details are in order, inform your old provider that you intend to port your number. Collect all the information needed for porting, including your account name, billing address, phone number to be ported, and port-out PIN.

It is recommended that you DO NOT close your account yet at this point. Canceling your plan with your old provider may cause issues during the number porting process, so wait until the port is finished to close your old plan.

3 - Submit information to Grasshopper

Follow the steps below to port your number to Grasshopper. Enter the information from your provider to begin the porting process.

Make sure all the information needed to switch over is accurate to avoid delays. You will need to sign a letter of authorization granting Grasshopper permission to perform the port.

Once the transfer is complete, you can start using your phone number with Grasshopper!

After the porting is successful, don’t forget to cancel your plan with your old provider to avoid duplicate charges.

How long does it take to port a phone number?

Porting timelines may vary from case to case, but generally, number porting can take up to 7-10 business days.

To ensure a smooth and painless porting process, make sure that the information you submit to Grasshopper matches that on the old provider’s records.

How to set up number porting with Grasshopper

If you would like to port your number to Grasshopper, make sure you have the following

If you’re an existing Grasshopper customer, porting your number to Grasshopper is fast and easy. It only takes four simple steps:

  1. Go to the Grasshopper portal.
  2. Select Transfer Your Number in the navigation menu to initiate the porting process.
  3. Complete all the required fields. Your information must match exactly what’s on the record with your current provider. The porting process may be rejected or delayed if any submitted information is inaccurate. You will be asked for:
    1. Phone number(s) to transfer.
    2. Grasshopper number.
    3. Authorizing name.
    4. Billing phone number.
    5. Current service provider.
    6. Address.
    7. Account number.
    8. Account PIN.
    9. Last four digits of SSN.
    10. Tax ID number.
    11. Electronically-signed Letter of Authorization.
  4. Wait for the transfer. After submitting the online form, you will receive copies of the letter of authorization that you signed during the application. The Grasshopper number transfer team will then begin processing your request. The number transfer team will notify you about when you can expect the porting process to be completed.

Port your number to Grasshopper today!

If you’re looking to port your existing number to a new provider, consider Grasshopper!

Grasshopper is a full virtual phone system that caters to solopreneurs and small teams. We offer features tailored to support business needs, such as VoIP, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and more. You can use Grasshopper via mobile or desktop apps, ensuring you never miss a call even while on the go.

Try Grasshopper free for 7 days today!