If you're still giving clients your personal cell phone number, you're making a mistake that costs you both privacy and money. A dedicated business phone number isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential for any serious coaching practice.

The Problem with Using Your Personal Number

Most coaches start by sharing their personal cell phone. It seems simpler. But this approach creates several problems:

  • No work-life boundary - Client texts at 10 PM feel intrusive when they hit your personal phone
  • Unprofessional appearance - Prospects can't distinguish you from a hobbyist
  • Missed leads - When you can't answer, callers have no idea if they reached the right person
  • Privacy concerns - Your personal number is now searchable and shareable
  • No tracking - You can't measure which marketing efforts drive calls

What a Business Phone System Provides

Professional Voicemail

When you can't answer, callers hear a professional greeting that confirms they've reached your coaching practice. They're more likely to leave a message—and more likely to become clients.

Call Forwarding

Calls to your business number ring your personal phone. You answer calls normally, but your personal number stays private. Clients only see your business number.

SMS Messaging

Text clients from your business number. Appointment reminders, quick check-ins, and follow-ups all come from your professional line. When they reply, it goes to your CRM—not buried in personal texts.

Missed Call Auto-Text

This feature alone can transform your lead capture. When you miss a call, an automatic text is sent immediately: "Hi, this is [Your Name] with [Your Practice]. Sorry I missed your call—I'm with a client. How can I help you?"

Studies show 80% of callers who go to voicemail don't leave a message. But most will respond to a text. This one feature can increase your lead capture by 40% or more.

After-Hours Messaging

Set business hours and automatic responses. Calls outside your hours get a professional message, and texts receive an auto-reply letting them know when you'll respond.

The ROI of a Business Phone

Let's do the math. Say you miss 10 calls per month from potential clients. Without auto-text, maybe 2 leave voicemails. With auto-text, 8 engage via text.

If your close rate is 30% and your average package is $2,000:

  • Without auto-text: 2 leads × 30% = 0.6 clients × $2,000 = $1,200/month
  • With auto-text: 8 leads × 30% = 2.4 clients × $2,000 = $4,800/month

That's $3,600/month in additional revenue from a feature that costs a fraction of that.

Setting Up Your Business Phone in Stronghold

Stronghold includes a complete business phone system. Here's how to set it up:

  1. Go to Settings → Phone
  2. Click Get a Business Number
  3. Choose a local area code
  4. Set your forwarding number (your cell phone)
  5. Record or type your voicemail greeting
  6. Enable missed call auto-text
  7. Set your business hours

The entire setup takes about 5 minutes. Your new number is active immediately.

Best Practices

  • Use a local area code - People answer local numbers more often
  • Keep auto-texts personal - Write them in your voice, not corporate-speak
  • Respond quickly - When someone texts back, reply within an hour if possible
  • Update your marketing - Put your new business number everywhere: website, cards, social media

Stop Losing Leads

Every missed call is potentially a missed client. A dedicated business phone number with smart automation ensures you capture every opportunity while maintaining the boundaries that prevent burnout.

Your phone should work as hard as you do. With Stronghold's built-in phone system, it finally can.