Can You Have a Personal and Business WhatsApp Number on the Same Phone?
Ifigenia Arampelou
WhatsApp has made it easier to keep your personal and work conversations separate.
You can now have more than one WhatsApp account on the same phone, which sounds like the perfect solution for anyone who wants to keep their personal WhatsApp number private while using another number for work.
But there’s an important catch — particularly if you want to use your existing business landline.
Two WhatsApp accounts on one phone
WhatsApp's multi-account feature allows you to add another account to the WhatsApp app and switch between your accounts without logging out.
Each account has its own:
- Phone number
- Profile
- Chats
- Notifications
- Privacy settings
So, in principle, you could have your personal mobile number for friends and family and a second number for work.
No second phone required.
Sounds ideal. But it depends on the number you want to use.
The catch: your second number can't simply be any business number
We tested this ourselves.
We tried adding an existing 020 London business number as the second account.
WhatsApp offered to verify the number by telephone call, but the registration subsequently failed.
Why?
Because WhatsApp's multi-account functionality in the standard WhatsApp Messenger app is designed for numbers supported by the consumer WhatsApp service. Fixed/landline numbers aren't supported for registration in the normal WhatsApp app.
That's an important distinction for businesses.
If your "business number" is simply another mobile number, you may be able to add it as your second WhatsApp account.
But if it's the office number your customers already know — perhaps an 020, 0161, 0121, 0118 or another UK geographic number — you can't simply add it as the second account in the standard WhatsApp app.
Can I use my existing landline number with WhatsApp?
Yes. But this is where WhatsApp Business comes in.
WhatsApp allows eligible fixed/landline numbers to be registered with the WhatsApp Business app, normally using voice-call verification rather than an SMS.
So one possible setup is:
Personal mobile number → WhatsApp
Business landline → WhatsApp Business
Both apps can be installed on the same phone, giving you personal and business WhatsApp conversations on one device.
There are additional restrictions around some VoIP, virtual and other number types, so it's worth checking your particular number before assuming it will work.
What if several people need to answer the business WhatsApp?
This is where things become more interesting.
Having your business WhatsApp on one person's phone may be fine for a sole trader or very small business.
But what happens when your sales team, customer service team, admissions department or account managers all need access?
That's when you need to think beyond simply putting WhatsApp Business on a phone.
With the WhatsApp Business Platform, your organisation can use WhatsApp as a proper business communication channel rather than something belonging to one person's handset.
And that's exactly where Flowella comes in.
Your business number doesn't have to become someone's personal WhatsApp
Flowella connects WhatsApp with your business processes and CRM.
Instead of conversations sitting on an employee's phone, your team can manage WhatsApp conversations through a shared inbox, connect them with HubSpot and build WhatsApp into forms and automated workflows.
That means you can do things such as:
- Send a WhatsApp message after someone submits a form
- Route enquiries to your team
- Manage conversations through a shared inbox
- Connect WhatsApp conversations with HubSpot contacts
- Build automated WhatsApp workflows
- Keep business communications separate from employees' personal WhatsApp accounts
And, depending on the number and setup, you may be able to use a number your customers already recognise.
So, can I have personal and business WhatsApp on the same phone?
Yes. But the answer depends on what you mean by "business WhatsApp".
If you have two suitable mobile numbers, WhatsApp's multi-account feature may be all you need.
If you want your existing business landline on WhatsApp, you'll need to look at WhatsApp Business rather than simply adding it as another account in the standard WhatsApp app.
And if you want multiple employees, CRM integration, automation, forms and workflows, you'll probably want to look at the WhatsApp Business Platform and a solution such as Flowella.
The good news is that you don't need to give customers your personal mobile number just because you want to communicate with them on WhatsApp.
That's one of the biggest misconceptions we hear from businesses considering WhatsApp.
Want to use your existing business number on WhatsApp?
Talk to us before buying another SIM or setting up another phone.
Tell us what number you currently use and what you'd like WhatsApp to do. We'll help you work out the most appropriate setup and whether you can use your existing number with Flowella.
