In short
Business SIM only, or business mobile SIM only, is a mobile plan for a business that covers airtime only: calls, texts and data on a SIM or eSIM, without a handset. You use phones you own, keep your numbers with a PAC code and manage every line on one business account. We supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business.
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What business mobile SIM only means
Business SIM only is a mobile airtime agreement held by a business rather than a person. The monthly charge for a business mobile SIM only plan covers the service on the SIM (UK calls, texts and data, plus any roaming or add-ons you choose) and nothing else. You put the SIM into a phone, tablet, laptop or router your business already owns, so phone SIMs and data SIMs for other devices can sit on the same account.
What makes it a business plan is the account around it: the business is the account holder, the numbers belong to the business, prices are quoted ex VAT, and you get controls such as spend caps and an online account for managing many lines on one bill. Our explainer on business SIM cards covers those differences in more detail, and business SIM vs personal SIM answers the common question of whether a personal plan will do.
SIM only for business: who it suits, from small to large businesses
- You already own your phones: handsets your business bought and wants to keep in service
- You buy devices separately: many organisations buy phones outright or through their usual procurement, refresh them when it suits them and keep the airtime agreement simple
- You need data in other devices: tablets, laptops, routers and vehicles that need a business data only SIM rather than a phone plan
- You want flexibility: shorter terms are available on some networks, and SIM only lines are easier to add or remove as the team changes
- Staff use their own phones: an eSIM on a business plan can give someone a work number on the phone they already carry
- You run a fleet of lines: one account, many SIMs and central controls
SIM only for business works at any size. A sole trader or a small team usually wants a handful of lines with sensible allowances and spend caps; our guide to small business SIM only covers teams of one to ten. Medium and large businesses tend to run SIM only as a fleet: many lines, a mix of phone and data SIMs, shared data where usage is uneven, central controls and a clear record of who has which SIM. Networks shape separate ranges for larger organisations, and our page on fleet SIM cards explains how to run SIM only for a medium or large business on one account.
Business SIM card only: phone SIMs, data SIMs and eSIM
A business SIM card only plan gives you the SIM, or an eSIM, and the airtime, with no handset attached. It covers more than one kind of SIM, and most organisations end up with a mix:
- Phone (voice) SIMs: calls, texts and data for staff handsets, with individual or shared data; see business SIM only plans
- Data only SIMs: no voice or text, for tablets, laptops, routers and dongles; see mobile broadband SIM only
- IoT SIMs: low-data SIMs for telematics, payment terminals, alarms and sensors; see IoT SIM cards
- Static IP SIMs: data SIMs with a fixed IP address for routers, CCTV, telemetry and remote access; see static IP SIM cards
- eSIM: the same plan delivered digitally, activated with a QR code rather than a plastic card; see eSIM SIM only
- 5G SIMs: plans that use 5G where a compatible device has 5G coverage; see 5G SIM only for business
- Multibuy and multi SIM: several SIMs on one account, or SIMs that can use more than one network; our page on what a multi SIM is untangles the terms
Physical SIMs come as standard, micro and nano cards and are posted to you; an eSIM is downloaded to the device, which helps when you are setting up new starters or remote staff. Whatever the mix, every SIM can sit on one business account, with spend caps and roaming settings managed line by line.
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SIM only for your business phones
A business phone SIM only plan is the simplest way to run company mobiles. The phones are yours, bought outright or through your usual procurement, and the SIM only plan pays for the airtime. SIM only for business mobiles keeps those as two separate decisions. We focus on getting your airtime costs down, so your business can buy phones separately. That can save a lot of money and lets you choose when to refresh devices, phone by phone or team by team, and the SIM or eSIM simply moves to the new phone.
A business mobile phone SIM only plan needs phones that work on the network you choose. Before you switch, check that each phone is unlocked (if it is locked to its current network, ask that network to unlock it), that it supports eSIM if you want one, and that it is still receiving security updates. Our guide to buying business phones separately explains how it works, including how to move existing lines to SIM only as each one reaches the end of its term.
If you are choosing new phones as well, our sister site covers business mobile devices and device management. If you are reviewing devices and airtime at the same time, it also explains business mobile deals built around airtime and how business mobile contracts work.
The networks we supply
We supply business SIM only plans on EE Business and Three Business, and we can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business. Each one has its own plan structures, account tools and coverage, so we describe them separately. The right network for you depends mainly on signal where your people actually work, which you can check with each network's own coverage checker. Our guide to business SIM only networks explains how to approach that choice.
EE Business
EE Business sells SIM-only plans for businesses with 1-10 employees and a separate range for businesses with 11 or more, which comes in three plan types: The Team Plan, The Shared Plan and The Individual Plan. Alongside phone SIMs it offers Data SIMs, eSIM and a ruggedised IoT SIM card, with spend caps on data, calls and roaming, a Bill Protector feature and the Mobile Manager portal for running the account. See EE Business SIM only plans.
Three Business
Three Business SIM Only plans run on 1, 12 or 24-month terms, alongside data only SIMs as an eSIM or a physical SIM and Multibuy SIM plans for teams. All Three Business plans are eSIM compatible, and Three Business SIMs are 5G-ready for use where Three has 5G coverage and your device supports it. See Three Business SIM only.
O2 Business
We can also supply SIM only plans on the O2 Business network. O2 Business's own shop lists SIM only plans on 12 or 24-month terms with spend caps, offers standard, micro, nano and eSIM, and supports keeping your number with a PAC. The plan, term and price we can offer are confirmed at quote. See O2 Business SIM only plans.
Vodafone Business
We can also supply SIM only plans on the Vodafone Business network. Vodafone Business has small business (1-9 employees), medium and large business ranges, sells business SIM only on fixed terms and 30-day plans, and lists data-only SIMs for tablets. The plan, term and price for your lines are confirmed at quote. See Vodafone Business SIM only.
Business SIM only deals, plans and contracts
Once you know which lines you need, three things shape the agreement: the deal, the plan and the contract. Our guides take each in turn:
- Deals: a business SIM only deal is judged on its total cost over the term across all your lines, not the headline monthly price; see business SIM only deals, and cheap business SIM only deals for what really keeps the cost down
- Plans: individual allowances, shared data or unlimited data, for phones and other devices; see business SIM only plans, and the unlimited data business SIM if your team hotspots or video calls a lot
- Contracts: networks sell business SIM only on 24-month, 12-month and rolling monthly terms, each with a different balance of price and flexibility; see business SIM only contracts
- Small teams: what matters for teams of one to ten people, in SIM only for small businesses
- Choosing a network: business SIM only networks explains how to choose by coverage where your people work
- Getting started: how to get a business SIM card sets out the steps for sole traders, partnerships and companies
Networks change their plans and offers often, so we can compare the current options for your team when you ask us for a quote.
Switching and keeping your numbers
You can move to a new business SIM only plan and keep your existing mobile numbers. Ofcom's switching rules give you a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code): for a single number you text PAC to 65075 from that phone, or ask through your online account or by phone. If there is more than one number on the account, you ask your current provider by phone or on its website. Ofcom says a PAC is valid for 30 days and that the number should normally be ported within one working day once your new provider has it. Ofcom has also banned mobile providers from charging for notice periods that run after the switch date.
If you do not need to keep a number, a STAC (Service Termination Authorisation Code) ends the old service instead: text STAC to 75075 for a single number. Our hub on how to keep your number explains the process, with separate guides to the PAC code, the STAC code and porting multiple mobile numbers for a whole team.
Moving landline or VoIP numbers is a different process; see number porting for business phone systems on our cloud phone site.
Choosing, switching and running your lines with us
Most businesses are weighing up coverage, data needs, contract terms and the timing of a switch at once, and a supplier who works across networks turns that into one conversation. We can:
- Look at what you use now: review recent bills or usage reports to size allowances and spot lines nobody uses
- Check coverage first: use each network's coverage checker for your offices, sites and regular routes
- Quote on more than one network: we supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business, so you see real options
- Plan the switch: time the move around your current contract end dates and keep your numbers with PAC codes
- Set up the account properly: spend caps, roaming settings, eSIM or physical SIMs, and a record of which SIM belongs to whom
- Help as the team changes: adding and removing lines and reviewing plans when your needs change
Prices depend on the network, the number of lines, the data you need and the term you choose, so ask us for a quote. Contact us with a rough idea of your team and we will suggest where to start.
Explore business SIM only
How Forever Communications helps with business SIM only
We help UK organisations choose, switch and run business SIM only plans, data SIMs and eSIMs for the phones and devices they already own.
- Start with what you have: we look at your current contracts, end dates, users, devices and how much data people really use before suggesting anything new
- More than one network: we supply SIM only plans on EE Business and Three Business, and we can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business, so you can choose by coverage where your people work
- Keep your numbers: we help you plan the move with PAC codes or STAC codes so existing business mobile numbers come with you
- SIMs for every device: voice SIMs, eSIM SIM only that works with your device management, business data only SIMs for tablets, routers and vehicles, and fleet SIM cards on one account
- Controls that suit a business: we can help you set up spend caps, bars and user changes through the network's own business tools
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group. Plans, terms and pricing are confirmed at quote, so contact us and we will set out the options that fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is business SIM only?
Business SIM only is a mobile airtime agreement held by a business, covering calls, texts and data on a SIM or eSIM without a handset. You use phones or devices you already own, or buy them separately. The business is the account holder, prices are quoted ex VAT and you get account controls such as spend caps.
Is SIM only for business different from a personal SIM only plan?
Yes. The SIM itself can be the same, but a business plan sits on an account held by the business, under business terms, with prices quoted ex VAT and controls such as spend caps and many lines on one bill. Networks keep the two apart: Three Business, for example, points people who are not business owners or self-employed to its personal plans.
Can we use business SIM only on the phones we already own?
Yes, as long as each phone works on the network you are moving to. If a phone is locked to its current network, ask that network to unlock it before you switch. For eSIM, the phone also needs to support eSIM.
Does business SIM only suit small, medium and large businesses?
Yes. Small teams usually want a few lines with the right allowances and spend caps, while medium and large businesses tend to run many phone and data SIMs on one account, with shared data and central controls. Networks shape their ranges around the size of the business, and we can set out the options that fit your team in a quote.
Which networks can you supply?
We supply business SIM only plans on EE Business and Three Business, and we can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business. We help you choose based on coverage where your people work and the plan structure that fits your team.
Can I keep my business mobile numbers if I switch?
Yes. Ofcom's switching rules let you keep your number with a PAC code. For one number, text PAC to 65075 or ask through your online account or by phone; if there are several numbers on the account, ask your current provider by phone or on its website. Ofcom says the number should normally be ported within one working day.
How much does business SIM only cost?
It depends on the network, the number of lines, the data each line needs and the contract length. Networks quote business prices ex VAT and publish their own annual price changes. We focus on getting your airtime costs down, sizing each line on real usage and ending lines nobody uses, so ask us for a quote and we will set out the costs for your team.
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