Your first business texting line: five decisions before you buy.

1. Give the line one job.

Write down the first thing this number is for. Answering new inquiries is different from following up with existing customers, and both differ from an automated agent answering around the clock. A narrow starting job makes pricing and capacity questions easier to answer.

2. Decide where replies belong.

Choose a shared inbox if your team needs a common place to work. If the team already lives in a CRM, confirm exactly how the integration brings replies into that system. A promised connection may be native, built through an automation service, or something you have to develop.

3. Match price to permission and capacity.

Miss Blue’s published Dedicated sale price is $99 per line monthly, with a shared inbox and API. Its homepage also describes sending limits. Sendblue’s $100 AI Agent plan is inbound-first, while full outbound pricing is custom. These are different scopes. Compare a written quote for your actual use, not just the smallest number on either page.

Count lines, optional calling, implementation, and staff time. Agree on who can start new conversations and how you will respect customer preferences.

4. Leave your main number in place until the move is ready.

A number transfer can affect the way customers reach you. Ask about eligibility, required documents, timing, and what happens to calls during the move. Test with a new line first if that gives you a simpler evaluation. Do not cancel the existing service based only on a promised transfer date.

5. Run an ordinary day, not a perfect demo.

Have one person ask a question and another person answer from the business inbox. Send a photo, check a non-iMessage recipient, and see what happens after closing time. Write down any missed context or extra steps. The right tool is the one your team can operate calmly on a normal day.