LARA

Connect your first phone number to LARA

Port a number, buy a fresh one, or forward your existing line. Whichever path you pick, this is the 5-minute version.

Colin LawlessColin LawlessCo-founder, CTO5 min readUpdated Apr 28, 2026
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Heads up

You'll need owner or admin permissions in your Laddr workspace to connect a number. If you don't see the LARA settings page, ask your owner to grant access.

Before you start

Decide whether you want LARA on a brand-new number, your existing main line, or as a fallback when your team can't pick up. Most customers start with option 3 (forward) so nothing changes for callers, then graduate to option 2 (port) once they trust LARA.

  • A US or Canadian phone line you own, OR
  • Your business address (for buying a new number), OR
  • Forwarding access on your current carrier

Three ways to connect

Each option has trade-offs. Pick the one that matches your risk tolerance:

  1. Buy a fresh number — quickest, lowest risk. LARA owns the number outright.
  2. Port your existing number — keeps your branding intact. Takes 5–10 days.
  3. Forward to LARA — zero changes for callers. LARA only picks up when you don't.

Option 1: Buy a fresh number

Best for new locations or A/B-testing LARA without touching your main line.

  1. Open Settings → LARA → Phone numbers.
  2. Click Add number → Buy a new number.
  3. Pick area code (we recommend matching your service region).
  4. Confirm. The number is live in under 60 seconds.
bash
# Or via the API
curl -X POST https://api.laddr.app/v1/lara/numbers \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LADDR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{ "areaCode": "716", "capabilities": ["voice", "sms"] }'

Option 2: Port your existing number

Keeps your printed marketing intact. Takes 5–10 business days because your current carrier has to release the number.

Don't cancel first

Do NOT cancel service with your current carrier before the port completes. If they release the number first, it goes back to the pool and you may lose it permanently.

Option 3: Forward to LARA

Use your carrier's conditional forwarding to send calls to LARA only when your team doesn't pick up after 4 rings. LARA's number stays hidden — callers see your real number.

Test the connection

Once connected, place a test call from your personal phone:

  1. Dial the LARA number.
  2. LARA should answer in 1–2 rings with your custom greeting.
  3. Ask a question your business knows the answer to.
  4. Hang up and check Settings → LARA → Calls. The test call should be there in 30 seconds.

Looking good

If the test call shows up with a transcript, you're done. From here, every missed call becomes a tracked, transcribed, follow-up-ready opportunity.

Troubleshooting

If LARA isn't picking up:

  • Check Settings → LARA → Phone numbers — the status pill should be green.
  • If forwarding, confirm your carrier's forwarding rule is active (not all carriers honor conditional forwarding).
  • Re-run the test call after 60 seconds — DNS/SIP propagation can take a moment.

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