Black Friday business mobile deals: read this first

It's the last week of November. The email says "BLACK FRIDAY: 50% off business lines!" in a font size usually saved for weddings. You've got six people on phones, a renewal coming up and a strong urge to just click the button and be done with it.

Hold that thought for five minutes. The short answer: a Black Friday business mobile deal can be worth having, but the discount usually lasts a few months while the contract lasts two or three years, often with a yearly price rise and a charge for leaving early. Add up the whole contract, not the headline. Kindly doesn't do a Black Friday deal: business plans are £9.95, £13.95 and £15.95 a month per SIM (ex VAT), all year, for everyone, with no annual price rises and no lock-in.

Are Black Friday business mobile deals worth it?

Sometimes. The trick is in the maths. Discounts are usually front-loaded: half price for the first few months, then the full price for the rest of a long contract.

Here's a made-up but typical example. Say a line costs £20 a month (ex VAT) on a 24-month contract, with half price for the first six months.

So "50% off" is really one-eighth off. That's still a saving, but only if nothing else in the contract eats it. And there's usually something.

What should a business check before signing?

Read these before you click, not after:

1. How long is the contract? 24 and 36 months are common for business lines. Your team, your funding and your plans can all change in that time.
2. Does the price go up every year? Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has required providers to set out price rises in pounds and pence upfront in new consumer contracts. Business contracts aren't always written the same way, so find the price-change clause and ask for the rise in writing.
3. What does leaving early cost? Early termination charges can wipe out the discount several times over.
4. Is the discount on every line? Some offers only apply to new lines, or to one plan size.
5. What can a SIM spend beyond the plan? Premium-rate numbers, roaming and extra data can all add up on a staff phone.
6. Who owns the numbers? Make sure the account is in the business's name, so the numbers stay with you when staff move on.
7. Will you get a VAT invoice? One monthly invoice in the business's name makes reclaiming VAT simpler (check with your accountant).

Can a business cancel a phone contract within 14 days?

Usually not. The 14-day cancellation right for online and phone purchases comes from the Consumer Contracts Regulations, which protect consumers, not businesses. A business that signs up on Friday night generally can't change its mind on Monday morning.

Very small organisations get a bit more help. Ofcom gives businesses with ten or fewer employees some extra protections, but you can be asked to give up some of them, so read what you're agreeing to. If you're bigger than that, assume the contract means exactly what it says.

What about charities?

The same applies: a charity buying phones isn't a consumer, so there's no automatic cooling-off period. Charities also have an extra problem. Grants often last one to three years, while phone contracts can outlast the funding. A deal that ties you in past the end of a grant isn't a bargain.

Kindly's charity plans are £8.95, £12.95 and £14.95 a month per SIM (ex VAT) for registered and HMRC-recognised charities. That's £1 below our business price: on charity plans, the £1 that other SIMs give to good causes comes off your bill instead.

Why doesn't Kindly do Black Friday?

Because a fair price shouldn't depend on which week you happened to be shopping. Black Friday deals often lure you in with a low price, then lock you in while it rises. A discount for new customers is paid for by the customers who are already there, and we'd rather treat them both the same.

So instead of a countdown timer, here's what you get all year:

• One price for everyone, whether you joined last year or this morning.
• No annual price rises. No April surprise.
• Existing customers keep their price while they stay on their plan. No low price to lure you in, then a rise once you're locked in.
• 30-day rolling plans. Add or remove SIMs as your team changes, with no exit fees.
• A £0 spend limit on every SIM, so nothing beyond the plan can be charged unless you choose otherwise.
• £1 a month to good causes from every business SIM, going to charities and community causes.

One more honest reason: we're a small team doing something different, and we want to do it right. That's why we're opening Kindly to 1,000 customers at a time and looking after each one properly. A Black Friday stampede wouldn't help anybody.

Check what your team actually needs. Upload a recent bill to Bill Check and it suggests the right plan for each number, ready to order. Or see our business plans and charity plans.

FAQ

Is Black Friday a good time to get a business phone contract?

Only if the total over the whole contract beats the alternatives. Work out the full cost, including any yearly rises and exit charges, before comparing.

Can I cancel a business mobile contract within 14 days?

Usually not. The 14-day cancellation right protects consumers; businesses and charities generally don't get it, so read the terms before signing.

Does Kindly have a Black Friday offer?

No. Our prices are the same for everyone, all year, with no annual price rises and no lock-in.

Do business SIM-only prices include VAT?

Usually not. Business prices are normally shown ex VAT. Kindly's business plans are £9.95, £13.95 and £15.95 a month plus VAT.

Sources

• Ofcom: protecting consumers from uncertain and volatile inflation (pounds and pence rule, 17 January 2025)
• Business Companion (Trading Standards): Consumer Contracts Regulations and the 14-day cancellation right
• Ofcom: General Conditions that protect business customers (extra rights for businesses with ten employees or fewer)