As Amish micro-enterprises—such as custom woodworking shops, construction crews, and produce auctions—grow into multi-million dollar businesses, communicating with non-Amish contractors and suppliers requires modern tools. This economic pressure has led to strict regulations surrounding cell phones.
Rules Governing Business Cell Phones
- Business-Only License: Mobile phones are designated strictly as workplace tools. They must remain inside the shop or work van and are forbidden at the family dinner table or in bedrooms.
- Basic Feature Phones over Smartphones: Many church districts permit basic “flip phones” for calling and texting, while banning internet browsers, social media apps, and video streaming.
- Third-Party Answering Services: Some business owners hire non-Amish call centers to record customer messages, which are retrieved periodically from a landline.