Business phone system for offices of certified public accountants in Illinois

How many offices of certified public accountants operate in Illinois

Illinois had 2,229 offices of certified public accountants in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541211, Offices of Certified Public Accountants). They employed 33,227 people in mid-March and reported $3.8 billion in annual payroll. That is the 5th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of certified public accountants make up 0.69% of the 322,415 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Illinois has 17.5 offices of certified public accountants, 8.3% above the national rate of 16.2. The average establishment has 14.9 employees against 11.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $113,988, 13.2% above the U.S. figure of $100,691.

Where offices of certified public accountants in Illinois are concentrated

Census published accounting firm counts for 30 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Illinois. The largest is Chicago, IL-IN, with 1,789 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 14% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at offices of certified public accountants in Illinois

64.5% of Illinois's offices of certified public accountants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 83.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Calls an accounting firm in Illinois has to catch

CPA firms see sharp call peaks around filing deadlines, when the same small staff answers questions from many clients at once. Capturing every call and routing it to the right preparer keeps deadline weeks manageable.

A few of the calls that come in to offices of certified public accountants in Illinois:

• A bank calls to verify a client's financial statements.
• A client calls to ask whether a missing tax form has been received.
• The firm calls a client to request a signature.

What offices of certified public accountants text about

Firms text document reminders and let clients know when returns are ready to sign.

Texting from a local number in Illinois requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs an accounting firm in Illinois

Offices of certified public accountants in Illinois average 14.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 15-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $374.25 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $450.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $299.00 a month for 15 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $1,812 less than RingCentral for an accounting firm in Illinois of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Illinois

Illinois has 17 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an accounting firm can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for offices of certified public accountants in Illinois

Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in Illinois is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.

Avoid sending taxpayer identification numbers or full financial details by text.