CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of certified public accountants in Maryland
1,050 offices of certified public accountants operated in Maryland in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,050CBP 2023
- Employees
- 10,057mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 16.8U.S. 16.2
- State rank
- 17th of 51by count
How many offices of certified public accountants operate in Maryland
The Census Bureau counted 1,050 offices of certified public accountants in Maryland in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541211). They employed 10,057 people in mid-March and reported $1.0 billion in annual payroll. That is the 17th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of certified public accountants make up 0.73% of the 142,967 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maryland has 16.8 offices of certified public accountants, 3.6% above the national rate of 16.2. The average establishment has 9.6 employees against 11.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $103,922, 3.2% above the U.S. figure of $100,691.
| Measure | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,050 | 55,052 |
| Mid-March employees | 10,057 | 604,209 |
| Annual payroll | $1,045,143,000 | $60,838,681,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.6 | 11.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $103,922 | $100,691 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 16.8 | 16.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Offices of certified public accountants by metro area in Maryland
Census published accounting firm counts for 10 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maryland. The largest is Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 1,059 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 54% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,059 | 22,300 | 16.5 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,024 | 15,443 | 16.2 |
| Baltimore, MD | 505 | 5,436 | 17.7 |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV | 30 | 189 | 9.6 |
| Salisbury, MD | 23 | 181 | 17.5 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 17 | 53 | 8.0 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 14 | 102 | 14.9 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 13 | 59 | 23.9 |
| Easton, MD | 9 | 47 | 23.5 |
| Cambridge, MD | 5 | 9 | 15.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of certified public accountants in Maryland
64.5% of Maryland's offices of certified public accountants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 80.3% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 677 | 64.5% | 64.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 166 | 15.8% | 18.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 118 | 11.2% | 9.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 49 | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 40 | 3.8% | 2.9% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls an accounting firm in Maryland 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.
Calls an accounting firm in Maryland might handle in a typical week include:
- A client calls about a notice from a tax agency.
- A small business owner calls to ask about bookkeeping help.
- A client calls to ask whether a missing tax form has been received.
When nobody can pick up
During filing season, after-hours voicemails pile up quickly, so transcription and urgency flags help staff work through them.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs an accounting firm in Maryland
Offices of certified public accountants in Maryland average 9.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 10-person team. Priced per seat, 10 users would run $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 10 people cost $199.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,212. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Maryland
Maryland has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 227, 301 |
| 443 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 410, 667 |
| 301 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 240, 227 |
| 410 | 783 | Eastern | 1991 | 443, 667 |
| 667 | 452 | Eastern | 2012 | 410, 443 |
| 227 | 141 | Eastern | 2023 | 240, 301 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for offices of certified public accountants in Maryland
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Maryland, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Avoid sending taxpayer identification numbers or full financial details by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many offices of certified public accountants are in Maryland?
1,050 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 10,057 people in mid-March.
Which Maryland metro area has the most offices of certified public accountants?
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 1,059 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 10-person accounting firm?
$300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $199.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Maryland number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.