Business phone system for offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi
346 offices of certified public accountants operated in Mississippi in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 346CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,223mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.8U.S. 16.2
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
How many offices of certified public accountants operate in Mississippi
Mississippi had 346 offices of certified public accountants in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541211, Offices of Certified Public Accountants). They employed 4,223 people in mid-March and reported $304.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of certified public accountants make up 0.57% of the 60,465 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Mississippi has 11.8 offices of certified public accountants, 27.4% below the national rate of 16.2. The average establishment has 12.2 employees against 11.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $72,162, 28.3% below the U.S. figure of $100,691.
| Measure | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 346 | 55,052 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,223 (moderate noise) | 604,209 |
| Annual payroll | $304,739,000 (moderate noise) | $60,838,681,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 12.2 | 11.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $72,162 | $100,691 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.8 | 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.
Where offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi are concentrated
Census published accounting firm counts for 20 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Mississippi. The largest is Memphis, TN-MS-AR, with 118 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 81% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 118 | 1,266 | 8.8 |
| Jackson, MS | 91 | — | 15.0 |
| Gulfport, MS | 48 | 211 | 11.2 |
| Tupelo, MS | 25 | 216 | 18.8 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 18 | 145 | 11.5 |
| Meridian, MS | 12 | 62 | 14.0 |
| Vicksburg, MS | 11 | — | 26.1 |
| Greenville, MS | 11 | 36 | 26.7 |
| Oxford, MS | 10 | 68 | 13.8 |
| Laurel, MS | 8 | 51 | 9.8 |
| Columbus, MS | 6 | 40 | 9.0 |
| Picayune, MS | 6 | — | 10.2 |
| Natchez, MS-LA | 6 | 54 | 11.2 |
| McComb, MS | 6 | — | 11.4 |
| Greenwood, MS | 6 | 54 | 16.9 |
| Starkville, MS | 5 | 43 | 8.1 |
| Brookhaven, MS | 5 | 45 | 14.3 |
| Corinth, MS | 4 | 25 | 11.7 |
| Cleveland, MS | 4 | 37 | 14.1 |
| Clarksdale, MS | 3 | 14 | 14.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi
55.4% of Mississippi's offices of certified public accountants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 79.1% 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.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 191 | 55.4% | 64.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 82 | 23.8% | 18.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 47 | 13.6% | 9.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 21 | 6.1% | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 1.2% | 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.
Why the phone matters for offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi
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. That holds for offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi:
- The firm calls a client to request a signature.
- A client calls to ask whether a missing tax form has been received.
- A small business owner calls to ask about bookkeeping help.
Texting clients
Firms text document reminders and let clients know when returns are ready to sign.
Texting from a local number in Mississippi requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 12-person accounting firm
Offices of certified public accountants in Mississippi average 12.2 employees, so the comparison uses a 12-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 12 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $360.00 a month and 12 on Ooma Office Pro cost $299.40. Callata comes to $239.00 a month for 12 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,452 less than RingCentral for an accounting firm in Mississippi of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $239.00 | $2,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $228.00 | $2,736.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $276.00 | $3,312.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $299.40 | $3,592.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $324.00 | $3,888.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $360.00 | $4,320.00 |
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 Mississippi
Mississippi has 5 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.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | 783 | Central | 1947 | 769 |
| 662 | 756 | Central | 1999 | 471 |
| 228 | 274 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 769 | 254 | Central | 2005 | 601 |
| 471 | 0 | Central | 2026 | 662 |
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 Mississippi
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.
Porting a number you already use in Mississippi 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many offices of certified public accountants are in Mississippi?
346 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,223 people in mid-March.
Which Mississippi metro area has the most offices of certified public accountants?
Memphis, TN-MS-AR, with 118 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 12-person accounting firm?
$360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $239.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Mississippi 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.