Business phone system for offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota
145 offices of certified public accountants operated in North Dakota in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 145CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,517mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 18.2U.S. 16.2
- State rank
- 46th of 51by count
How many offices of certified public accountants operate in North Dakota
The Census Bureau counted 145 offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541211). They employed 1,517 people in mid-March and reported $117.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 46th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of certified public accountants make up 0.57% of the 25,402 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Dakota has 18.2 offices of certified public accountants, 12.5% above the national rate of 16.2. The average establishment has 10.5 employees against 11.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $77,676, 22.9% below the U.S. figure of $100,691.
| Measure | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 145 | 55,052 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,517 | 604,209 |
| Annual payroll | $117,834,000 (moderate noise) | $60,838,681,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.5 | 11.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $77,676 | $100,691 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 18.2 | 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.
North Dakota's largest markets for offices of certified public accountants
Census published accounting firm counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Dakota. The largest is Fargo, ND-MN, with 45 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 41% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | 45 | 699 | 16.8 |
| Bismarck, ND | 28 | 292 | 20.1 |
| Minot, ND | 15 | 119 | 19.8 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 13 | — | 12.5 |
| Dickinson, ND | 8 | 73 | 20.6 |
| Williston, ND | 5 | 36 | 12.3 |
| Wahpeton, ND-MN | 3 | — | 13.1 |
| Jamestown, ND | 3 | — | 13.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota
54.9% of North Dakota's offices of certified public accountants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 80.6% 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 | 79 | 54.9% | 64.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 37 | 25.7% | 18.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 17 | 11.8% | 9.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 3.5% | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 4.2% | 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.
Calls an accounting firm in North Dakota 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. That holds for offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota as much as anywhere.
Calls an accounting firm in North Dakota might handle in a typical week include:
- A small business owner calls to ask about bookkeeping help.
- A bank calls to verify a client's financial statements.
- 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.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota
Offices of certified public accountants in North Dakota average 10.5 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 North Dakota
North Dakota has 1 geographic area code 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701 | 743 | Central and Mountain | 1947 | none |
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 North Dakota
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in North Dakota, 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 North Dakota?
145 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,517 people in mid-March.
Which North Dakota metro area has the most offices of certified public accountants?
Fargo, ND-MN, with 45 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 North Dakota 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.