CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island
212 offices of certified public accountants operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 212CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,910mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 19.1U.S. 16.2
- State rank
- 43rd of 51by count
How many offices of certified public accountants operate in Rhode Island
The Census Bureau counted 212 offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541211). They employed 1,910 people in mid-March and reported $195.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 43rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of certified public accountants make up 0.72% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 19.1 offices of certified public accountants, 17.7% above the national rate of 16.2. The average establishment has 9.0 employees against 11.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $102,073, in line with the U.S. figure of $100,691.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 212 | 55,052 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,910 | 604,209 |
| Annual payroll | $194,960,000 | $60,838,681,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.0 | 11.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $102,073 | $100,691 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 19.1 | 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 Rhode Island
Census published accounting firm counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 282 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 282 | 2,293 | 16.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island
56.1% of Rhode Island's offices of certified public accountants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 82.1% 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 | 119 | 56.1% | 64.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 55 | 25.9% | 18.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 22 | 10.4% | 9.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 7 | 3.3% | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 9 | 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.
Why the phone matters for offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island:
- A bank calls to verify a client's financial statements.
- 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.
Phone system pricing for a 9-person accounting firm
Offices of certified public accountants in Rhode Island average 9.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 9-person team. Priced per seat, 9 users would run $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. 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 | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 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 Rhode Island
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.
If you already have a number in Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island?
212 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,910 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most offices of certified public accountants?
Providence, RI-MA, with 282 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 9-person accounting firm?
$270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $179.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Rhode Island 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.