CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for advertising agencies in Charleston, SC
Advertising agencies in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 37 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 5-person team.
- Establishments
- 37CBP 2023
- Employees
- 167mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.3U.S. 4.6
- Rank
- 67th of 351areas by count
How many advertising agencies are in Charleston, SC?
There were 37 advertising agencies in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541810, Advertising Agencies). They employed 167 people in mid-March and paid $10.7 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 67th out of 351 areas with published figures for advertising agencies.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 4.3 advertising agencies per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 4.6, so Charleston, SC is 6.7% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 4.5 employees, compared with 12.9 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $63,772, 40.3% below the national $106,841.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 37 | 189 | 15,512 |
| Mid-March employees | 167 | 1,325 | 200,465 |
| Annual payroll | $10,650,000 (moderate noise) | $101,456,000 | $21,417,972,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.5 | 7.0 | 12.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $63,772 | $76,571 | $106,841 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.3 | 3.4 | 4.6 |
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.
Team sizes at advertising agencies in Charleston, SC
Of the advertising agencies in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 73.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 68.2%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 25 | 73.5% | 68.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 26.5% | 12.0% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 8.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 6.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 5.0% |
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 advertising agencies in Charleston, SC
Agencies manage many client relationships at once, and clients expect to reach their account team quickly. Recording and summarizing calls helps teams keep track of approvals and requests. That holds for advertising agencies in Charleston, SC as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for advertising agencies in Charleston, SC:
- The agency calls a client to review creative.
- A media rep calls about an ad placement.
- A production vendor calls about a shoot.
Texting clients
Agencies text approvals and schedule changes.
Texts sent from a local business number in Charleston, SC have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs an advertising agency in Charleston, SC
The average advertising agency in Charleston, SC has 4.5 employees, so a 5-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $124.75 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $150.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for an advertising agency in Charleston, SC 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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.
Local area codes for advertising agencies in Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets clients in Charleston, SC call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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.
Setting up Callata for an advertising agency in Charleston, SC
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 Charleston, SC 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many advertising agencies are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 37 advertising agencies in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 167 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 5-person advertising agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users cost $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should an advertising agency in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an advertising agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.