CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA
Advertising agencies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area: 31 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 18-person team.
- Establishments
- 31CBP 2023
- Employees
- 548mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.1U.S. 4.6
- Rank
- 76th of 351areas by count
How many advertising agencies are in Des Moines, IA?
There were 31 advertising agencies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541810, Advertising Agencies). Together they reported 548 mid-March employees and $54.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 76th of the 351 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 754,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 4.1 advertising agencies per 100,000 people, 9.8% below the national rate of 4.6. Establishments average 17.7 employees, 36.8% above the U.S. average of 12.9. Payroll per employee comes to $99,564, 6.8% below the national $106,841.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 31 | 93 | 15,512 |
| Mid-March employees | 548 | 1,161 | 200,465 |
| Annual payroll | $54,561,000 (moderate noise) | $98,119,000 | $21,417,972,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 17.7 | 12.5 | 12.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $99,564 | $84,512 | $106,841 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.1 | 2.9 | 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.
Establishment size: advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA
Of the advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA that had employees in March 2023, 64.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 68.2%). Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 18 | 64.3% | 68.2% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 12.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 14.3% | 8.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 10.7% | 6.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 10.7% | 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 Des Moines, IA
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.
A few of the calls that come in to advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA:
- The agency calls a client to review creative.
- A production vendor calls about a shoot.
- A client calls to change a campaign budget.
When nobody can pick up
Launch-day issues can be urgent; otherwise after-hours calls can wait.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA
The average advertising agency in Des Moines, IA has 17.7 employees, so an 18-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 18 users would run $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 18 people cost $359.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,172. 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 | $359.00 | $4,308.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $342.00 | $4,104.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $414.00 | $4,968.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $449.10 | $5,389.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $486.00 | $5,832.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Des Moines, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 515 has the most, with 342 of 395 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 342 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 52 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 712 | 1 | Central | 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.
Setting up Callata for an advertising agency in Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines, IA, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many advertising agencies are there in Des Moines, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 31 advertising agencies in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 548 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 18-person advertising agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 18 users cost $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $359.00.
What area code should an advertising agency in Des Moines, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641 and 712. 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.