CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for advertising agencies in North Dakota
29 advertising agencies operated in North Dakota in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 29CBP 2023
- Employees
- 365mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.6U.S. 4.6
- State rank
- 50th of 51by count
How many advertising agencies operate in North Dakota
The Census Bureau counted 29 advertising agencies in North Dakota in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541810). They employed 365 people in mid-March and reported $28.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 50th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Advertising agencies make up 0.11% of the 25,402 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Dakota has 3.6 advertising agencies, 20.2% below the national rate of 4.6. The average establishment has 12.6 employees against 12.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $77,425, 27.5% below the U.S. figure of $106,841.
| Measure | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 29 | 15,512 |
| Mid-March employees | 365 (moderate noise) | 200,465 |
| Annual payroll | $28,260,000 (moderate noise) | $21,417,972,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 12.6 | 12.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $77,425 | $106,841 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.6 | 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.
Where advertising agencies in North Dakota are concentrated
Census published advertising agency counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Dakota. The largest is Fargo, ND-MN, with 18 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 17% 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 | 18 | 263 | 6.7 |
| Bismarck, ND | 5 | 69 | 3.6 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 3 | — | 2.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at advertising agencies in North Dakota
51.9% of North Dakota's advertising agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 68.2% nationally. 77.8% 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 | 14 | 51.9% | 68.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 7 | 25.9% | 12.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 22.2% | 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.
Calls an advertising agency in North Dakota has to catch
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 North Dakota:
- A client calls to change a campaign budget.
- A prospect calls about agency services.
- The agency calls a client to review creative.
Business texting for advertising agencies
Agencies text approvals and schedule changes.
Texting from a local number in North Dakota requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for advertising agencies in North Dakota
Advertising agencies in North Dakota average 12.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 13-person team. Priced per seat, 13 users would run $390.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $324.35 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $259.00 a month for 13 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,572 less than RingCentral for an advertising agency in North Dakota 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 | $259.00 | $3,108.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $247.00 | $2,964.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $299.00 | $3,588.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $324.35 | $3,892.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $351.00 | $4,212.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $390.00 | $4,680.00 |
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. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an advertising agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| 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 advertising agencies 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.
Porting a number you already use in North Dakota 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 in North Dakota?
29 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 365 people in mid-March.
Which North Dakota metro area has the most advertising agencies?
Fargo, ND-MN, with 18 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 13-person advertising agency?
$390.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $324.35 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $259.00 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.