CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for architectural services firms in Montana
155 architectural services firms operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 155CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,041mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 13.6U.S. 6.7
- State rank
- 33rd of 51by count
How many architectural services firms operate in Montana
County Business Patterns counts 155 establishments in Montana classified as Architectural Services (NAICS 541310) for 2023. They employed 1,041 people in mid-March and reported $89.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 33rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Architectural services firms make up 0.36% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 13.6 architectural services firms, 103.3% above the national rate of 6.7. The average establishment has 6.7 employees against 8.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $86,230, 12.6% below the U.S. figure of $98,717.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 155 | 22,805 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,041 | 189,468 |
| Annual payroll | $89,765,000 | $18,703,680,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $86,230 | $98,717 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 13.6 | 6.7 |
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.
Montana's largest markets for architectural services firms
Census published architecture firm counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 77 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 94% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 77 | 418 | 60.6 |
| Missoula, MT | 22 | 163 | 17.2 |
| Kalispell, MT | 20 | 88 | 17.5 |
| Billings, MT | 16 | 214 | 8.3 |
| Helena, MT | 7 | 78 | 7.2 |
| Great Falls, MT | 4 | 48 | 4.7 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at architectural services firms in Montana
61.7% of Montana's architectural services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 63.6% nationally. 77.3% 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 | 95 | 61.7% | 63.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 24 | 15.6% | 17.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 26 | 16.9% | 10.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 9 | 5.8% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% |
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 architecture firm in Montana has to catch
Architects coordinate clients, consultants, contractors and permitting offices across long projects. Calls need to reach the project lead, and summaries of decisions help keep teams aligned. That holds for architectural services firms in Montana as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to architectural services firms in Montana:
- An engineer calls about structural details.
- A permitting office calls about a submission.
- The firm calls a client to review a design.
What architectural services firms text about
Firms text meeting confirmations and site-visit times.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for architectural services firms in Montana
Architectural services firms in Montana average 6.7 employees, so the comparison uses a 7-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $174.65 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $210.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for an architecture firm in Montana 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 | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
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 Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an architecture firm can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | 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 architectural services firms in Montana
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 Montana 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 architectural services firms are in Montana?
155 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,041 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most architectural services firms?
Bozeman, MT, with 77 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 7-person architecture firm?
$210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $139.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Montana 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.