CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL
Architectural services firms in the Montgomery, AL metro area: 24 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 24CBP 2023
- Employees
- 178mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.2U.S. 6.7
- Rank
- 129th of 431areas by count
How many architectural services firms are in Montgomery, AL?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 24 establishments classified as Architectural Services (NAICS 541310) in the Montgomery, AL metro area. Together they reported 178 mid-March employees and $20.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 129th of the 431 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 388,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.2 architectural services firms per 100,000 people, 7.7% below the national rate of 6.7. Establishments average 7.4 employees, 10.7% below the U.S. average of 8.3. Payroll per employee comes to $116,826, 18.3% above the national $98,717.
| Measure | Montgomery, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 24 | 206 | 22,805 |
| Mid-March employees | 178 (moderate noise) | 1,271 | 189,468 |
| Annual payroll | $20,795,000 | $125,698,000 | $18,703,680,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.4 | 6.2 | 8.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $116,826 | $98,897 | $98,717 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.2 | 4.0 | 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.
Establishment size: architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL
Of the architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL that had employees in March 2023, 60.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 63.6%). 73.9% 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 | 14 | 60.9% | 63.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 13.0% | 17.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 26.1% | 10.2% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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.
What architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL use the phone for
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL:
- An engineer calls about structural details.
- The firm calls a client to review a design.
- A contractor calls with a question about drawings.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually not urgent.
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 architectural services firms in Montgomery, AL
The average architecture firm in Montgomery, AL has 7.4 employees, so a 7-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $210.00 a month and 7 on Ooma Office Pro cost $174.65. On Callata the same 7 people cost $139.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $852. 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 | $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.
Getting a local number in Montgomery, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 334 has the most, with 217 of 224 exchanges (97%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 334 | 217 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 483 | 7 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
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 architecture firm in Montgomery, AL
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 Montgomery, AL, 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 architectural services firms are there in Montgomery, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 24 architectural services firms in the Montgomery, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 178 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 7-person architecture firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users cost $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $139.00.
What area code should an architecture firm in Montgomery, AL use?
Area code 334 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 483. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an architecture firm?
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.