CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general automotive repair shops in Delaware
238 general automotive repair shops operated in Delaware in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 238CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,215mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 22.6U.S. 25.0
- State rank
- 47th of 51by count
The auto repair shop industry in Delaware
The Census Bureau counted 238 general automotive repair shops in Delaware in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 811111). They employed 1,215 people in mid-March and reported $70.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 47th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General automotive repair shops make up 0.80% of the 29,706 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Delaware has 22.6 general automotive repair shops, 9.3% below the national rate of 25.0. The average establishment has 5.1 employees against 4.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $57,769, 8.9% above the U.S. figure of $53,031.
| Measure | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 238 | 84,859 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,215 | 403,389 |
| Annual payroll | $70,189,000 | $21,391,957,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.1 | 4.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $57,769 | $53,031 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 22.6 | 25.0 |
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.
General automotive repair shops by metro area in Delaware
Census published auto repair shop counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Delaware. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,906 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 41% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,906 | 8,185 | 30.1 |
| Seaford, DE | 55 | 252 | 20.3 |
| Dover, DE | 43 | 200 | 22.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general automotive repair shops in Delaware
61.2% of Delaware's general automotive repair shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 65.6% nationally. 87.3% 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 | 145 | 61.2% | 65.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 62 | 26.2% | 24.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 25 | 10.5% | 7.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
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 general automotive repair shops in Delaware use the phone for
Repair shops field calls for appointments, estimates and status updates while technicians are in the bays. Calling customers to approve additional work quickly keeps cars moving.
Calls an auto repair shop in Delaware might handle in a typical week include:
- A fleet manager calls about scheduling service.
- A driver calls about a check-engine light.
- The shop calls a customer to approve a repair.
What general automotive repair shops text about
Shops text repair approvals, status updates and pickup notices.
Texting from a local number in Delaware requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs an auto repair shop in Delaware
General automotive repair shops in Delaware average 5.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. Priced per seat, 5 users would run $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, 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 auto repair shop in Delaware 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.
Area codes in Delaware
Delaware has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an auto repair shop can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | 656 | Eastern | 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 general automotive repair shops in Delaware
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.
Porting a number you already use in Delaware 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 general automotive repair shops are in Delaware?
238 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,215 people in mid-March.
Which Delaware metro area has the most general automotive repair shops?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,906 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person auto repair shop?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Delaware 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.