Business phone system for general automotive repair shops in Louisiana
785 general automotive repair shops operated in Louisiana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 785CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,358mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 17.1U.S. 25.0
- State rank
- 32nd of 51by count
How many general automotive repair shops operate in Louisiana
County Business Patterns counts 785 establishments in Louisiana classified as General Automotive Repair (NAICS 811111) for 2023. They employed 3,358 people in mid-March and reported $161.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 32nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General automotive repair shops make up 0.72% of the 108,561 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Louisiana has 17.1 general automotive repair shops, 31.6% below the national rate of 25.0. The average establishment has 4.3 employees against 4.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $47,942, 9.6% below the U.S. figure of $53,031.
| Measure | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 785 | 84,859 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,358 | 403,389 |
| Annual payroll | $160,988,000 | $21,391,957,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $47,942 | $53,031 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 17.1 | 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.
Where general automotive repair shops in Louisiana are concentrated
Census published auto repair shop counts for 18 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Louisiana. The largest is Baton Rouge, LA, with 174 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 93% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 174 | 782 | 19.7 |
| New Orleans, LA | 165 | 716 | 17.1 |
| Lafayette, LA | 78 | 352 | 18.6 |
| Slidell, LA | 52 | 186 | 18.7 |
| Shreveport, LA | 47 | 238 | 12.3 |
| Monroe, LA | 39 | 162 | 17.6 |
| Houma, LA | 37 | 138 | 18.6 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 35 | 155 | 14.4 |
| Hammond, LA | 20 | 80 | 14.3 |
| Alexandria, LA | 17 | 98 | 11.5 |
| New Iberia, LA | 16 | 90 | 23.7 |
| Morgan City, LA | 13 | 37 | 27.8 |
| Minden, LA | 11 | 64 | 31.3 |
| Opelousas, LA | 8 | — | 9.9 |
| Natchez, MS-LA | 7 | — | 13.1 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 6 | — | 16.7 |
| Ruston, LA | 5 | — | 10.4 |
| DeRidder, LA | 4 | 23 | 10.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general automotive repair shops in Louisiana
66.0% of Louisiana's general automotive repair shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 65.6% nationally. 91.0% 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 | 518 | 66.0% | 65.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 196 | 25.0% | 24.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 57 | 7.3% | 7.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 14 | 1.8% | 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.
Why the phone matters for general automotive repair shops in Louisiana
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for general automotive repair shops in Louisiana:
- A fleet manager calls about scheduling service.
- A driver calls about a check-engine light.
- A parts supplier calls about an order.
Texting customers
Shops text repair approvals, status updates and pickup notices.
Texting from a local number in Louisiana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 4-person auto repair shop
General automotive repair shops in Louisiana average 4.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $120.00 a month and 4 on Ooma Office Pro cost $99.80. Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for an auto repair shop in Louisiana 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 | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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 Louisiana
Louisiana has 6 geographic area codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 318 | 764 | Central | 1957 | 457 |
| 337 | 599 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 504 | 563 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 225 | 501 | Central | 1998 | none |
| 985 | 447 | Central | 2001 | none |
| 457 | 0 | Central | 2025 | 318 |
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 Louisiana
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
785 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,358 people in mid-March.
Which Louisiana metro area has the most general automotive repair shops?
Baton Rouge, LA, with 174 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person auto repair shop?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 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 Louisiana 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.