CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general automotive repair shops in New Jersey
2,502 general automotive repair shops operated in New Jersey in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 2,502CBP 2023
- Employees
- 9,777mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 26.3U.S. 25.0
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
General automotive repair shops in New Jersey by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 2,502 general automotive repair shops in New Jersey in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 811111). They employed 9,777 people in mid-March and reported $511.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General automotive repair shops make up 1.1% of the 237,968 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) New Jersey has 26.3 general automotive repair shops, 5.5% above the national rate of 25.0. The average establishment has 3.9 employees against 4.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $52,304, in line with the U.S. figure of $53,031.
| Measure | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,502 | 84,859 |
| Mid-March employees | 9,777 | 403,389 |
| Annual payroll | $511,376,000 | $21,391,957,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.9 | 4.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $52,304 | $53,031 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 26.3 | 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.
New Jersey's largest markets for general automotive repair shops
Census published auto repair shop counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of New Jersey. The largest is New York, NY-NJ, with 4,773 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 9.8% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY-NJ | 4,773 | 17,701 | 23.9 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,906 | 8,185 | 30.1 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 292 | 1,257 | 32.9 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 110 | 355 | 29.5 |
| Trenton, NJ | 89 | 380 | 22.7 |
| Vineland, NJ | 47 | — | 30.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general automotive repair shops in New Jersey
75.6% of New Jersey's general automotive repair shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 65.6% nationally. 92.6% 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 | 1,891 | 75.6% | 65.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 424 | 17.0% | 24.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 142 | 5.7% | 7.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 39 | 1.6% | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 0.2% | 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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey:
- A customer calls to ask whether their car is ready.
- A driver calls about a check-engine light.
- The shop calls a customer to approve a repair.
Texting customers
Shops text repair approvals, status updates and pickup notices.
Texting from a local number in New Jersey 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 New Jersey average 3.9 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey
New Jersey has 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 609 | 780 | Eastern | 1957 | 640 |
| 732 | 780 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 201 | 779 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 973 | 779 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 722 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 856 | 676 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 862 | 390 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 301 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 289 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
| 640 | 132 | Eastern | 2018 | 609 |
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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
2,502 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 9,777 people in mid-March.
Which New Jersey metro area has the most general automotive repair shops?
New York, NY-NJ, with 4,773 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 New Jersey 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.