CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for barber shops in Idaho
33 barber shops operated in Idaho in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 33CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.6U.S. 2.3
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
The barber shop industry in Idaho
The Census Bureau counted 33 barber shops in Idaho in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 812111). That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Barber shops make up 0.06% of the 58,100 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Idaho has 1.6 barber shops, 28.0% below the national rate of 2.3.
| Measure | Idaho | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 33 | 7,789 |
| Mid-March employees | 241 (high noise) | 29,017 |
| Annual payroll | $9,238,000 (moderate noise) | $976,905,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 3.7 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $33,667 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.6 | 2.3 |
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 barber shops in Idaho are concentrated
Census published barber shop counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Idaho. The largest is Boise City, ID, with 21 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 73% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 21 | — | 2.5 |
| Logan, UT-ID | 7 | — | 4.3 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 3 | 3 | 1.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at barber shops in Idaho
62.5% of Idaho's barber shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 75.5% nationally. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 20 | 62.5% | 75.5% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 14.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 9 | 28.1% | 7.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 9.4% | 2.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
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 barber shops in Idaho
Barbers are busy with clients all day, and calls for appointments and wait times often go unanswered. Capturing calls and texting back helps fill chairs. That holds for barber shops in Idaho as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to barber shops in Idaho:
- A client calls to ask about walk-in wait.
- A client calls about hours.
- A parent calls to book kids' cuts.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly booking requests.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for barber shops in Idaho
The comparison uses a 4-person team, the rounded U.S. average for barber shops. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 4 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $252. 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 | $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 Idaho
Idaho has 2 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 785 | Mountain and Pacific | 1947 | 986 |
| 986 | 187 | Pacific | 2017 | 208 |
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 barber shops in Idaho
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Idaho, 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 barber shops are in Idaho?
33 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which Idaho metro area has the most barber shops?
Boise City, ID, with 21 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person barber 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 Idaho 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.