CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for barber shops in New York, NY-NJ
Barber shops in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area: 1,324 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 1,324CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,210mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.6U.S. 2.3
- Rank
- 1st of 264areas by count
How many barber shops are in New York, NY-NJ?
There were 1,324 barber shops in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 812111, Barber Shops). They employed 3,210 people in mid-March and paid $86.6 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 1st out of 264 areas with published figures for barber shops.
Measured against its 19.9 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 6.6 barber shops per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 2.3, so New York, NY-NJ is 189.9% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 2.4 employees, compared with 3.7 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $26,984, 19.9% below the national $33,667.
| Measure | New York, NY-NJ | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,324 | 1,000 | 7,789 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,210 | 2,332 (moderate noise) | 29,017 |
| Annual payroll | $86,618,000 | $62,288,000 | $976,905,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $26,984 | $26,710 | $33,667 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.6 | 5.0 | 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.
How big barber shops in New York, NY-NJ are
Of the barber shops in New York, NY-NJ that had employees in March 2023, 89.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.5%). 97.7% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,178 | 89.1% | 75.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 113 | 8.5% | 14.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 25 | 1.9% | 7.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 0.5% | 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.
What barber shops in New York, NY-NJ use the phone for
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.
Calls a barber shop in New York, NY-NJ might handle in a typical week include:
- A client calls to book a haircut.
- A client calls to ask about walk-in wait.
- The shop calls a client about a cancellation.
What barber shops text about
Shops text appointment reminders.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for a 2-person barber shop
The average barber shop in New York, NY-NJ has 2.4 employees, so a 2-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, 2 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $60.00 a month and 2 on Ooma Office Pro cost $49.90. Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| 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 | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
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 New York, NY-NJ
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 201 has the most, with 761 of 3,908 exchanges (19%). A local number lets clients in New York, NY-NJ call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 761 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 732 | 742 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 973 | 643 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 536 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 631 | 341 | Eastern | 1999 | 934 |
| 862 | 320 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 296 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 269 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
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
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 York, NY-NJ 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 barber shops are there in New York, NY-NJ?
Census County Business Patterns counted 1,324 barber shops in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2023. They employed 3,210 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 2-person barber shop?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users cost $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a barber shop in New York, NY-NJ use?
Area code 201 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 732 and 973. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a barber shop?
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.