CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for barber shops in Portland, ME
Barber shops in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area: 14 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 4-person team.
- Establishments
- 14CBP 2023
- Employees
- 53mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 2.3
- Rank
- 86th of 264areas by count
Barber shops in Portland, ME by the numbers
There were 14 barber shops in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 812111, Barber Shops). Together they reported 53 mid-March employees and $2,033,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 86th of the 264 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 572,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.4 barber shops per 100,000 people, 7.0% above the national rate of 2.3. Establishments average 3.8 employees, in line with the U.S. average of 3.7. Payroll per employee comes to $38,358, 13.9% above the national $33,667.
| Measure | Portland, ME | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 14 | 20 | 7,789 |
| Mid-March employees | 53 (moderate noise) | 85 (moderate noise) | 29,017 |
| Annual payroll | $2,033,000 (moderate noise) | $3,547,000 (moderate noise) | $976,905,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $38,358 | $41,729 | $33,667 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 1.4 | 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 Portland, ME are
Of the barber shops in Portland, ME that had employees in March 2023, 69.2% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.5%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 69.2% | 75.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 30.8% | 14.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 7.8% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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 Portland, ME 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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for barber shops in Portland, ME:
- The shop calls a client about a cancellation.
- A client calls to ask about walk-in wait.
- A parent calls to book kids' cuts.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly booking requests.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for barber shops in Portland, ME
The average barber shop in Portland, ME has 3.8 employees, so a 4-person team is a reasonable benchmark. 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.
Getting a local number in Portland, ME
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 207 (269 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 269 | 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.
What barber shops in Portland, ME get with Callata
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 Portland, ME, 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 there in Portland, ME?
Census County Business Patterns counted 14 barber shops in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023. They employed 53 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 4-person barber shop?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users cost $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 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 Portland, ME use?
Area code 207 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.