CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for barber shops in Rhode Island
27 barber shops operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 27CBP 2023
- Employees
- 44mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 2.3
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
How many barber shops operate in Rhode Island
Rhode Island had 27 barber shops in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 812111, Barber Shops). They employed 44 people in mid-March and reported $1,141,000 in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Barber shops make up 0.09% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 2.4 barber shops, 6.0% above the national rate of 2.3. The average establishment has 1.6 employees against 3.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $25,932, 23.0% below the U.S. figure of $33,667.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 27 | 7,789 |
| Mid-March employees | 44 (moderate noise) | 29,017 |
| Annual payroll | $1,141,000 | $976,905,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 1.6 | 3.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,932 | $33,667 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 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.
Barber shops by metro area in Rhode Island
Census published barber shop counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 37 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 37 | 70 | 2.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at barber shops in Rhode Island
88.9% of Rhode Island's barber shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 75.5% nationally. 100.0% 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 | 24 | 88.9% | 75.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 11.1% | 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.
Calls a barber shop in Rhode Island has to catch
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.
A few of the calls that come in to barber shops in Rhode Island:
- The shop calls a client about a cancellation.
- A parent calls to book kids' cuts.
- A client calls to book a haircut.
Business texting for barber shops
Shops text appointment reminders.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a barber shop in Rhode Island
Barber shops in Rhode Island average 1.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $49.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $60.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). 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.
Area codes in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a barber shop can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | 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.
How Callata works for barber shops in Rhode Island
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.
Porting a number you already use in Rhode Island 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 in Rhode Island?
27 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 44 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most barber shops?
Providence, RI-MA, with 37 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 2-person barber shop?
$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 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 Rhode Island 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.