Business phone system for drinking places in Athens, OH
Drinking places in the Athens, OH micropolitan area: 15 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 17-person team.
- Establishments
- 15CBP 2023
- Employees
- 251mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 23.7U.S. 12.0
- Rank
- 360th of 740areas by count
Drinking places in Athens, OH by the numbers
There were 15 drinking places in the Athens, OH micropolitan area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)). Together they reported 251 mid-March employees and $3,920,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 360th of the 740 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 63,218 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 23.7 drinking places per 100,000 people, 97.6% above the national rate of 12.0. Establishments average 16.7 employees, 58.0% above the U.S. average of 10.6. Payroll per employee comes to $15,618, 39.0% below the national $25,612.
| Measure | Athens, OH | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 15 | 1,804 | 40,835 |
| Mid-March employees | 251 (moderate noise) | 15,243 | 432,542 |
| Annual payroll | $3,920,000 (moderate noise) | $326,802,000 | $11,078,437,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.7 | 8.4 | 10.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $15,618 | $21,439 | $25,612 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 23.7 | 15.2 | 12.0 |
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.
Why the phone matters for drinking places in Athens, OH
Bars and taverns take calls about events, private parties and hours, often when the room is too loud to hear the phone. Capturing those calls helps book parties.
A few of the calls that come in to drinking places in Athens, OH:
- A guest calls about reserving space for a birthday.
- A band calls about booking a gig.
- A customer calls about trivia night.
When nobody can pick up
Bars are open late, so calls during service need capture and callback.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 17-person bar
The average bar in Athens, OH has 16.7 employees, so a 17-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $424.15 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $510.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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 Athens, OH
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 740 has the most, with 36 of 61 exchanges (59%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your guests recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 740 | 36 | Eastern | 1997 | 220 |
| 220 | 25 | Eastern | 2015 | 740 |
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 drinking places in Athens, OH 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 Athens, OH, 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 drinking places are there in Athens, OH?
Census County Business Patterns counted 15 drinking places in the Athens, OH micropolitan area in 2023. They employed 251 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 17-person bar?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 17 users cost $510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $339.00.
What area code should a bar in Athens, OH use?
Area code 740 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 220. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a bar?
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.