Business phone system for drinking places in North Dakota
376 drinking places operated in North Dakota in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 376CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,042mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 47.2U.S. 12.0
- State rank
- 29th of 51by count
Drinking places in North Dakota by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 376 drinking places in North Dakota in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 722410). They employed 3,042 people in mid-March and reported $53.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 29th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Drinking places make up 1.5% of the 25,402 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Dakota has 47.2 drinking places, 293.1% above the national rate of 12.0. The average establishment has 8.1 employees against 10.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $17,641, 31.1% below the U.S. figure of $25,612.
| Measure | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 376 | 40,835 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,042 | 432,542 |
| Annual payroll | $53,663,000 | $11,078,437,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.1 | 10.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,641 | $25,612 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 47.2 | 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.
North Dakota's largest markets for drinking places
Census published bar counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Dakota. The largest is Fargo, ND-MN, with 63 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 31% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | 63 | 1,001 | 23.5 |
| Bismarck, ND | 43 | 427 | 30.9 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 40 | 478 | 38.4 |
| Minot, ND | 35 | 236 | 46.1 |
| Williston, ND | 18 | 128 | 44.2 |
| Wahpeton, ND-MN | 17 | 73 | 74.2 |
| Dickinson, ND | 16 | 132 | 41.2 |
| Jamestown, ND | 6 | 38 | 27.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at drinking places in North Dakota
44.1% of North Dakota's drinking places with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 38.7% nationally. 75.8% 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 | 166 | 44.1% | 38.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 119 | 31.6% | 27.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 55 | 14.6% | 20.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 33 | 8.8% | 11.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 0.8% | 2.4% |
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 drinking places in North Dakota use the phone for
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.
Calls a bar in North Dakota might handle in a typical week include:
- A guest calls about reserving space for a birthday.
- A customer calls about trivia night.
- The bar calls a vendor about a delivery.
What drinking places text about
Bars text event reminders and party confirmations.
Texting from a local number in North Dakota requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a bar in North Dakota
Drinking places in North Dakota average 8.1 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $199.60 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $240.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a bar in North Dakota of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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 North Dakota
North Dakota has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a bar can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701 | 743 | Central and Mountain | 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 drinking places in North Dakota
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 North Dakota 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 drinking places are in North Dakota?
376 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,042 people in mid-March.
Which North Dakota metro area has the most drinking places?
Fargo, ND-MN, with 63 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 8-person bar?
$240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $159.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Dakota 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.