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Business phone system for book stores in Georgia

159 book stores operated in Georgia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.

Establishments
159CBP 2023
Per 100k residents
1.4U.S. 1.7
State rank
12th of 51by count

The bookstore industry in Georgia

Georgia had 159 book stores in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 451211, Book Stores). That is the 12th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Book stores make up 0.06% of the 261,320 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Georgia has 1.4 book stores, 14.1% below the national rate of 1.7.

Book stores: Georgia compared with the U.S., 2023
MeasureGeorgiaUnited States
Establishments1595,629
Mid-March employees1,386 (high noise)48,997 (high noise)
Annual payroll$29,989,000 (moderate noise)$1,132,707,000 (moderate noise)
Employees per establishment——
Payroll per employee——
Establishments per 100,000 residents1.41.7

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.

Where book stores in Georgia are concentrated

Census published bookstore counts for 13 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Georgia. The largest is Atlanta, GA, with 89 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 82% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Book stores by metro or micropolitan area, Georgia, 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployeesPer 100k residents
Atlanta, GA897841.4
Chattanooga, TN-GA8—1.4
Savannah, GA81001.9
Warner Robins, GA7443.4
Augusta, GA-SC6—0.9
Columbus, GA-AL6—1.8
Athens, GA51182.2
Macon, GA4—1.7
Brunswick, GA4413.4
Rome, GA4—3.9
Gainesville, GA3—1.4
Valdosta, GA3—2.0
Dalton, GA3—2.0

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.

Team sizes at book stores in Georgia

45.3% of Georgia's book stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 49.8% nationally. 70.4% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.

Book stores in Georgia by employment size, 2023
Employment sizeEstablishmentsShareU.S. share
1–4 employees7245.3%49.8%
5–9 employees4025.2%21.7%
10–19 employees2314.5%14.2%
20–49 employees2113.2%12.9%
50 or more employees31.9%1.4%

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.

Why the phone matters for book stores in Georgia

Independent bookstores take calls about special orders, events and stock. Personal service is part of what they offer.

A few of the calls that come in to book stores in Georgia:

Calls after closing time

After-hours calls are mostly hours and order questions.

Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.

What a phone system costs a bookstore in Georgia

The comparison uses a 2-person team, the rounded U.S. average for book stores. 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 is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.

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.

Monthly list price for a 2-person bookstore
Provider (plan)Pricing basisPer monthPer 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 Georgia

Georgia has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.

Area codes in Georgia by assigned exchanges
Area codeExchangesTime zoneIn service sinceOverlay with
470786Eastern2010404, 678, 770, 943
678785Eastern1998404, 470, 770, 943
404784Eastern1947470, 678, 943
770784Eastern1995470, 678, 943
706777Eastern1992762
912729Eastern1954565
229683Eastern2000none
478445Eastern2000none
762376Eastern2006706
943152Eastern2022404, 470, 678, 470, 678, 770

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 book stores in Georgia

Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.

If you already have a number in Georgia, 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 book stores are in Georgia?

159 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.

Which Georgia metro area has the most book stores?

Atlanta, GA, with 89 establishments in 2023.

What does a phone system cost a 2-person bookstore?

$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 Georgia 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.