Business phone system for bowling centers in Massachusetts
66 bowling centers operated in Massachusetts in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 66CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,560mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 0.9U.S. 0.9
- State rank
- 15th of 50by count
The bowling center industry in Massachusetts
County Business Patterns counts 66 establishments in Massachusetts classified as Bowling Centers (NAICS 713950) for 2023. They employed 1,560 people in mid-March and reported $43.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 15th highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. Bowling centers make up 0.04% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 0.9 bowling centers, in line with the national rate of 0.9. The average establishment has 23.6 employees against 20.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $28,104, 27.0% above the U.S. figure of $22,130.
| Measure | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 66 | 3,154 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,560 (moderate noise) | 63,860 |
| Annual payroll | $43,843,000 (moderate noise) | $1,413,190,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 23.6 | 20.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $28,104 | $22,130 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 0.9 | 0.9 |
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.
Massachusetts's largest markets for bowling centers
Census published bowling center counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 36 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 39% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | 36 | 952 | 0.7 |
| Providence, RI-MA | 19 | 447 | 1.1 |
| Worcester, MA | 10 | 152 | 1.1 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 5 | 103 | 2.1 |
| Springfield, MA | 4 | 100 | 0.9 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 4 | 58 | 3.1 |
| Amherst Town, MA | 3 | — | 1.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at bowling centers in Massachusetts
20.3% of Massachusetts's bowling centers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 20.2% nationally. 40.6% 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.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 13 | 20.3% | 20.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 13 | 20.3% | 14.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 12 | 18.8% | 25.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 22 | 34.4% | 32.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 6.3% | 7.0% |
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 bowling center in Massachusetts has to catch
Bowling centers book parties, leagues and lanes by phone. Party inquiries need quick responses. That holds for bowling centers in Massachusetts as much as anywhere.
Calls a bowling center in Massachusetts might handle in a typical week include:
- A guest calls about lane availability.
- A company calls about a team event.
- A parent calls to book a birthday party.
Calls after closing time
Evening calls about parties are common.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for bowling centers in Massachusetts
Bowling centers in Massachusetts average 23.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 24-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $598.80 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $720.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 24 people cost $479.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,892. 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 | $479.00 | $5,748.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $456.00 | $5,472.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $552.00 | $6,624.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $598.80 | $7,185.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $648.00 | $7,776.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $720.00 | $8,640.00 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your guests know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 978 | 773 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 781 | 769 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 617 | 768 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 749 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 413 | 602 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 524 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 857 | 362 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 339 | 104 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
| 351 | 92 | Eastern | 2001 | 978 |
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 bowling centers in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts, 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 bowling centers are in Massachusetts?
66 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,560 people in mid-March.
Which Massachusetts metro area has the most bowling centers?
Boston, MA-NH, with 36 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 24-person bowling center?
$720.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $598.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $479.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Massachusetts 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.