Business phone system for caterers in Georgia
383 caterers operated in Georgia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 383CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,547mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.4U.S. 3.9
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
How many caterers operate in Georgia
County Business Patterns counts 383 establishments in Georgia classified as Caterers (NAICS 722320) for 2023. They employed 3,547 people in mid-March and reported $115.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Caterers make up 0.15% of the 261,320 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Georgia has 3.4 caterers, 11.9% below the national rate of 3.9. The average establishment has 9.3 employees against 11.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $32,670, 5.8% above the U.S. figure of $30,873.
| Measure | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 383 | 13,222 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,547 | 148,684 |
| Annual payroll | $115,882,000 | $4,590,259,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.3 | 11.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,670 | $30,873 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.4 | 3.9 |
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.
Caterers by metro area in Georgia
Census published catering company counts for 11 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Georgia. The largest is Atlanta, GA, with 278 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 86% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 278 | 2,788 | 4.3 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 17 | 66 | 2.7 |
| Savannah, GA | 17 | 199 | 3.9 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 13 | 92 | 2.2 |
| Athens, GA | 12 | 196 | 5.4 |
| Gainesville, GA | 6 | 21 | 2.7 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 6 | — | 2.9 |
| Brunswick, GA | 6 | — | 5.1 |
| Macon, GA | 3 | — | 1.3 |
| Valdosta, GA | 3 | 48 | 2.0 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 3 | 23 | 2.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at caterers in Georgia
59.3% of Georgia's caterers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 55.0% nationally. 76.0% 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 | 227 | 59.3% | 55.0% |
| 5–9 employees | 64 | 16.7% | 16.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 52 | 13.6% | 13.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 26 | 6.8% | 10.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 14 | 3.7% | 4.2% |
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 catering company in Georgia has to catch
Caterers book events through inquiry calls and then coordinate menus, headcounts and timing over many follow-ups. Fast responses to inquiries win events. That holds for caterers in Georgia as much as anywhere.
Calls a catering company in Georgia might handle in a typical week include:
- An office calls about a lunch meeting order.
- A client calls to update a headcount.
- A client calls about dietary restrictions.
After-hours calls
Evening inquiry calls are common for event catering.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 9-person catering company
Caterers in Georgia average 9.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 9-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $224.55 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $270.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. 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 | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
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 clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 470 | 786 | Eastern | 2010 | 404, 678, 770, 943 |
| 678 | 785 | Eastern | 1998 | 404, 470, 770, 943 |
| 404 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 770 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 706 | 777 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 912 | 729 | Eastern | 1954 | 565 |
| 229 | 683 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 478 | 445 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 762 | 376 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
| 943 | 152 | Eastern | 2022 | 404, 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 caterers in Georgia
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.
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 caterers are in Georgia?
383 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,547 people in mid-March.
Which Georgia metro area has the most caterers?
Atlanta, GA, with 278 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 9-person catering company?
$270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $179.00 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.