CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL
Caterers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area: 121 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 14-person team.
- Establishments
- 121CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,738mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.3U.S. 3.9
- Rank
- 22nd of 401areas by count
The catering company market in St. Louis, MO-IL
County Business Patterns counts 121 caterers (NAICS 722320, Caterers) in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area for 2023. They employed 1,738 people in mid-March and paid $40.1 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 22nd out of 401 areas with published figures for caterers.
Measured against its 2.8 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 4.3 caterers per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 3.9, so St. Louis, MO-IL is 10.7% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 14.4 employees, compared with 11.2 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $23,057, 25.3% below the national $30,873.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO-IL | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 121 | 193 | 13,222 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,738 | 2,226 | 148,684 |
| Annual payroll | $40,073,000 | $53,346,000 | $4,590,259,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 14.4 | 11.5 | 11.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $23,057 | $23,965 | $30,873 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.3 | 3.1 | 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.
Establishment size: caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL
Of the caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL that had employees in March 2023, 42.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 55.0%). 60.5% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 50 | 42.0% | 55.0% |
| 5–9 employees | 22 | 18.5% | 16.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 18 | 15.1% | 13.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 23 | 19.3% | 10.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 5.0% | 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.
What caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL use the phone for
Caterers book events through inquiry calls and then coordinate menus, headcounts and timing over many follow-ups. Fast responses to inquiries win events.
Calls a catering company in St. Louis, MO-IL might handle in a typical week include:
- An office calls about a lunch meeting order.
- The caterer calls a venue about setup times.
- A client calls to update a headcount.
Texting clients
Caterers text headcount confirmations and delivery windows.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL
The average catering company in St. Louis, MO-IL has 14.4 employees, so a 14-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $349.30 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $420.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $279.00 a month for 14 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,692 less than RingCentral for a catering company in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 | $279.00 | $3,348.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $266.00 | $3,192.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $322.00 | $3,864.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $349.30 | $4,191.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $378.00 | $4,536.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $420.00 | $5,040.00 |
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.
Local area codes for caterers in St. Louis, MO-IL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 314 has the most, with 723 of 1,483 exchanges (49%). A local number lets clients in St. Louis, MO-IL call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 723 | Central | 1947 | 557 |
| 618 | 324 | Central | 1947 | 730 |
| 636 | 308 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 557 | 71 | Central | 2022 | 314 |
| 730 | 30 | Central | 2023 | 618 |
| 217 | 14 | Central | 1947 | 447 |
| 573 | 11 | Central | 1996 | 235 |
| 447 | 2 | Central | 2021 | 217 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a catering company in St. Louis, MO-IL
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.
Porting a number you already use in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 caterers are there in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 121 caterers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area in 2023. They employed 1,738 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 14-person catering company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 14 users cost $420.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $349.30 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $279.00.
What area code should a catering company in St. Louis, MO-IL use?
Area code 314 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 618 and 636. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a catering company?
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.