CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for family clothing stores in Houma, LA
Family clothing stores in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area: 14 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 14CBP 2023
- Employees
- 275mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.0U.S. 8.2
- Rank
- 277th of 607areas by count
Family clothing stores in Houma, LA by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 14 family clothing stores (NAICS 448140, Family Clothing Stores) in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area for 2023. Together they reported 275 mid-March employees and $4,797,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 277th of the 607 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 199,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.0 family clothing stores per 100,000 people, 14.6% below the national rate of 8.2. Establishments average 19.6 employees, 25.7% below the U.S. average of 26.4. Payroll per employee comes to $17,444, 21.6% below the national $22,257.
| Measure | Houma, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 14 | 363 | 27,986 |
| Mid-March employees | 275 (moderate noise) | 6,988 | 739,932 |
| Annual payroll | $4,797,000 (moderate noise) | $129,126,000 | $16,468,650,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.6 | 19.3 | 26.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,444 | $18,478 | $22,257 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.0 | 7.9 | 8.2 |
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.
What family clothing stores in Houma, LA use the phone for
Independent clothing stores take calls about sizes, holds and alterations. Personal service helps compete with larger retailers.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for family clothing stores in Houma, LA:
- A customer calls about alterations.
- A customer calls about returns.
- The store calls a customer when an item arrives.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly hours and stock questions.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Phone system pricing for a 20-person clothing store
The average clothing store in Houma, LA has 19.6 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $600.00 a month and 20 on Ooma Office Pro cost $499.00. On Callata the same 20 people cost $399.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,412. 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 | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $380.00 | $4,560.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $460.00 | $5,520.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $600.00 | $7,200.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Houma, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 985 (84 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 985 | 84 | Central | 2001 | 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.
What family clothing stores in Houma, LA get with Callata
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 Houma, LA, 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 family clothing stores are there in Houma, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 14 family clothing stores in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 275 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 20-person clothing store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users cost $600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $399.00.
What area code should a clothing store in Houma, LA use?
Area code 985 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a clothing store?
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.