CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA
Commercial printing companies in the Lancaster, PA metro area: 27 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 73-person team.
- Establishments
- 27CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,983mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.8U.S. 4.5
- Rank
- 94th of 518areas by count
How many commercial printing companies are in Lancaster, PA?
County Business Patterns counts 27 commercial printing companies (NAICS 323111, Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books)) in the Lancaster, PA metro area for 2023. Together they reported 1,983 mid-March employees and $127.7 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 94th of the 518 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 563,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 4.8 commercial printing companies per 100,000 people, 7.7% above the national rate of 4.5. Establishments average 73.4 employees, 296.7% above the U.S. average of 18.5. Payroll per employee comes to $64,382, 5.6% above the national $60,982.
| Measure | Lancaster, PA | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 27 | 599 | 15,140 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,983 | 14,914 | 280,276 |
| Annual payroll | $127,669,000 | $888,256,000 | $17,091,858,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 73.4 | 24.9 | 18.5 |
| Payroll per employee | $64,382 | $59,559 | $60,982 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
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: commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA
Of the commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA that had employees in March 2023, 19.2% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 50.9%). 30.8% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 50.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 11.5% | 19.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 10.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 8 | 30.8% | 8.2% |
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.
Why the phone matters for commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA
Print shops handle quotes, proofs and deadlines, and clients call often to check on jobs. Rush jobs depend on quick responses. That holds for commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA:
- The printer calls a client about a file problem.
- A designer calls about paper stock.
- A client calls to approve a proof.
Calls after closing time
Deadline calls can arrive late in the day.
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.
What a phone system costs a commercial printer in Lancaster, PA
The average commercial printer in Lancaster, PA has 73.4 employees, so a 73-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $1,821.35 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $2,190.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 73 people cost $1,459.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $8,772. 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 | $1,459.00 | $17,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,387.00 | $16,644.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,679.00 | $20,148.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,821.35 | $21,856.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,971.00 | $23,652.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,190.00 | $26,280.00 |
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 commercial printing companies in Lancaster, PA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 717 has the most, with 162 of 214 exchanges (76%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 717 | 162 | Eastern | 1947 | 223 |
| 223 | 52 | Eastern | 2017 | 717 |
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 commercial printing companies
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 Lancaster, PA, 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 commercial printing companies are there in Lancaster, PA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 27 commercial printing companies in the Lancaster, PA metro area in 2023. They employed 1,983 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 73-person commercial printer?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 73 users cost $2,190.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,821.35 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,459.00.
What area code should a commercial printer in Lancaster, PA use?
Area code 717 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 223. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a commercial printer?
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.