CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for commercial printing companies in Portland, ME
Commercial printing companies in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area: 31 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 11-person team.
- Establishments
- 31CBP 2023
- Employees
- 348mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.4U.S. 4.5
- Rank
- 85th of 518areas by count
How many commercial printing companies are in Portland, ME?
There were 31 commercial printing companies in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 323111, Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books)). Together they reported 348 mid-March employees and $18.1 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 85th of the 518 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 572,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 5.4 commercial printing companies per 100,000 people, 21.8% above the national rate of 4.5. Establishments average 11.2 employees, 39.4% below the U.S. average of 18.5. Payroll per employee comes to $51,980, 14.8% below the national $60,982.
| Measure | Portland, ME | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 31 | 66 | 15,140 |
| Mid-March employees | 348 (moderate noise) | 1,163 (moderate noise) | 280,276 |
| Annual payroll | $18,089,000 (moderate noise) | $62,358,000 (moderate noise) | $17,091,858,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 11.2 | 17.6 | 18.5 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,980 | $53,618 | $60,982 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.4 | 4.7 | 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.
Team sizes at commercial printing companies in Portland, ME
Of the commercial printing companies in Portland, ME that had employees in March 2023, 56.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 50.9%). 76.7% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 17 | 56.7% | 50.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 6 | 20.0% | 19.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 10.0% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 13.3% | 10.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
What commercial printing companies in Portland, ME use the phone for
Print shops handle quotes, proofs and deadlines, and clients call often to check on jobs. Rush jobs depend on quick responses.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for commercial printing companies in Portland, ME:
- A designer calls about paper stock.
- A client calls to approve a proof.
- A client calls about a rush order.
Calls after closing time
Deadline calls can arrive late in the day.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a commercial printer in Portland, ME
The average commercial printer in Portland, ME has 11.2 employees, so an 11-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, 11 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $330.00 a month and 11 on Ooma Office Pro cost $274.45. On Callata the same 11 people cost $219.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,332. 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 | $219.00 | $2,628.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $209.00 | $2,508.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $253.00 | $3,036.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $274.45 | $3,293.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $297.00 | $3,564.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $330.00 | $3,960.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Portland, ME
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 207 (269 exchanges in NANPA's file). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 269 | Eastern | 1947 | 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 commercial printing companies in Portland, ME 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 Portland, ME, 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 Portland, ME?
Census County Business Patterns counted 31 commercial printing companies in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area in 2023. They employed 348 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 11-person commercial printer?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 11 users cost $330.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $274.45 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $219.00.
What area code should a commercial printer in Portland, ME use?
Area code 207 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 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.