CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC
Couriers and express delivery services in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 23 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 71-person team.
- Establishments
- 23CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,639mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.6U.S. 3.2
- Rank
- 77th of 456areas by count
The courier service market in Charleston, SC
County Business Patterns counts 23 couriers and express delivery services (NAICS 492110, Couriers and Express Delivery Services) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area for 2023. They employed 1,639 people in mid-March and paid $60.6 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 77th out of 456 areas with published figures for couriers and express delivery services.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 2.6 couriers and express delivery services per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 3.2, so Charleston, SC is 17.2% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 71.3 employees, compared with 95.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $36,956, 30.9% below the national $53,476.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 23 | 134 | 10,859 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,639 | 12,689 | 1,036,160 |
| Annual payroll | $60,571,000 | $560,897,000 (moderate noise) | $55,409,968,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 71.3 | 94.7 | 95.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $36,956 | $44,203 | $53,476 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
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.
Establishment size: couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC
Of the couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 57.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 34.8%). 73.7% 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 | 11 | 57.9% | 34.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 15.8% | 9.1% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 11.3% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 13.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 5 | 26.3% | 31.5% |
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 couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC
Local couriers are booked for time-sensitive deliveries, so a missed call is a missed job. Dispatch and drivers need to stay connected.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC:
- Dispatch calls a driver with a new pickup.
- A customer calls about delivery status.
- A lab calls for a specimen pickup.
Business texting for couriers and express delivery services
Couriers text pickup confirmations and proof of delivery.
Texts sent from a local business number in Charleston, SC have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 71-person courier service
The average courier service in Charleston, SC has 71.3 employees, so a 71-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 71 users would run $2,130.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,771.45 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,419.00 a month for 71 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $8,532 less than RingCentral for a courier service in Charleston, SC 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 | $1,419.00 | $17,028.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,349.00 | $16,188.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,633.00 | $19,596.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,771.45 | $21,257.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,917.00 | $23,004.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,130.00 | $25,560.00 |
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 couriers and express delivery services in Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets customers in Charleston, SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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 courier service in Charleston, SC
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Charleston, SC 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 couriers and express delivery services are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 23 couriers and express delivery services in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 1,639 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 71-person courier service?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 71 users cost $2,130.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,771.45 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,419.00.
What area code should a courier service in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a courier service?
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.