CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for engineering services firms in Fargo, ND-MN
Engineering services firms in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area: 54 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 27-person team.
- Establishments
- 54CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,478mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 20.2U.S. 18.6
- Rank
- 166th of 735areas by count
How many engineering services firms are in Fargo, ND-MN?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 54 establishments classified as Engineering Services (NAICS 541330) in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area. Together they reported 1,478 mid-March employees and $109.2 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 166th of the 735 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 268,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 20.2 engineering services firms per 100,000 people, 8.5% above the national rate of 18.6. Establishments average 27.4 employees, 37.3% above the U.S. average of 19.9. Payroll per employee comes to $73,863, 32.8% below the national $109,949.
| Measure | Fargo, ND-MN | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 54 | 193 | 63,233 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,478 (moderate noise) | 3,008 | 1,260,577 |
| Annual payroll | $109,170,000 | $266,139,000 | $138,599,619,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 27.4 | 15.6 | 19.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $73,863 | $88,477 | $109,949 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 20.2 | 24.2 | 18.6 |
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: engineering services firms in Fargo, ND-MN
Of the engineering services firms in Fargo, ND-MN that had employees in March 2023, 32.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 53.1%). 57.1% 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 | 16 | 32.7% | 53.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 12 | 24.5% | 15.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 10 | 20.4% | 13.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 11 | 22.4% | 11.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 7.6% |
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.
Calls an engineering firm in Fargo, ND-MN has to catch
Engineering firms handle client calls, contractor questions and agency coordination, often while staff are in the field. Routing calls to the right project engineer saves time on every project. That holds for engineering services firms in Fargo, ND-MN as much as anywhere.
Calls an engineering firm in Fargo, ND-MN might handle in a typical week include:
- The firm calls a client about a schedule.
- A homeowner calls about a structural inspection.
- A contractor calls with a field question.
Calls after closing time
Field issues sometimes need an after-hours callback; routine calls can wait until morning.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for engineering services firms in Fargo, ND-MN
The average engineering firm in Fargo, ND-MN has 27.4 employees, so a 27-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 27 users would run $810.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $673.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 27 people cost $539.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,252. 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 | $539.00 | $6,468.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $673.65 | $8,083.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $729.00 | $8,748.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $810.00 | $9,720.00 |
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 Fargo, ND-MN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 701 has the most, with 108 of 147 exchanges (73%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701 | 108 | Central and Mountain | 1947 | none |
| 218 | 39 | Central | 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.
Setting up Callata for an engineering firm in Fargo, ND-MN
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.
If you already have a number in Fargo, ND-MN, 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 engineering services firms are there in Fargo, ND-MN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 54 engineering services firms in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area in 2023. They employed 1,478 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 27-person engineering firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 27 users cost $810.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $673.65 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $539.00.
What area code should an engineering firm in Fargo, ND-MN use?
Area code 701 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 218. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an engineering firm?
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.