CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for site preparation contractors in Lake Charles, LA
Site preparation contractors in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 28 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 10-person team.
- Establishments
- 28CBP 2023
- Employees
- 288mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.5U.S. 12.3
- Rank
- 256th of 881areas by count
The site preparation contractor market in Lake Charles, LA
There were 28 site preparation contractors in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 238910, Site Preparation Contractors). Together they reported 288 mid-March employees and $18.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 256th of the 881 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 243,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 11.5 site preparation contractors per 100,000 people, 6.2% below the national rate of 12.3. Establishments average 10.3 employees, 9.1% below the U.S. average of 11.3. Payroll per employee comes to $65,233, 15.4% below the national $77,142.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 28 | 496 | 41,777 |
| Mid-March employees | 288 (moderate noise) | 8,079 | 472,783 |
| Annual payroll | $18,787,000 | $551,612,000 | $36,471,538,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.3 | 16.3 | 11.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $65,233 | $68,277 | $77,142 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.5 | 10.8 | 12.3 |
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: site preparation contractors in Lake Charles, LA
Of the site preparation contractors in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 44.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 60.7%). 59.3% 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 | 12 | 44.4% | 60.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 14.8% | 16.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 25.9% | 10.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 14.8% | 8.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 4.4% |
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 a site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA has to catch
Excavation and site work contractors coordinate equipment, crews and permits across job sites. Builders and homeowners need to reach them quickly when schedules shift.
Calls a site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A utility locator calls about marks.
- A homeowner calls about grading a yard.
- A builder calls to schedule lot clearing.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually scheduling 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.
What a phone system costs a site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA
The average site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA has 10.3 employees, so a 10-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 10 users would run $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 10 people cost $199.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,212. 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 | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
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 site preparation contractors in Lake Charles, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (131 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 131 | Central | 1999 | 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 a site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA
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 Lake Charles, 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 site preparation contractors are there in Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 28 site preparation contractors in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 288 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 10-person site preparation contractor?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 10 users cost $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $199.00.
What area code should a site preparation contractor in Lake Charles, LA use?
Area code 337 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 site preparation contractor?
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.