CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH
Limited-service restaurants in the Akron, OH metro area: 662 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 662CBP 2023
- Employees
- 13,195mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 94.3U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 70th of 925areas by count
The limited-service restaurant market in Akron, OH
County Business Patterns counts 662 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Akron, OH metro area for 2023. They employed 13,195 people in mid-March and paid $235.7 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 70th out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 702,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 94.3 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Akron, OH is 18.7% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 19.9 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $17,862, 14.4% below the national $20,857.
| Measure | Akron, OH | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 662 | 10,404 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 13,195 | 204,250 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $235,693,000 | $3,717,023,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.9 | 19.6 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,862 | $18,198 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 94.3 | 87.6 | 79.4 |
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: limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH
Of the limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH that had employees in March 2023, 19.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 34.4% 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 | 131 | 19.8% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 97 | 14.7% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 169 | 25.5% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 221 | 33.4% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 44 | 6.6% | 6.5% |
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 limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH
Counter-service restaurants take phone orders and catering requests while serving a line of customers. Calls need to be answered quickly or captured for a callback. That holds for limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for limited-service restaurants in Akron, OH:
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
Texting customers
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for a 20-person limited-service restaurant
The average limited-service restaurant in Akron, OH has 19.9 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 20 users would run $600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $399.00 a month for 20 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,412 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Akron, OH 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 | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $380.00 | $4,560.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $460.00 | $5,520.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $600.00 | $7,200.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Akron, OH
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 330 has the most, with 239 of 360 exchanges (66%). A local number lets customers in Akron, OH 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | 239 | Eastern | 1996 | 234 |
| 234 | 121 | Eastern | 2000 | 330 |
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 limited-service restaurants
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.
Porting a number you already use in Akron, OH 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 limited-service restaurants are there in Akron, OH?
Census County Business Patterns counted 662 limited-service restaurants in the Akron, OH metro area in 2023. They employed 13,195 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 20-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users cost $600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $399.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Akron, OH use?
Area code 330 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 234. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a limited-service restaurant?
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.