CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL
Limited-service restaurants in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area: 194 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 18-person team.
- Establishments
- 194CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,582mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 94.2U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 193rd of 925areas by count
How many limited-service restaurants are in Auburn, AL?
County Business Patterns counts 194 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area for 2023. They employed 3,582 people in mid-March and paid $64.7 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 193rd out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 206,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 94.2 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Auburn, AL is 18.6% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 18.5 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $18,054, 13.4% below the national $20,857.
| Measure | Auburn, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 194 | 4,442 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,582 | 89,956 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $64,668,000 | $1,624,593,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 18.5 | 20.3 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $18,054 | $18,060 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 94.2 | 86.1 | 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.
Team sizes at limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL
Of the limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL that had employees in March 2023, 23.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 37.8% 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 | 46 | 23.8% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 27 | 14.0% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 47 | 24.4% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 63 | 32.6% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 10 | 5.2% | 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.
What limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL use the phone for
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.
Calls a limited-service restaurant in Auburn, AL might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- The restaurant calls a customer about an order delay.
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
Texting customers
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL
The average limited-service restaurant in Auburn, AL has 18.5 employees, so an 18-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 18 users would run $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $359.00 a month for 18 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,172 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Auburn, AL 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 | $359.00 | $4,308.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $342.00 | $4,104.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $414.00 | $4,968.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $449.10 | $5,389.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $486.00 | $5,832.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
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 Auburn, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 334 has the most, with 70 of 72 exchanges (97%). A local number lets customers in Auburn, AL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 334 | 70 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 483 | 2 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
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 limited-service restaurants in Auburn, AL 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.
Porting a number you already use in Auburn, AL 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 Auburn, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 194 limited-service restaurants in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 3,582 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 18-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 18 users cost $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $359.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Auburn, AL use?
Area code 334 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 483. 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.