CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA
Limited-service restaurants in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area: 169 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 169CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,461mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 60.6U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 213th of 925areas by count
Limited-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 169 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area for 2023. Together they reported 3,461 mid-March employees and $58.2 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 213th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 279,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 60.6 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people, 23.6% below the national rate of 79.4. Establishments average 20.5 employees, 11.4% above the U.S. average of 18.4. Payroll per employee comes to $16,810, 19.4% below the national $20,857.
| Measure | Cedar Rapids, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 169 | 2,095 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,461 | 41,152 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $58,181,000 | $757,281,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 20.5 | 19.6 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $16,810 | $18,402 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 60.6 | 64.6 | 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.
How big limited-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA are
Of the limited-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA that had employees in March 2023, 14.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 29.8% 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 | 24 | 14.3% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 26 | 15.5% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 49 | 29.2% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 59 | 35.1% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 10 | 6.0% | 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 Cedar Rapids, IA
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 Cedar Rapids, IA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to limited-service restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA:
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- An office calls about catering for a meeting.
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours callers usually want hours or catering information.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 20-person limited-service restaurant
The average limited-service restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA has 20.5 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $499.00 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $600.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 20 people cost $399.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,412. 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 | $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 Cedar Rapids, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 319 has the most, with 183 of 190 exchanges (96%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 319 | 183 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 563 | 7 | Central | 2001 | 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.
How Callata works for limited-service restaurants
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Cedar Rapids, IA, 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 limited-service restaurants are there in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 169 limited-service restaurants in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 3,461 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 Cedar Rapids, IA use?
Area code 319 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 563. 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.