CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Chico, CA
Limited-service restaurants in the Chico, CA metro area: 162 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 18-person team.
- Establishments
- 162CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,995mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 77.8U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 218th of 925areas by count
The limited-service restaurant market in Chico, CA
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 162 establishments classified as Limited-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722513) in the Chico, CA metro area. They employed 2,995 people in mid-March and paid $64.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 218th out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 208,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 77.8 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Chico, CA is 2.1% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 18.5 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $21,682, 4.0% above the national $20,857.
| Measure | Chico, CA | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 162 | 34,527 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,995 | 604,758 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $64,939,000 | $15,242,291,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 18.5 | 17.5 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $21,682 | $25,204 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 77.8 | 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.
Team sizes at limited-service restaurants in Chico, CA
Of the limited-service restaurants in Chico, CA that had employees in March 2023, 23.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 39.4% 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 | 38 | 23.8% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 25 | 15.6% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 44 | 27.5% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 46 | 28.8% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 7 | 4.4% | 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.
Calls a limited-service restaurant in Chico, CA has to catch
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 Chico, CA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to limited-service restaurants in Chico, CA:
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
What limited-service restaurants text about
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Chico, CA have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a limited-service restaurant in Chico, CA
The average limited-service restaurant in Chico, CA has 18.5 employees, so an 18-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $449.10 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $540.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (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 Chico, CA 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.
Local area codes for limited-service restaurants in Chico, CA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 530 has the most, with 106 of 108 exchanges (98%). A local number lets customers in Chico, CA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 530 | 106 | Pacific | 1997 | 837 |
| 837 | 1 | Pacific | 2025 | 530 |
| 916 | 1 | Pacific | 1947 | 279 |
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 Chico, CA get with Callata
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.
Porting a number you already use in Chico, CA 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 Chico, CA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 162 limited-service restaurants in the Chico, CA metro area in 2023. They employed 2,995 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 Chico, CA use?
Area code 530 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 837 and 916. 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.