CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Delaware
846 limited-service restaurants operated in Delaware in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 846CBP 2023
- Employees
- 13,608mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 80.4U.S. 79.4
- State rank
- 45th of 51by count
Limited-service restaurants in Delaware by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 846 limited-service restaurants in Delaware in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 722513). They employed 13,608 people in mid-March and reported $284.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 45th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Limited-service restaurants make up 2.8% of the 29,706 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Delaware has 80.4 limited-service restaurants, in line with the national rate of 79.4. The average establishment has 16.1 employees against 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $20,937, in line with the U.S. figure of $20,857.
| Measure | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 846 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 13,608 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $284,912,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.1 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $20,937 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 80.4 | 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.
Where limited-service restaurants in Delaware are concentrated
Census published limited-service restaurant counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Delaware. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 5,140 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 39% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,140 | 67,214 | 81.2 |
| Seaford, DE | 195 | 2,787 | 71.9 |
| Dover, DE | 137 | 2,480 | 71.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at limited-service restaurants in Delaware
33.6% of Delaware's limited-service restaurants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 24.3% nationally. 48.7% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 284 | 33.6% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 128 | 15.1% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 211 | 24.9% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 168 | 19.9% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 55 | 6.5% | 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 Delaware
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 Delaware as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for limited-service restaurants in Delaware:
- The restaurant calls a customer about an order delay.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- An office calls about catering for a meeting.
Texting customers
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Texting from a local number in Delaware requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 16-person limited-service restaurant
Limited-service restaurants in Delaware average 16.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 16-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $399.20 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $480.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $319.00 a month for 16 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,932 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Delaware 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 | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
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.
Area codes in Delaware
Delaware has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a limited-service restaurant can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | 656 | Eastern | 1947 | 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 in Delaware
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 Delaware 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 in Delaware?
846 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 13,608 people in mid-March.
Which Delaware metro area has the most limited-service restaurants?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 5,140 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 16-person limited-service restaurant?
$480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $319.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Delaware number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.