CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Denver, CO
Limited-service restaurants in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area: 2,542 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 2,542CBP 2023
- Employees
- 51,122mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 83.3U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 19th of 925areas by count
Limited-service restaurants in Denver, CO by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 2,542 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area for 2023. They employed 51,122 people in mid-March and paid $1.3 billion in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 19th out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 3.1 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 83.3 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Denver, CO is 4.9% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 20.1 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $24,653, 18.2% above the national $20,857.
| Measure | Denver, CO | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,542 | 4,753 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 51,122 | 96,000 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $1,260,300,000 | $2,259,786,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 20.1 | 20.2 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,653 | $23,539 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 83.3 | 79.8 | 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 Denver, CO
Of the limited-service restaurants in Denver, CO that had employees in March 2023, 17.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 31.3% 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 | 452 | 17.8% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 344 | 13.5% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 771 | 30.3% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 811 | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 163 | 6.4% | 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.
What limited-service restaurants in Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
- An office calls about catering for a meeting.
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
What limited-service restaurants text about
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Denver, CO 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.
Phone system pricing for a 20-person limited-service restaurant
The average limited-service restaurant in Denver, CO has 20.1 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $600.00 a month and 20 on Ooma Office Pro cost $499.00. 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 Denver, CO 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.
Getting a local number in Denver, CO
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 4 area codes. 303 has the most, with 740 of 1,472 exchanges (50%). A local number lets customers in Denver, CO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 303 | 740 | Mountain | 1947 | 720, 983 |
| 720 | 693 | Mountain | 1998 | 303, 983 |
| 983 | 32 | Mountain | 2022 | 303, 720 |
| 719 | 7 | Mountain | 1988 | 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.
Porting a number you already use in Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO?
Census County Business Patterns counted 2,542 limited-service restaurants in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area in 2023. They employed 51,122 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 Denver, CO use?
Area code 303 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 720 and 983. 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.