CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Durham, NC
Limited-service restaurants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area: 464 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 21-person team.
- Establishments
- 464CBP 2023
- Employees
- 9,911mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 74.8U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 97th of 925areas by count
How many limited-service restaurants are in Durham, NC?
County Business Patterns counts 464 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area for 2023. They employed 9,911 people in mid-March and paid $219.0 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 97th out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 621,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 74.8 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Durham, NC is 5.8% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 21.4 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $22,092, 5.9% above the national $20,857.
| Measure | Durham, NC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 464 | 8,502 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 9,911 | 185,475 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $218,955,000 | $3,501,222,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 21.4 | 21.8 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $22,092 | $18,877 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 74.8 | 77.0 | 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 Durham, NC are
Of the limited-service restaurants in Durham, NC that had employees in March 2023, 18.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 33.8% 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 | 86 | 18.5% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 71 | 15.3% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 116 | 25.0% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 146 | 31.5% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 45 | 9.7% | 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 Durham, NC 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.
A few of the calls that come in to limited-service restaurants in Durham, NC:
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
- An office calls about catering for a meeting.
Business texting for limited-service restaurants
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC
The average limited-service restaurant in Durham, NC has 21.4 employees, so a 21-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, 21 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $630.00 a month and 21 on Ooma Office Pro cost $523.95. Callata comes to $419.00 a month for 21 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,532 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Durham, NC 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 | $419.00 | $5,028.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $483.00 | $5,796.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $523.95 | $6,287.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $567.00 | $6,804.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $630.00 | $7,560.00 |
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 Durham, NC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 4 area codes. 919 has the most, with 226 of 313 exchanges (72%). A local number lets customers in Durham, NC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 919 | 226 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 984 | 73 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 336 | 13 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 743 | 1 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
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 Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 464 limited-service restaurants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area in 2023. They employed 9,911 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 21-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 21 users cost $630.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $523.95 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $419.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Durham, NC use?
Area code 919 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 984 and 336. 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.