Business phone system for limited-service restaurants in Georgia
9,735 limited-service restaurants operated in Georgia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 9,735CBP 2023
- Employees
- 189,341mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 87.1U.S. 79.4
- State rank
- 8th of 51by count
The limited-service restaurant industry in Georgia
County Business Patterns counts 9,735 establishments in Georgia classified as Limited-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722513) for 2023. They employed 189,341 people in mid-March and reported $3.5 billion in annual payroll. That is the 8th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Limited-service restaurants make up 3.7% of the 261,320 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Georgia has 87.1 limited-service restaurants, 9.6% above the national rate of 79.4. The average establishment has 19.4 employees against 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $18,594, 10.9% below the U.S. figure of $20,857.
| Measure | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 9,735 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 189,341 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $3,520,605,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.4 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $18,594 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 87.1 | 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 Georgia are concentrated
Census published limited-service restaurant counts for 39 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Georgia. The largest is Atlanta, GA, with 5,712 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 86% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 5,712 | 106,071 | 89.1 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 504 | 11,150 | 79.2 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 478 | 10,112 | 81.3 |
| Savannah, GA | 430 | 7,312 | 99.6 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 328 | 5,435 | 101.1 |
| Macon, GA | 250 | 4,678 | 105.2 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 209 | 4,504 | 102.4 |
| Athens, GA | 187 | 4,555 | 83.6 |
| Gainesville, GA | 154 | 3,355 | 69.4 |
| Albany, GA | 130 | 2,535 | 89.4 |
| Valdosta, GA | 128 | 3,137 | 83.9 |
| Brunswick, GA | 121 | 2,085 | 103.3 |
| Dalton, GA | 120 | 2,662 | 82.0 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 98 | 2,110 | 93.0 |
| Rome, GA | 83 | 2,137 | 81.9 |
| Statesboro, GA | 78 | 1,747 | 81.0 |
| Hinesville, GA | 73 | 1,433 | 82.0 |
| Thomasville, GA | 66 | 1,137 | 91.3 |
| Tifton, GA | 61 | 1,267 | 120.2 |
| Waycross, GA | 56 | 1,324 | 98.4 |
| Jefferson, GA | 49 | 821 | 52.2 |
| Milledgeville, GA | 47 | 836 | 107.7 |
| Dublin, GA | 45 | 943 | 75.7 |
| Kingsland, GA | 45 | 1,024 | 76.1 |
| Calhoun, GA | 41 | 971 | 67.5 |
Top 25 of 39 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at limited-service restaurants in Georgia
23.5% of Georgia's limited-service restaurants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 24.3% nationally. 40.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 2,292 | 23.5% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 1,607 | 16.5% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 2,326 | 23.9% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 2,853 | 29.3% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 655 | 6.7% | 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.
What limited-service restaurants in Georgia 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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for limited-service restaurants in Georgia:
- An office calls about catering for a meeting.
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
After-hours calls
After-hours callers usually want hours or catering information.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for limited-service restaurants in Georgia
Limited-service restaurants in Georgia average 19.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 19-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $570.00 a month and 19 on Ooma Office Pro cost $474.05. On Callata the same 19 people cost $379.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,292. 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 | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
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 Georgia
Georgia has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 470 | 786 | Eastern | 2010 | 404, 678, 770, 943 |
| 678 | 785 | Eastern | 1998 | 404, 470, 770, 943 |
| 404 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 770 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 470, 678, 943 |
| 706 | 777 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 912 | 729 | Eastern | 1954 | 565 |
| 229 | 683 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 478 | 445 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 762 | 376 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
| 943 | 152 | Eastern | 2022 | 404, 470, 678, 470, 678, 770 |
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 Georgia
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.
If you already have a number in Georgia, 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 in Georgia?
9,735 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 189,341 people in mid-March.
Which Georgia metro area has the most limited-service restaurants?
Atlanta, GA, with 5,712 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 19-person limited-service restaurant?
$570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $379.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Georgia 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.