CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Lafayette, LA
Limited-service restaurants in the Lafayette, LA metro area: 348 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 348CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,649mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 82.9U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 126th of 925areas by count
Limited-service restaurants in Lafayette, LA by the numbers
There were 348 limited-service restaurants in the Lafayette, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants). They employed 6,649 people in mid-March and paid $115.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 126th out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 420,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 82.9 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Lafayette, LA is 4.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 19.1 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $17,365, 16.7% below the national $20,857.
| Measure | Lafayette, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 348 | 3,759 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,649 | 71,389 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $115,457,000 | $1,290,112,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.1 | 19.0 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,365 | $18,072 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 82.9 | 81.8 | 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.
How big limited-service restaurants in Lafayette, LA are
Of the limited-service restaurants in Lafayette, LA that had employees in March 2023, 19.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 36.7% 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 | 67 | 19.4% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 60 | 17.3% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 99 | 28.6% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 93 | 26.9% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 27 | 7.8% | 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 Lafayette, LA 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 Lafayette, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- The restaurant calls a customer about an order delay.
Texting customers
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for limited-service restaurants in Lafayette, LA
The average limited-service restaurant in Lafayette, LA has 19.1 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 19 users would run $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,292 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Lafayette, LA 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 | $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.
Which area code to use in Lafayette, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (243 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets customers in Lafayette, LA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 243 | Central | 1999 | 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
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 Lafayette, LA 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 Lafayette, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 348 limited-service restaurants in the Lafayette, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 6,649 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Lafayette, LA use?
Area code 337 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.