CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Missoula, MT
Limited-service restaurants in the Missoula, MT metro area: 100 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 23-person team.
- Establishments
- 100CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,338mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 78.3U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 323rd of 925areas by count
How many limited-service restaurants are in Missoula, MT?
County Business Patterns counts 100 limited-service restaurants (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants) in the Missoula, MT metro area for 2023. They employed 2,338 people in mid-March and paid $51.2 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 323rd out of 925 areas with published figures for limited-service restaurants.
Measured against its 128,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 78.3 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 79.4, so Missoula, MT is in line with the national figure. The average establishment here has 23.4 employees, compared with 18.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $21,885, 4.9% above the national $20,857.
| Measure | Missoula, MT | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 100 | 806 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,338 | 15,352 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $51,167,000 | $322,743,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 23.4 | 19.0 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $21,885 | $21,023 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 78.3 | 70.9 | 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.
Team sizes at limited-service restaurants in Missoula, MT
Of the limited-service restaurants in Missoula, MT that had employees in March 2023, 11.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 15.2% 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 | 11 | 11.1% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 4.0% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 35 | 35.4% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 44 | 44.4% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 5 | 5.1% | 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 Missoula, MT
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 Missoula, MT:
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
Business texting for limited-service restaurants
Restaurants text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Missoula, MT 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 Missoula, MT
The average limited-service restaurant in Missoula, MT has 23.4 employees, so a 23-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $573.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $690.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $459.00 a month for 23 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,772 less than RingCentral for a limited-service restaurant in Missoula, MT 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 | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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 Missoula, MT
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 406 (51 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets customers in Missoula, MT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 51 | Mountain | 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.
What limited-service restaurants in Missoula, MT get with Callata
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 Missoula, MT 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 Missoula, MT?
Census County Business Patterns counted 100 limited-service restaurants in the Missoula, MT metro area in 2023. They employed 2,338 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 23-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users cost $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $459.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Missoula, MT use?
Area code 406 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.