CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for limited-service restaurants in Tampa, FL
Limited-service restaurants in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area: 2,381 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 17-person team.
- Establishments
- 2,381CBP 2023
- Employees
- 41,528mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 69.5U.S. 79.4
- Rank
- 20th of 925areas by count
How many limited-service restaurants are in Tampa, FL?
There were 2,381 limited-service restaurants in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants). Together they reported 41,528 mid-March employees and $815.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 20th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 3.4 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 69.5 limited-service restaurants per 100,000 people, 12.4% below the national rate of 79.4. Establishments average 17.4 employees, 5.1% below the U.S. average of 18.4. Payroll per employee comes to $19,635, 5.9% below the national $20,857.
| Measure | Tampa, FL | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,381 | 15,969 | 270,088 |
| Mid-March employees | 41,528 | 296,500 | 4,965,080 |
| Annual payroll | $815,415,000 | $5,996,435,000 | $103,557,315,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 17.4 | 18.6 | 18.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,635 | $20,224 | $20,857 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 69.5 | 68.3 | 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 Tampa, FL
Of the limited-service restaurants in Tampa, FL that had employees in March 2023, 27.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 24.3%). 45.0% 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 | 653 | 27.4% | 24.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 418 | 17.6% | 16.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 512 | 21.5% | 24.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 651 | 27.4% | 28.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 145 | 6.1% | 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 Tampa, FL
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 Tampa, FL:
- A customer calls in a lunch order.
- A delivery driver calls for directions.
- A customer calls about an order mistake.
Calls after closing time
After-hours callers usually want hours or catering information.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 17-person limited-service restaurant
The average limited-service restaurant in Tampa, FL has 17.4 employees, so a 17-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $424.15 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $510.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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 Tampa, FL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 4 area codes. 727 has the most, with 593 of 927 exchanges (64%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 727 | 593 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 813 | 249 | Eastern | 1953 | 656 |
| 352 | 69 | Eastern | 1995 | none |
| 656 | 16 | Eastern | 2022 | 813 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a limited-service restaurant in Tampa, FL
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Tampa, FL, 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 there in Tampa, FL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 2,381 limited-service restaurants in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area in 2023. They employed 41,528 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 17-person limited-service restaurant?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 17 users cost $510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $339.00.
What area code should a limited-service restaurant in Tampa, FL use?
Area code 727 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 813 and 352. 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.