CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for investment advice firms in Arkansas
143 investment advice firms operated in Arkansas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 143CBP 2023
- Employees
- 316mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.6U.S. 6.9
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
The financial advisory firm industry in Arkansas
The Census Bureau counted 143 investment advice firms in Arkansas in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 523930). They employed 316 people in mid-March and reported $25.6 million in annual payroll. That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Investment advice firms make up 0.20% of the 70,452 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Arkansas has 4.6 investment advice firms, 32.6% below the national rate of 6.9. The average establishment has 2.2 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $81,111, 51.7% below the U.S. figure of $167,820.
| Measure | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 143 | 23,359 |
| Mid-March employees | 316 (moderate noise) | 110,125 |
| Annual payroll | $25,631,000 | $18,481,170,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.2 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $81,111 | $167,820 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.6 | 6.9 |
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.
Arkansas's largest markets for investment advice firms
Census published financial advisory firm counts for 9 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Arkansas. The largest is Little Rock, AR, with 60 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 87% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 60 | — | 7.8 |
| Fayetteville, AR | 47 | 87 | 7.8 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 41 | 144 | 3.1 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 8 | 24 | 8.0 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 5 | — | 3.4 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 4 | — | 1.7 |
| Mountain Home, AR | 4 | — | 9.3 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 3 | — | 2.2 |
| Russellville, AR | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at investment advice firms in Arkansas
89.4% of Arkansas's investment advice firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 84.5% nationally. 100.0% 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 | 126 | 89.4% | 84.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 15 | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 3.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
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 investment advice firms in Arkansas
Advisory firms build long relationships, so the phone experience reflects on the practice. Clients call about market moves, transfers and planning meetings, and those conversations often need to be documented.
A few of the calls that come in to investment advice firms in Arkansas:
- A client calls during a volatile market to talk with their advisor.
- A custodian calls about a transfer.
- A client calls to schedule an annual review.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are usually meeting or document requests that can be returned the next business day.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a financial advisory firm in Arkansas
Investment advice firms in Arkansas average 2.2 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. Priced per seat, 2 users would run $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
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 Arkansas
Arkansas has 4 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 870 | 785 | Central | 1997 | 327 |
| 501 | 630 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 479 | 568 | Central | 2002 | none |
| 327 | 42 | Central | 2024 | 870 |
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 investment advice firms in Arkansas
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 Arkansas, 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.
Registered firms should check their books-and-records obligations before texting clients about accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How many investment advice firms are in Arkansas?
143 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 316 people in mid-March.
Which Arkansas metro area has the most investment advice firms?
Little Rock, AR, with 60 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 2-person financial advisory firm?
$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Arkansas 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.