CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for investment advice firms in Charleston, SC
Investment advice firms in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 68 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 4-person team.
- Establishments
- 68CBP 2023
- Employees
- 269mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.8U.S. 6.9
- Rank
- 60th of 478areas by count
The financial advisory firm market in Charleston, SC
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 68 establishments classified as Investment Advice (NAICS 523930) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. Together they reported 269 mid-March employees and $28.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 60th of the 478 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.8 investment advice firms per 100,000 people, 13.8% above the national rate of 6.9. Establishments average 4.0 employees, 16.1% below the U.S. average of 4.7. Payroll per employee comes to $107,071, 36.2% below the national $167,820.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 68 | 238 | 23,359 |
| Mid-March employees | 269 | 699 | 110,125 |
| Annual payroll | $28,802,000 (moderate noise) | $66,671,000 | $18,481,170,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.0 | 2.9 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $107,071 | $95,381 | $167,820 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.8 | 4.3 | 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.
Establishment size: investment advice firms in Charleston, SC
Of the investment advice firms in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 86.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 84.5%). 95.5% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 57 | 86.4% | 84.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 6 | 9.1% | 9.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 3.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 4.5% | 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 Charleston, SC
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 Charleston, SC:
- A prospect calls after a referral from a friend.
- A client calls to schedule an annual review.
- The firm calls a client to confirm a distribution request.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually meeting or document requests that can be returned the next business day.
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 4-person financial advisory firm
The average financial advisory firm in Charleston, SC has 4.0 employees, so a 4-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $120.00 a month and 4 on Ooma Office Pro cost $99.80. On Callata the same 4 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $252. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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 Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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
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.
If you already have a number in Charleston, SC, 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 there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 68 investment advice firms in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 269 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 4-person financial advisory firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users cost $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a financial advisory firm in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a financial advisory firm?
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. Registered firms should check their books-and-records obligations before texting clients about accounts.