CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for investment advice firms in Delaware
131 investment advice firms operated in Delaware in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 131CBP 2023
- Employees
- 590mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 12.5U.S. 6.9
- State rank
- 37th of 51by count
The financial advisory firm industry in Delaware
County Business Patterns counts 131 establishments in Delaware classified as Investment Advice (NAICS 523930) for 2023. They employed 590 people in mid-March and reported $81.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 37th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Investment advice firms make up 0.44% of the 29,706 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Delaware has 12.5 investment advice firms, 81.3% above the national rate of 6.9. The average establishment has 4.5 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $138,081, 17.7% below the U.S. figure of $167,820.
| Measure | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 131 | 23,359 |
| Mid-March employees | 590 | 110,125 |
| Annual payroll | $81,468,000 | $18,481,170,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $138,081 | $167,820 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 12.5 | 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.
Delaware's largest markets for investment advice firms
Census published financial advisory firm counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Delaware. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 563 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 21% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 563 | 3,445 | 8.9 |
| Seaford, DE | 14 | — | 5.2 |
| Dover, DE | 14 | 31 | 7.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at investment advice firms in Delaware
87.7% of Delaware's investment advice firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 84.5% nationally. 96.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 114 | 87.7% | 84.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 12 | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 3.1% | 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.
Calls a financial advisory firm in Delaware has to catch
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 Delaware:
- A custodian calls about a transfer.
- A prospect calls after a referral from a friend.
- A client calls during a volatile market to talk with their advisor.
Business texting for investment advice firms
Firms text meeting reminders; many keep account discussions off text to meet recordkeeping rules.
Texting from a local number in Delaware requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 5-person financial advisory firm
Investment advice firms in Delaware average 4.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $124.75 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $150.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for a financial advisory firm in Delaware 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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 Delaware
Delaware has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a financial advisory firm can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | 656 | Eastern | 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.
How Callata works for investment advice firms in Delaware
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.
Porting a number you already use in Delaware 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.
Registered firms should check their books-and-records obligations before texting clients about accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How many investment advice firms are in Delaware?
131 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 590 people in mid-March.
Which Delaware metro area has the most investment advice firms?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 563 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person financial advisory firm?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 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 Delaware 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.