CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for investment advice firms in Texas
1,764 investment advice firms operated in Texas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,764CBP 2023
- Employees
- 8,147mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.6U.S. 6.9
- State rank
- 3rd of 51by count
Investment advice firms in Texas by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 1,764 establishments in Texas classified as Investment Advice (NAICS 523930) for 2023. They employed 8,147 people in mid-March and reported $1.3 billion in annual payroll. That is the 3rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Investment advice firms make up 0.26% of the 670,878 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Texas has 5.6 investment advice firms, 17.9% below the national rate of 6.9. The average establishment has 4.6 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $157,293, 6.3% below the U.S. figure of $167,820.
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,764 | 23,359 |
| Mid-March employees | 8,147 (moderate noise) | 110,125 |
| Annual payroll | $1,281,464,000 | $18,481,170,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $157,293 | $167,820 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.6 | 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.
Texas's largest markets for investment advice firms
Census published financial advisory firm counts for 29 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Texas. The largest is Dallas, TX, with 669 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 97% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 669 | 2,979 | 8.0 |
| Houston, TX | 424 | 1,785 | 5.4 |
| Austin, TX | 233 | 1,760 | 9.1 |
| San Antonio, TX | 139 | — | 5.0 |
| El Paso, TX | 29 | 63 | 3.3 |
| Lubbock, TX | 24 | 59 | 6.5 |
| McAllen, TX | 19 | 38 | 2.1 |
| College Station, TX | 18 | 34 | 6.3 |
| Tyler, TX | 18 | 26 | 7.2 |
| Killeen, TX | 14 | 36 | 2.7 |
| Waco, TX | 12 | 43 | 3.9 |
| Amarillo, TX | 11 | — | 4.0 |
| Beaumont, TX | 10 | 20 | 2.5 |
| Longview, TX | 10 | 20 | 3.4 |
| Midland, TX | 10 | 39 | 5.3 |
| Abilene, TX | 10 | 27 | 5.4 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 9 | 33 | 2.0 |
| Brownsville, TX | 8 | — | 1.9 |
| San Angelo, TX | 6 | — | 4.9 |
| Laredo, TX | 5 | — | 1.8 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 5 | 14 | 3.3 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 5 | — | 3.4 |
| Odessa, TX | 4 | — | 2.4 |
| Sherman, TX | 4 | 19 | 2.7 |
| Kerrville, TX | 4 | — | 7.4 |
Top 25 of 29 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at investment advice firms in Texas
82.7% of Texas's investment advice firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 84.5% nationally. 93.8% 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 | 1,457 | 82.7% | 84.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 196 | 11.1% | 9.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 63 | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 27 | 1.5% | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 19 | 1.1% | 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 Texas 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. That holds for investment advice firms in Texas as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to investment advice firms in Texas:
- A custodian calls about a transfer.
- A client calls during a volatile market to talk with their advisor.
- The firm calls a client to confirm a distribution request.
Texting clients
Firms text meeting reminders; many keep account discussions off text to meet recordkeeping rules.
Texting from a local number in Texas 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 Texas average 4.6 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 Texas 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 Texas
Texas has 29 geographic area codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | 786 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 469 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 214, 945, 972 |
| 832 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 512 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 737 |
| 713 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 972 | 785 | Central | 1996 | 214, 469, 945 |
| 210 | 784 | Central | 1992 | 726 |
| 214 | 784 | Central | 1947 | 469, 945, 972 |
| 817 | 780 | Central | 1953 | 682 |
| 903 | 771 | Central | 1990 | 430 |
| 346 | 752 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 956 | 735 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 806 | 734 | Central | 1957 | none |
| 254 | 671 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 361 | 537 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 940 | 506 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 830 | 496 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 409 | 433 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 936 | 422 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 682 | 421 | Central | 2000 | 817 |
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 Texas
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.
Porting a number you already use in Texas 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 Texas?
1,764 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 8,147 people in mid-March.
Which Texas metro area has the most investment advice firms?
Dallas, TX, with 669 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 Texas 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.