Business phone system for florists in Montana
71 florists operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 71CBP 2023
- Employees
- 306mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.2U.S. 3.5
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
The florist industry in Montana
The Census Bureau counted 71 florists in Montana in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 453110). They employed 306 people in mid-March and reported $6,112,000 in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Florists make up 0.17% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 6.2 florists, 79.4% above the national rate of 3.5. The average establishment has 4.3 employees against 4.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $19,974, 20.6% below the U.S. figure of $25,151.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 71 | 11,834 |
| Mid-March employees | 306 (moderate noise) | 55,143 |
| Annual payroll | $6,112,000 | $1,386,900,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,974 | $25,151 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.2 | 3.5 |
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.
Florists by metro area in Montana
Census published florist counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 14 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 62% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 14 | — | 11.0 |
| Billings, MT | 6 | 63 | 3.1 |
| Kalispell, MT | 6 | 29 | 5.2 |
| Great Falls, MT | 6 | — | 7.1 |
| Missoula, MT | 5 | 56 | 3.9 |
| Helena, MT | 4 | — | 4.1 |
| Butte, MT | 3 | 4 | 8.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at florists in Montana
72.1% of Montana's florists with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 64.8% nationally. 100.0% 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 | 49 | 72.1% | 64.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 19 | 27.9% | 24.0% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 9.0% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
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 florists in Montana
Florists take a large share of orders by phone, especially for funerals, holidays and same-day deliveries. Order details matter, so clear call notes prevent mistakes. That holds for florists in Montana as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for florists in Montana:
- A customer calls on a holiday morning about delivery.
- A customer calls to order sympathy flowers for a service tomorrow.
- A funeral home calls about an arrangement.
What florists text about
Florists text order confirmations and delivery notices.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for florists in Montana
Florists in Montana average 4.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for a florist in Montana 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 | $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.
Area codes in Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a florist can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | Mountain | 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 florists in Montana
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 Montana 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many florists are in Montana?
71 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 306 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most florists?
Bozeman, MT, with 14 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person florist?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 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 Montana 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.