CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mobile food services in Hilo, HI
Mobile food services in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 19CBP 2023
- Employees
- 46mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 9.1U.S. 3.7
- Rank
- 127th of 481areas by count
The food truck market in Hilo, HI
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 19 establishments classified as Mobile Food Services (NAICS 722330) in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area. Together they reported 46 mid-March employees and $1,163,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 127th of the 481 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 210,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 9.1 mobile food services per 100,000 people, 146.7% above the national rate of 3.7. Establishments average 2.4 employees, 21.3% below the U.S. average of 3.1. Payroll per employee comes to $25,283, 2.5% below the national $25,920.
| Measure | Hilo, HI | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19 | 178 | 12,487 |
| Mid-March employees | 46 (moderate noise) | 777 | 38,438 |
| Annual payroll | $1,163,000 | $19,159,000 | $996,319,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.4 | 4.4 | 3.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,283 | $24,658 | $25,920 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 9.1 | 12.3 | 3.7 |
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.
How big mobile food services in Hilo, HI are
Of the mobile food services in Hilo, HI that had employees in March 2023, 100.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 80.6%). Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 16 | 100.0% | 80.6% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 12.3% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 5.1% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 1.8% |
| 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.
What mobile food services in Hilo, HI use the phone for
Food trucks are booked for private events and need a phone number that follows the owner from site to site. A business line on a cell keeps bookings separate from personal calls.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for mobile food services in Hilo, HI:
- A customer calls about a catering order.
- The owner calls a venue about parking.
- An event planner calls to book the truck for a festival.
Calls after closing time
Evening calls about weekend bookings are common.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for mobile food services in Hilo, HI
The average food truck in Hilo, HI has 2.4 employees, so a 2-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $49.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $60.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (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.
What mobile food services in Hilo, HI get with Callata
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.
If you already have a number in Hilo, HI, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many mobile food services are there in Hilo, HI?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19 mobile food services in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area in 2023. They employed 46 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 2-person food truck?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users cost $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a food truck?
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.