CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mobile food services in New Jersey
232 mobile food services operated in New Jersey in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 232CBP 2023
- Employees
- 683mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 3.7
- State rank
- 17th of 51by count
Mobile food services in New Jersey by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 232 mobile food services in New Jersey in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 722330). They employed 683 people in mid-March and reported $17.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 17th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Mobile food services make up 0.10% of the 237,968 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) New Jersey has 2.4 mobile food services, 33.5% below the national rate of 3.7. The average establishment has 2.9 employees against 3.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $25,212, 2.7% below the U.S. figure of $25,920.
| Measure | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 232 | 12,487 |
| Mid-March employees | 683 | 38,438 |
| Annual payroll | $17,220,000 | $996,319,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,212 | $25,920 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 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.
New Jersey's largest markets for mobile food services
Census published food truck counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of New Jersey. The largest is New York, NY-NJ, with 540 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 11% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY-NJ | 540 | 1,444 | 2.7 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 174 | 456 | 2.7 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 18 | — | 2.0 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 15 | — | 4.0 |
| Trenton, NJ | 10 | 26 | 2.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at mobile food services in New Jersey
87.4% of New Jersey's mobile food services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 80.6% nationally. 96.1% 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 | 201 | 87.4% | 80.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 20 | 8.7% | 12.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 1.3% | 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.
Calls a food truck in New Jersey has to catch
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.
A few of the calls that come in to mobile food services in New Jersey:
- An event planner calls to book the truck for a festival.
- A business calls about a lunch visit.
- The owner calls a venue about parking.
What mobile food services text about
Trucks text booking confirmations and location updates.
Texting from a local number in New Jersey requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a food truck in New Jersey
Mobile food services in New Jersey average 2.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 3-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $90.00 a month and 3 on Ooma Office Pro cost $74.85. Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
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 | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
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 New Jersey
New Jersey has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a food truck can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 609 | 780 | Eastern | 1957 | 640 |
| 732 | 780 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 201 | 779 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 973 | 779 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 722 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 856 | 676 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 862 | 390 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 301 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 289 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
| 640 | 132 | Eastern | 2018 | 609 |
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 mobile food services in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 mobile food services are in New Jersey?
232 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 683 people in mid-March.
Which New Jersey metro area has the most mobile food services?
New York, NY-NJ, with 540 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person food truck?
$90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $74.85 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 New Jersey 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.