Business phone system for mobile food services in Texas
1,140 mobile food services operated in Texas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,140CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,647mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.6U.S. 3.7
- State rank
- 3rd of 51by count
How many mobile food services operate in Texas
Texas had 1,140 mobile food services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722330, Mobile Food Services). They employed 3,647 people in mid-March and reported $89.1 million in annual payroll. That is the 3rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Mobile food services make up 0.17% of the 670,878 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Texas has 3.6 mobile food services, in line with the national rate of 3.7. The average establishment has 3.2 employees against 3.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $24,433, 5.7% below the U.S. figure of $25,920.
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,140 | 12,487 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,647 | 38,438 |
| Annual payroll | $89,107,000 | $996,319,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,433 | $25,920 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.6 | 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.
Mobile food services by metro area in Texas
Census published food truck counts for 30 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Texas. The largest is Austin, TX, with 283 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 92% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 283 | 1,236 | 11.1 |
| Houston, TX | 193 | 601 | 2.5 |
| Dallas, TX | 184 | 513 | 2.2 |
| San Antonio, TX | 135 | 358 | 4.9 |
| El Paso, TX | 39 | — | 4.4 |
| McAllen, TX | 25 | 41 | 2.7 |
| Killeen, TX | 25 | 95 | 4.9 |
| Midland, TX | 21 | 66 | 11.1 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 17 | 48 | 3.8 |
| Waco, TX | 11 | 90 | 3.6 |
| Brownsville, TX | 10 | 24 | 2.3 |
| College Station, TX | 10 | — | 3.5 |
| Lubbock, TX | 9 | 28 | 2.5 |
| Longview, TX | 8 | 24 | 2.7 |
| Amarillo, TX | 8 | 15 | 2.9 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 8 | 12 | 5.3 |
| Beaumont, TX | 7 | — | 1.8 |
| Abilene, TX | 7 | — | 3.8 |
| San Angelo, TX | 7 | 24 | 5.8 |
| Tyler, TX | 5 | — | 2.0 |
| Victoria, TX | 5 | 12 | 5.0 |
| Paris, TX | 5 | 1 | 7.9 |
| Sherman, TX | 4 | 3 | 2.7 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 4 | 25 | 2.7 |
| Fredericksburg, TX | 4 | — | 14.2 |
Top 25 of 30 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at mobile food services in Texas
78.3% of Texas's mobile food services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 80.6% nationally. 92.5% 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 | 892 | 78.3% | 80.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 162 | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 62 | 5.4% | 5.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 23 | 2.0% | 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.
Why the phone matters for mobile food services in Texas
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. That holds for mobile food services in Texas as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for mobile food services in Texas:
- A business calls about a lunch visit.
- The owner calls a venue about parking.
- An event planner calls to book the truck for a festival.
Business texting for mobile food services
Trucks text booking confirmations and location updates.
Texting from a local number in Texas requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for mobile food services in Texas
Mobile food services in Texas average 3.2 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 Texas
Texas has 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 mobile food services 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many mobile food services are in Texas?
1,140 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,647 people in mid-March.
Which Texas metro area has the most mobile food services?
Austin, TX, with 283 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 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.