CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC
Funeral homes and funeral services in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area: 15 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 15CBP 2023
- Employees
- 125mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 4.5
- Rank
- 168th of 727areas by count
Funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 15 establishments classified as Funeral Homes and Funeral Services (NAICS 812210) in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. Together they reported 125 mid-March employees and $4,905,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 168th of the 727 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 621,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.4 funeral homes and funeral services per 100,000 people, 45.9% below the national rate of 4.5. Establishments average 8.3 employees, 17.6% above the U.S. average of 7.1. Payroll per employee comes to $39,240, 10.1% below the national $43,650.
| Measure | Durham, NC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 15 | 518 | 15,183 |
| Mid-March employees | 125 | 4,329 | 107,566 |
| Annual payroll | $4,905,000 | $163,925,000 | $4,695,206,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.3 | 8.4 | 7.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $39,240 | $37,867 | $43,650 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
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.
How big funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC are
Of the funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC that had employees in March 2023, 42.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 49.3%). 64.3% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 6 | 42.9% | 49.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 21.4% | 28.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 35.7% | 16.6% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 5.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
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 funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC
Funeral homes receive calls at any hour, often at a family's most difficult moment, so every call must be answered with care. Coordination with clergy, cemeteries and florists also happens by phone. That holds for funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to funeral homes and funeral services in Durham, NC:
- A florist calls about a delivery.
- A hospice calls about a transfer.
- A family calls after a death at home.
When nobody can pick up
Calls about a death come at any hour and must reach a staff member.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a funeral home in Durham, NC
The average funeral home in Durham, NC has 8.3 employees, so an 8-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. On Callata the same 8 people cost $159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $972. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Durham, NC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 4 area codes. 919 has the most, with 226 of 313 exchanges (72%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your families recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 919 | 226 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 984 | 73 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 336 | 13 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 743 | 1 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
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 funeral homes and funeral services
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.
If you already have a number in Durham, NC, 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 funeral homes and funeral services are there in Durham, NC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 15 funeral homes and funeral services in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area in 2023. They employed 125 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person funeral home?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should a funeral home in Durham, NC use?
Area code 919 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 984 and 336. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a funeral home?
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.