CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA
Nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in the Lafayette, LA metro area: 26 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 13-person team.
- Establishments
- 26CBP 2023
- Employees
- 345mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.2U.S. 3.9
- Rank
- 84th of 736areas by count
Nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA by the numbers
There were 26 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in the Lafayette, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 444220, Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores). Together they reported 345 mid-March employees and $9,962,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 84th of the 736 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 420,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.2 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores per 100,000 people, 59.7% above the national rate of 3.9. Establishments average 13.3 employees, 19.4% above the U.S. average of 11.1. Payroll per employee comes to $28,875, 19.9% below the national $36,065.
| Measure | Lafayette, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 26 | 213 | 13,195 |
| Mid-March employees | 345 (moderate noise) | 2,492 (moderate noise) | 146,650 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $9,962,000 (moderate noise) | $73,518,000 | $5,288,872,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 13.3 | 11.7 | 11.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $28,875 | $29,502 | $36,065 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.2 | 4.6 | 3.9 |
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.
Team sizes at nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA
Of the nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA that had employees in March 2023, 36.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 36.7%). 56.0% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 36.0% | 36.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 20.0% | 20.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 20.0% | 25.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 24.0% | 15.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% |
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 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA
Garden centers are seasonal and busy, with customers calling about plant availability, delivery and landscaping supplies. Spring peaks strain small staffs. That holds for nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA:
- A landscaper calls about bulk mulch.
- A customer calls about plant care.
- A customer calls about delivery.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly stock and hours questions.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Lafayette, LA
The average garden center in Lafayette, LA has 13.3 employees, so a 13-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $324.35 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $390.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 13 people cost $259.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,572. 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 | $259.00 | $3,108.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $247.00 | $2,964.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $299.00 | $3,588.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $324.35 | $3,892.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $351.00 | $4,212.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $390.00 | $4,680.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Lafayette, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (243 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 243 | Central | 1999 | 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.
Setting up Callata for a garden center in Lafayette, LA
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 Lafayette, LA, 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 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores are there in Lafayette, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 26 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in the Lafayette, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 345 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 13-person garden center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 13 users cost $390.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $324.35 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $259.00.
What area code should a garden center in Lafayette, LA use?
Area code 337 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a garden center?
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.