CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine
95 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores operated in Maine in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 95CBP 2023
- Employees
- 955mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.8U.S. 3.9
- State rank
- 39th of 51by count
How many nursery, garden center and farm supply stores operate in Maine
County Business Patterns counts 95 establishments in Maine classified as Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores (NAICS 444220) for 2023. They employed 955 people in mid-March and reported $31.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 39th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Nursery, garden center and farm supply stores make up 0.22% of the 43,345 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maine has 6.8 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores, 74.3% above the national rate of 3.9. The average establishment has 10.1 employees against 11.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $32,437, 10.1% below the U.S. figure of $36,065.
| Measure | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 95 | 13,195 |
| Mid-March employees | 955 (moderate noise) | 146,650 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $30,977,000 (moderate noise) | $5,288,872,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.1 | 11.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,437 | $36,065 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.8 | 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.
Where nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine are concentrated
Census published garden center counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maine. The largest is Portland, ME, with 29 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 61% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 29 | 364 | 5.1 |
| Bangor, ME | 13 | 120 | 8.3 |
| Augusta, ME | 10 | — | 7.8 |
| Lewiston, ME | 6 | 55 | 5.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine
31.9% of Maine's nursery, garden center and farm supply stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 36.7% nationally. 54.3% 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 | 30 | 31.9% | 36.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 21 | 22.3% | 20.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 33 | 35.1% | 25.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 10 | 10.6% | 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.
Calls a garden center in Maine has to catch
Garden centers are seasonal and busy, with customers calling about plant availability, delivery and landscaping supplies. Spring peaks strain small staffs.
A few of the calls that come in to nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine:
- The store calls a customer when an order arrives.
- A customer calls to ask whether a plant is in stock.
- A customer calls about plant care.
What nursery, garden center and farm supply stores text about
Garden centers text order-ready and delivery notices.
Texting from a local number in Maine requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 10-person garden center
Nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine average 10.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 10-person team. Priced per seat, 10 users would run $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $199.00 a month for 10 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,212 less than RingCentral for a garden center in Maine of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
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 Maine
Maine has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a garden center can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | 742 | Eastern | 1947 | 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.
How Callata works for nursery, garden center and farm supply stores in Maine
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Maine 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 nursery, garden center and farm supply stores are in Maine?
95 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 955 people in mid-March.
Which Maine metro area has the most nursery, garden center and farm supply stores?
Portland, ME, with 29 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 10-person garden center?
$300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $199.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Maine 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.