CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for graphic design services firms in Maine
70 graphic design services firms operated in Maine in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 70CBP 2023
- Employees
- 178mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.0U.S. 4.7
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
The graphic design studio industry in Maine
The Census Bureau counted 70 graphic design services firms in Maine in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541430). They employed 178 people in mid-March and reported $9,183,000 in annual payroll. That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Graphic design services firms make up 0.16% of the 43,345 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maine has 5.0 graphic design services firms, 7.1% above the national rate of 4.7. The average establishment has 2.5 employees against 3.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $51,590, 20.7% below the U.S. figure of $65,029.
| Measure | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 70 | 15,828 |
| Mid-March employees | 178 | 49,266 |
| Annual payroll | $9,183,000 | $3,203,710,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,590 | $65,029 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.0 | 4.7 |
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.
Maine's largest markets for graphic design services firms
Census published graphic design studio counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maine. The largest is Portland, ME, with 47 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 80% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 47 | 129 | 8.2 |
| Bangor, ME | 5 | 18 | 3.2 |
| Augusta, ME | 4 | — | 3.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at graphic design services firms in Maine
89.6% of Maine's graphic design services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 84.3% nationally. 100.0% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 60 | 89.6% | 84.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 7 | 10.4% | 9.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 4.2% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
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 graphic design services firms in Maine
Design studios are small and busy, and clients call with feedback, deadlines and new project inquiries. A business line separate from personal phones helps freelancers and small studios look established.
A few of the calls that come in to graphic design services firms in Maine:
- A prospect calls about a rebrand.
- A printer calls with a file question.
- A client calls about a rush deadline.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually not urgent, except around print deadlines.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 3-person graphic design studio
Graphic design services firms in Maine average 2.5 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 is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 3 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
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 Maine
Maine has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| 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 graphic design services firms 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.
If you already have a number in Maine, 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 graphic design services firms are in Maine?
70 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 178 people in mid-March.
Which Maine metro area has the most graphic design services firms?
Portland, ME, with 47 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person graphic design studio?
$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 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.