CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Boston, MA-NH
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area: 920 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 70-person team.
- Establishments
- 920CBP 2023
- Employees
- 64,770mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 18.3U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 11th of 892areas by count
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in Boston, MA-NH?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 920 establishments classified as Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores (NAICS 445110) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. They employed 64,770 people in mid-March and paid $1.9 billion in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 11th out of 892 areas with published figures for supermarkets and grocery stores.
Measured against its 5.0 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 18.3 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 18.5, so Boston, MA-NH is in line with the national figure. The average establishment here has 70.4 employees, compared with 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $29,015, 2.7% below the national $29,817.
| Measure | Boston, MA-NH | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 920 | 1,348 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 64,770 | 86,775 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $1,879,288,000 | $2,562,626,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 70.4 | 64.4 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $29,015 | $29,532 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 18.3 | 18.9 | 18.5 |
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 supermarkets and grocery stores in Boston, MA-NH are
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Boston, MA-NH that had employees in March 2023, 36.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 46.7% 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 | 332 | 36.1% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 98 | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 77 | 8.4% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 69 | 7.5% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 344 | 37.4% | 31.0% |
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.
What supermarkets and grocery stores in Boston, MA-NH use the phone for
Independent grocers take calls about stock, deli and bakery orders, and departments need calls routed to them. Holiday orders bring call peaks.
Calls a grocery store in Boston, MA-NH might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls about a product in stock.
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
- A customer calls about hours.
Texting customers
Grocers text order-ready notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
What a phone system costs a grocery store in Boston, MA-NH
The average grocery store in Boston, MA-NH has 70.4 employees, so a 70-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 70 users would run $2,100.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,746.50 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,399.00 a month for 70 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $8,412 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in Boston, MA-NH 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 | $1,399.00 | $16,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,330.00 | $15,960.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,610.00 | $19,320.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,746.50 | $20,958.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,890.00 | $22,680.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,100.00 | $25,200.00 |
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 Boston, MA-NH
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 781 has the most, with 763 of 3,063 exchanges (25%). A local number lets customers in Boston, MA-NH call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 781 | 763 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 978 | 642 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 617 | 635 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 282 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 857 | 278 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 603 | 203 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 163 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 339 | 97 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
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 supermarkets and grocery stores
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 Boston, MA-NH 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 supermarkets and grocery stores are there in Boston, MA-NH?
Census County Business Patterns counted 920 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area in 2023. They employed 64,770 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 70-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 70 users cost $2,100.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,746.50 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,399.00.
What area code should a grocery store in Boston, MA-NH use?
Area code 781 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 978 and 617. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a grocery store?
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.