CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Charleston, SC
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 121 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 11-person team.
- Establishments
- 121CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,374mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 13.9U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 59th of 764areas by count
How many fitness and recreational sports centers are in Charleston, SC?
There were 121 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 713940, Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers). They employed 1,374 people in mid-March and paid $23.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 59th out of 764 areas with published figures for fitness and recreational sports centers.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 13.9 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.2, so Charleston, SC is 13.8% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 11.4 employees, compared with 17.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $17,082, 10.4% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 121 | 574 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,374 | 8,457 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $23,470,000 | $122,573,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 11.4 | 14.7 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $17,082 | $14,494 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 13.9 | 10.5 | 12.2 |
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 fitness and recreational sports centers in Charleston, SC
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 40.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 61.7% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 48 | 40.0% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 26 | 21.7% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 30 | 25.0% | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 16 | 13.3% | 13.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 7.7% |
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 fitness center in Charleston, SC has to catch
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting.
A few of the calls that come in to fitness and recreational sports centers in Charleston, SC:
- A member calls about a billing question.
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A prospect calls about membership options.
Business texting for fitness and recreational sports centers
Gyms text class reminders and membership notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Charleston, SC have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs a fitness center in Charleston, SC
The average fitness center in Charleston, SC has 11.4 employees, so an 11-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 11 users would run $330.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $274.45 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $219.00 a month for 11 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,332 less than RingCentral for a fitness center in Charleston, SC 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 | $219.00 | $2,628.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $209.00 | $2,508.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $253.00 | $3,036.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $274.45 | $3,293.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $297.00 | $3,564.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $330.00 | $3,960.00 |
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.
Local area codes for fitness and recreational sports centers in Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets members in Charleston, SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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 fitness center in Charleston, SC
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 Charleston, SC 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 fitness and recreational sports centers are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 121 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 1,374 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 11-person fitness center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 11 users cost $330.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $274.45 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $219.00.
What area code should a fitness center in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a fitness 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.