CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Delaware
170 fitness and recreational sports centers operated in Delaware in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 170CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,956mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 16.2U.S. 12.2
- State rank
- 43rd of 51by count
The fitness center industry in Delaware
Delaware had 170 fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 713940, Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers). They employed 2,956 people in mid-March and reported $70.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 43rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Fitness and recreational sports centers make up 0.57% of the 29,706 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Delaware has 16.2 fitness and recreational sports centers, 32.3% above the national rate of 12.2. The average establishment has 17.4 employees against 17.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $23,854, 25.1% above the U.S. figure of $19,070.
| Measure | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 170 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,956 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $70,513,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 17.4 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $23,854 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 16.2 | 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.
Where fitness and recreational sports centers in Delaware are concentrated
Census published fitness center counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Delaware. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,007 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 34% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,007 | 18,385 | 15.9 |
| Seaford, DE | 31 | 404 | 11.4 |
| Dover, DE | 26 | 453 | 13.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at fitness and recreational sports centers in Delaware
47.3% of Delaware's fitness and recreational sports centers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 40.9% nationally. 63.3% 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 | 80 | 47.3% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 27 | 16.0% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 27 | 16.0% | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 22 | 13.0% | 13.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 13 | 7.7% | 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 Delaware has to catch
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting.
Calls a fitness center in Delaware might handle in a typical week include:
- A member calls to book personal training.
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
- A member calls about a billing question.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly membership questions.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a fitness center in Delaware
Fitness and recreational sports centers in Delaware average 17.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 17-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 17 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $510.00 a month and 17 on Ooma Office Pro cost $424.15. On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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 Delaware
Delaware has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your members know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | 656 | 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 fitness and recreational sports centers in Delaware
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Delaware, 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 fitness and recreational sports centers are in Delaware?
170 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,956 people in mid-March.
Which Delaware metro area has the most fitness and recreational sports centers?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,007 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 17-person fitness center?
$510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $339.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Delaware 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.