CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area: 18 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 5-person team.
- Establishments
- 18CBP 2023
- Employees
- 98mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.7U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 263rd of 764areas by count
Fitness and recreational sports centers in Fort Smith, AR-OK by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 18 establishments classified as Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (NAICS 713940) in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area. Together they reported 98 mid-March employees and $1,134,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 263rd of the 764 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 233,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.7 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people, 36.7% below the national rate of 12.2. Establishments average 5.4 employees, 68.1% below the U.S. average of 17.0. Payroll per employee comes to $11,571, 39.3% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | Fort Smith, AR-OK | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 18 | 257 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 98 | 2,724 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $1,134,000 | $43,719,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.4 | 10.6 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $11,571 | $16,050 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.7 | 8.3 | 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in Fort Smith, AR-OK that had employees in March 2023, 80.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 12 | 80.0% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 20.0% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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.
Why the phone matters for fitness and recreational sports centers in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK:
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A member calls to book personal training.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly membership questions.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a fitness center in Fort Smith, AR-OK
The average fitness center in Fort Smith, AR-OK has 5.4 employees, so a 5-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 5 users would run $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Fort Smith, AR-OK
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 479 has the most, with 137 of 160 exchanges (86%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your members recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 479 | 137 | Central | 2002 | none |
| 918 | 16 | Central | 1953 | 539 |
| 539 | 7 | Central | 2011 | 918 |
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.
What fitness and recreational sports centers in Fort Smith, AR-OK get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Fort Smith, AR-OK, 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 there in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Census County Business Patterns counted 18 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area in 2023. They employed 98 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 5-person fitness center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users cost $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a fitness center in Fort Smith, AR-OK use?
Area code 479 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 918 and 539. 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.