CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Hattiesburg, MS
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 19CBP 2023
- Employees
- 365mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 12.1U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 256th of 764areas by count
The fitness center market in Hattiesburg, MS
There were 19 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 713940, Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers). Together they reported 365 mid-March employees and $4,286,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 256th of the 764 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 157,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 12.1 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people, in line with the national rate of 12.2. Establishments average 19.2 employees, 12.7% above the U.S. average of 17.0. Payroll per employee comes to $11,742, 38.4% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | Hattiesburg, MS | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19 | 255 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 365 | 3,147 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $4,286,000 | $46,554,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.2 | 12.3 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $11,742 | $14,793 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 12.1 | 8.7 | 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.
Establishment size: fitness and recreational sports centers in Hattiesburg, MS
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in Hattiesburg, MS that had employees in March 2023, 17.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 52.9% 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 | 3 | 17.6% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 6 | 35.3% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 29.4% | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 13.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 17.6% | 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 Hattiesburg, MS has to catch
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting. That holds for fitness and recreational sports centers in Hattiesburg, MS as much as anywhere.
Calls a fitness center in Hattiesburg, MS might handle in a typical week include:
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A member calls about a billing question.
- A prospect calls about membership options.
Calls after closing time
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.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for fitness and recreational sports centers in Hattiesburg, MS
The average fitness center in Hattiesburg, MS has 19.2 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 19 users would run $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 19 people cost $379.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,292. 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 | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
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 Hattiesburg, MS
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 601 has the most, with 77 of 94 exchanges (82%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | 77 | Central | 1947 | 769 |
| 769 | 17 | Central | 2005 | 601 |
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
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 Hattiesburg, MS, 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 Hattiesburg, MS?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area in 2023. They employed 365 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person fitness center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a fitness center in Hattiesburg, MS use?
Area code 601 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 769. 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.