CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Houma, LA
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area: 20 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 11-person team.
- Establishments
- 20CBP 2023
- Employees
- 213mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.0U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 249th of 764areas by count
The fitness center market in Houma, LA
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 20 establishments classified as Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (NAICS 713940) in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area. They employed 213 people in mid-March and paid $2,748,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 249th out of 764 areas with published figures for fitness and recreational sports centers.
Measured against its 199,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 10.0 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.2, so Houma, LA is 17.8% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 10.7 employees, compared with 17.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $12,901, 32.3% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | Houma, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 20 | 509 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 213 | 6,186 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $2,748,000 | $107,571,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.7 | 12.2 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $12,901 | $17,389 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.0 | 11.1 | 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 Houma, LA
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in Houma, LA that had employees in March 2023, 62.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 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 | 10 | 62.5% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 37.5% | 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.
What fitness and recreational sports centers in Houma, LA use the phone for
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting.
Calls a fitness center in Houma, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
- A member calls to book personal training.
- A prospect calls about membership options.
What fitness and recreational sports centers text about
Gyms text class reminders and membership notices.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
What a phone system costs a fitness center in Houma, LA
The average fitness center in Houma, LA has 10.7 employees, so an 11-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 11 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $330.00 a month and 11 on Ooma Office Pro cost $274.45. 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 Houma, LA 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 Houma, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 985 (84 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets members in Houma, LA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 985 | 84 | Central | 2001 | 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.
Setting up Callata for a fitness center in Houma, LA
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.
Porting a number you already use in Houma, LA 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 Houma, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 20 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 213 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 Houma, LA use?
Area code 985 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.