CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Lake Charles, LA
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 29 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 10-person team.
- Establishments
- 29CBP 2023
- Employees
- 290mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.9U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 197th of 764areas by count
The fitness center market in Lake Charles, LA
County Business Patterns counts 29 fitness and recreational sports centers (NAICS 713940, Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers) in the Lake Charles, LA metro area for 2023. They employed 290 people in mid-March and paid $4,901,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 197th out of 764 areas with published figures for fitness and recreational sports centers.
Measured against its 243,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 11.9 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.2, so Lake Charles, LA is 2.3% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 10.0 employees, compared with 17.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $16,900, 11.4% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 29 | 509 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 290 (moderate noise) | 6,186 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $4,901,000 | $107,571,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.0 | 12.2 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $16,900 | $17,389 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.9 | 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 Lake Charles, LA
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 59.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 85.2% 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 | 16 | 59.3% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 7 | 25.9% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 14.8% | 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 Lake Charles, LA
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 Lake Charles, LA as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for fitness and recreational sports centers in Lake Charles, LA:
- A member calls to book personal training.
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
Business texting for fitness and recreational sports centers
Gyms text class reminders and membership notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for fitness and recreational sports centers in Lake Charles, LA
The average fitness center in Lake Charles, LA has 10.0 employees, so a 10-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 10 users would run $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $199.00 a month for 10 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,212 less than RingCentral for a fitness center in Lake Charles, 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 | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
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 Lake Charles, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (131 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets members in Lake Charles, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 131 | Central | 1999 | 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
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.
Porting a number you already use in Lake Charles, 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 Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 29 fitness and recreational sports centers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 290 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 10-person fitness center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 10 users cost $300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $199.00.
What area code should a fitness center in Lake Charles, LA use?
Area code 337 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.