CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in St. Louis, MO-IL
Fitness and recreational sports centers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area: 402 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 22-person team.
- Establishments
- 402CBP 2023
- Employees
- 8,672mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 14.3U.S. 12.2
- Rank
- 22nd of 764areas by count
The fitness center market in St. Louis, MO-IL
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 402 establishments classified as Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (NAICS 713940) in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area. Together they reported 8,672 mid-March employees and $132.5 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 22nd of the 764 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.8 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 14.3 fitness and recreational sports centers per 100,000 people, 17.0% above the national rate of 12.2. Establishments average 21.6 employees, 26.6% above the U.S. average of 17.0. Payroll per employee comes to $15,275, 19.9% below the national $19,070.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO-IL | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 402 | 697 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 8,672 | 12,441 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $132,468,000 | $185,313,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 21.6 | 17.8 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $15,275 | $14,895 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 14.3 | 11.2 | 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.
How big fitness and recreational sports centers in St. Louis, MO-IL are
Of the fitness and recreational sports centers in St. Louis, MO-IL that had employees in March 2023, 41.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 40.9%). 55.0% 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 | 165 | 41.3% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 55 | 13.8% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 66 | 16.5% | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 68 | 17.0% | 13.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 46 | 11.5% | 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 St. Louis, MO-IL has to catch
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting.
Calls a fitness center in St. Louis, MO-IL might handle in a typical week include:
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
- A member calls to book personal training.
After-hours calls
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.
Phone system pricing for a 22-person fitness center
The average fitness center in St. Louis, MO-IL has 21.6 employees, so a 22-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $548.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $660.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 22 people cost $439.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,652. 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 | $439.00 | $5,268.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $418.00 | $5,016.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $506.00 | $6,072.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $548.90 | $6,586.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $594.00 | $7,128.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $660.00 | $7,920.00 |
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 St. Louis, MO-IL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 314 has the most, with 723 of 1,483 exchanges (49%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 723 | Central | 1947 | 557 |
| 618 | 324 | Central | 1947 | 730 |
| 636 | 308 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 557 | 71 | Central | 2022 | 314 |
| 730 | 30 | Central | 2023 | 618 |
| 217 | 14 | Central | 1947 | 447 |
| 573 | 11 | Central | 1996 | 235 |
| 447 | 2 | Central | 2021 | 217 |
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 St. Louis, MO-IL get with Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in St. Louis, MO-IL, 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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 402 fitness and recreational sports centers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area in 2023. They employed 8,672 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 22-person fitness center?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users cost $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $439.00.
What area code should a fitness center in St. Louis, MO-IL use?
Area code 314 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 618 and 636. 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.