Business phone system for fitness and recreational sports centers in Texas
3,465 fitness and recreational sports centers operated in Texas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 3,465CBP 2023
- Employees
- 53,039mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.1U.S. 12.2
- State rank
- 2nd of 51by count
The fitness center industry in Texas
The Census Bureau counted 3,465 fitness and recreational sports centers in Texas in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 713940). They employed 53,039 people in mid-March and reported $1.0 billion in annual payroll. That is the 2nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Fitness and recreational sports centers make up 0.52% of the 670,878 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Texas has 11.1 fitness and recreational sports centers, 9.4% below the national rate of 12.2. The average establishment has 15.3 employees against 17.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $19,060, in line with the U.S. figure of $19,070.
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 3,465 | 41,556 |
| Mid-March employees | 53,039 | 708,273 |
| Annual payroll | $1,010,945,000 | $13,506,603,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 15.3 | 17.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,060 | $19,070 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 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.
Where fitness and recreational sports centers in Texas are concentrated
Census published fitness center counts for 40 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Texas. The largest is Dallas, TX, with 1,078 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 96% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 1,078 | 16,544 | 12.9 |
| Houston, TX | 806 | 13,091 | 10.3 |
| Austin, TX | 450 | 7,915 | 17.6 |
| San Antonio, TX | 298 | 4,761 | 10.8 |
| El Paso, TX | 108 | 951 | 12.3 |
| McAllen, TX | 48 | 1,139 | 5.2 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 43 | 561 | 9.6 |
| Lubbock, TX | 43 | 948 | 11.7 |
| Killeen, TX | 42 | 582 | 8.2 |
| College Station, TX | 40 | 502 | 13.9 |
| Waco, TX | 36 | 573 | 11.7 |
| Beaumont, TX | 29 | 522 | 7.3 |
| Longview, TX | 29 | 231 | 9.8 |
| Amarillo, TX | 29 | 526 | 10.6 |
| Laredo, TX | 26 | 439 | 9.5 |
| Tyler, TX | 26 | 170 | 10.4 |
| Midland, TX | 26 | 668 | 13.8 |
| Brownsville, TX | 23 | 273 | 5.3 |
| Abilene, TX | 22 | 243 | 11.9 |
| San Angelo, TX | 17 | — | 14.0 |
| Odessa, TX | 15 | 291 | 8.8 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 14 | 109 | 9.6 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 11 | 252 | 7.3 |
| Athens, TX | 10 | — | 11.4 |
| Sherman, TX | 9 | 123 | 6.0 |
Top 25 of 40 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at fitness and recreational sports centers in Texas
40.6% of Texas's fitness and recreational sports centers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 40.9% nationally. 62.7% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 1,407 | 40.6% | 40.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 766 | 22.1% | 18.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 665 | 19.2% | 19.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 412 | 11.9% | 13.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 214 | 6.2% | 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 Texas has to catch
Gyms and studios take calls about memberships, classes and billing. Prospective members often call before visiting.
Calls a fitness center in Texas might handle in a typical week include:
- A member calls about freezing a membership.
- The gym calls a member about a class change.
- A prospect calls about membership options.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly membership questions.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 15-person fitness center
Fitness and recreational sports centers in Texas average 15.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 15-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $374.25 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $450.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 15 people cost $299.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,812. 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 | $299.00 | $3,588.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $285.00 | $3,420.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $345.00 | $4,140.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $374.25 | $4,491.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $405.00 | $4,860.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $450.00 | $5,400.00 |
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.
Area codes in Texas
Texas has 29 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your members know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | 786 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 469 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 214, 945, 972 |
| 832 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 512 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 737 |
| 713 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 972 | 785 | Central | 1996 | 214, 469, 945 |
| 210 | 784 | Central | 1992 | 726 |
| 214 | 784 | Central | 1947 | 469, 945, 972 |
| 817 | 780 | Central | 1953 | 682 |
| 903 | 771 | Central | 1990 | 430 |
| 346 | 752 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 956 | 735 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 806 | 734 | Central | 1957 | none |
| 254 | 671 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 361 | 537 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 940 | 506 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 830 | 496 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 409 | 433 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 936 | 422 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 682 | 421 | Central | 2000 | 817 |
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 in Texas
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 Texas, 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 in Texas?
3,465 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 53,039 people in mid-March.
Which Texas metro area has the most fitness and recreational sports centers?
Dallas, TX, with 1,078 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 15-person fitness center?
$450.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $374.25 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $299.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Texas number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.