CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for beauty salons in Birmingham, AL
Beauty salons in the Birmingham, AL metro area: 231 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 5-person team.
- Establishments
- 231CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,093mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 19.4U.S. 24.7
- Rank
- 64th of 835areas by count
Beauty salons in Birmingham, AL by the numbers
There were 231 beauty salons in the Birmingham, AL metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 812112, Beauty Salons). Together they reported 1,093 mid-March employees and $40.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 64th of the 835 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 1.2 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 19.4 beauty salons per 100,000 people, 21.7% below the national rate of 24.7. Establishments average 4.7 employees, in line with the U.S. average of 4.6. Payroll per employee comes to $37,309, 17.6% above the national $31,717.
| Measure | Birmingham, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 231 | 740 | 84,176 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,093 | 3,559 | 391,064 |
| Annual payroll | $40,779,000 | $113,012,000 | $12,403,477,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $37,309 | $31,754 | $31,717 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 19.4 | 14.3 | 24.7 |
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.
Team sizes at beauty salons in Birmingham, AL
Of the beauty salons in Birmingham, AL that had employees in March 2023, 65.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 68.7%). 86.1% 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 | 152 | 65.8% | 68.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 47 | 20.3% | 18.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 23 | 10.0% | 9.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 9 | 3.9% | 3.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
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 beauty salons in Birmingham, AL
Salons book appointments by phone and text, and stylists are usually with a client when the phone rings. Missed calls are often missed bookings. That holds for beauty salons in Birmingham, AL as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to beauty salons in Birmingham, AL:
- A bride calls about wedding-party styling.
- A client calls about products.
- A client calls to move an appointment.
When nobody can pick up
Clients often call to book in the evening, so capturing those calls matters.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for beauty salons in Birmingham, AL
The average beauty salon in Birmingham, AL has 4.7 employees, so a 5-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 5 users would run $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Birmingham, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 205 has the most, with 602 of 727 exchanges (83%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 602 | Central | 1947 | 659 |
| 659 | 121 | Central | 2019 | 205 |
| 334 | 4 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
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 beauty salon in Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL, 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 beauty salons are there in Birmingham, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 231 beauty salons in the Birmingham, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 1,093 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 5-person beauty salon?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users cost $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a beauty salon in Birmingham, AL use?
Area code 205 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 659 and 334. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a beauty salon?
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.