CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Hardware stores in the Coeur d'Alene, ID metro area: 14 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 11-person team.
- Establishments
- 14CBP 2023
- Employees
- 154mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.4U.S. 4.6
- Rank
- 193rd of 767areas by count
Hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 14 establishments classified as Hardware Stores (NAICS 444130) in the Coeur d'Alene, ID metro area. Together they reported 154 mid-March employees and $5,302,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 193rd of the 767 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 188,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.4 hardware stores per 100,000 people, 61.1% above the national rate of 4.6. Establishments average 11.0 employees, 12.8% above the U.S. average of 9.8. Payroll per employee comes to $34,429, in line with the national $34,174.
| Measure | Coeur d'Alene, ID | Idaho | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 14 | 111 | 15,694 |
| Mid-March employees | 154 (moderate noise) | 1,310 | 153,041 |
| Annual payroll | $5,302,000 (moderate noise) | $44,171,000 | $5,229,959,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 11.0 | 11.8 | 9.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $34,429 | $33,718 | $34,174 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.4 | 5.5 | 4.6 |
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 hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID are
Of the hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID that had employees in March 2023, 66.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 39.0%). 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 | 8 | 66.7% | 39.0% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 21.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 33.3% | 27.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 10.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
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 hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID use the phone for
Independent hardware stores answer calls asking whether an item is in stock, often from contractors who need it today. Fast answers keep them coming back.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID:
- A customer calls about propane refills.
- A customer calls about key cutting.
- A contractor calls to ask whether a fitting is in stock.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly stock questions.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for hardware stores in Coeur d'Alene, ID
The average hardware store in Coeur d'Alene, ID has 11.0 employees, so an 11-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 11 users would run $330.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $274.45 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 11 people cost $219.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,332. 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 | $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.
Which area code to use in Coeur d'Alene, ID
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 208 has the most, with 72 of 88 exchanges (82%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 72 | Mountain and Pacific | 1947 | 986 |
| 986 | 16 | Pacific | 2017 | 208 |
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 hardware stores
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 Coeur d'Alene, ID, 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 hardware stores are there in Coeur d'Alene, ID?
Census County Business Patterns counted 14 hardware stores in the Coeur d'Alene, ID metro area in 2023. They employed 154 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 11-person hardware store?
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 hardware store in Coeur d'Alene, ID use?
Area code 208 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 986. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a hardware store?
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.