CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA
Hardware stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 16 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 6-person team.
- Establishments
- 16CBP 2023
- Employees
- 88mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.6U.S. 4.6
- Rank
- 173rd of 767areas by count
Hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA by the numbers
There were 16 hardware stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 444130, Hardware Stores). Together they reported 88 mid-March employees and $3,126,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 173rd of the 767 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 243,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.6 hardware stores per 100,000 people, 42.7% above the national rate of 4.6. Establishments average 5.5 employees, 43.6% below the U.S. average of 9.8. Payroll per employee comes to $35,523, 3.9% above the national $34,174.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 16 | 250 | 15,694 |
| Mid-March employees | 88 (moderate noise) | 2,006 | 153,041 |
| Annual payroll | $3,126,000 | $65,762,000 | $5,229,959,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.5 | 8.0 | 9.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $35,523 | $32,783 | $34,174 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.6 | 5.4 | 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 Lake Charles, LA are
Of the hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 56.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 39.0%). 81.3% 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 | 9 | 56.3% | 39.0% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 25.0% | 21.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 18.8% | 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.
Why the phone matters for hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA
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. That holds for hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to hardware stores in Lake Charles, LA:
- A customer calls about key cutting.
- A customer calls about propane refills.
- The store calls a customer when a special order arrives.
Calls after closing time
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.
What a phone system costs a hardware store in Lake Charles, LA
The average hardware store in Lake Charles, LA has 5.5 employees, so a 6-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $180.00 a month and 6 on Ooma Office Pro cost $149.70. On Callata the same 6 people cost $119.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $732. 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 | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
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). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 hardware stores
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 Lake Charles, LA, 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 Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 16 hardware stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 88 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 6-person hardware store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users cost $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $119.00.
What area code should a hardware store 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 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.