CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI
Insurance agencies and brokerages in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area: 41 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 4-person team.
- Establishments
- 41CBP 2023
- Employees
- 162mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 19.5U.S. 39.3
- Rank
- 356th of 922areas by count
The insurance agency market in Hilo, HI
There were 41 insurance agencies and brokerages in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 524210, Insurance Agencies and Brokerages). They employed 162 people in mid-March and paid $8,349,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 356th out of 922 areas with published figures for insurance agencies and brokerages.
Measured against its 210,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 19.5 insurance agencies and brokerages per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 39.3, so Hilo, HI is 50.3% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 4.0 employees, compared with 6.1 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $51,537, 43.3% below the national $90,831.
| Measure | Hilo, HI | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 41 | 385 | 133,728 |
| Mid-March employees | 162 (moderate noise) | 1,984 | 818,561 |
| Annual payroll | $8,349,000 | $156,669,000 | $74,350,546,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.0 | 5.2 | 6.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,537 | $78,966 | $90,831 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 19.5 | 26.6 | 39.3 |
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 insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI
Of the insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI that had employees in March 2023, 68.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 72.3%). 92.7% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 28 | 68.3% | 72.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 10 | 24.4% | 17.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 7.3% | 6.0% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% |
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 insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI
Insurance agencies take quote requests, policy changes and claims questions, and a caller shopping for a quote may only call one or two agencies. Recording calls and summarizing them also helps agencies document what a client asked for.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI:
- A prospect calls for an auto insurance quote.
- A policyholder calls to add a new driver.
- A client calls after an accident to start a claim.
Business texting for insurance agencies and brokerages
Agencies text ID-card reminders, renewal notices and requests for documents.
Texts sent from a local business number in Hilo, HI have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 4-person insurance agency
The average insurance agency in Hilo, HI has 4.0 employees, so a 4-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $99.80 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $120.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for an insurance agency in Hilo, HI of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| 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 | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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.
What insurance agencies and brokerages in Hilo, HI get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Hilo, HI is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Outbound sales calls and texts are subject to telemarketing and consent rules; get consent before marketing by phone or text.
Frequently asked questions
How many insurance agencies and brokerages are there in Hilo, HI?
Census County Business Patterns counted 41 insurance agencies and brokerages in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area in 2023. They employed 162 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 4-person insurance agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users cost $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an insurance agency?
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. Outbound sales calls and texts are subject to telemarketing and consent rules; get consent before marketing by phone or text.