CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana
645 insurance agencies and brokerages operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 645CBP 2023
- Employees
- 2,740mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 56.7U.S. 39.3
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
The insurance agency industry in Montana
Montana had 645 insurance agencies and brokerages in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 524210, Insurance Agencies and Brokerages). They employed 2,740 people in mid-March and reported $197.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Insurance agencies and brokerages make up 1.5% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 56.7 insurance agencies and brokerages, 44.2% above the national rate of 39.3. The average establishment has 4.2 employees against 6.1 nationally. Payroll per employee is $72,216, 20.5% below the U.S. figure of $90,831.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 645 | 133,728 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,740 | 818,561 |
| Annual payroll | $197,873,000 | $74,350,546,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.2 | 6.1 |
| Payroll per employee | $72,216 | $90,831 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 56.7 | 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.
Montana's largest markets for insurance agencies and brokerages
Census published insurance agency counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Billings, MT, with 114 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 67% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 114 | 490 | 59.2 |
| Bozeman, MT | 84 | 451 | 66.2 |
| Missoula, MT | 67 | 321 | 52.4 |
| Kalispell, MT | 59 | 302 | 51.5 |
| Great Falls, MT | 57 | 189 | 67.4 |
| Helena, MT | 34 | 113 | 35.1 |
| Butte, MT | 17 | — | 47.0 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana
75.9% of Montana's insurance agencies and brokerages with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 72.3% nationally. 93.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 489 | 75.9% | 72.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 116 | 18.0% | 17.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 22 | 3.4% | 6.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 13 | 2.0% | 2.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 0.6% | 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.
Calls an insurance agency in Montana has to catch
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. That holds for insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana:
- A prospect calls for an auto insurance quote.
- A lender calls to request proof of insurance.
- A client calls after an accident to start a claim.
What insurance agencies and brokerages text about
Agencies text ID-card reminders, renewal notices and requests for documents.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana
Insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana average 4.2 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, 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 Montana 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.
Area codes in Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an insurance agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | Mountain | 1947 | 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 insurance agencies and brokerages in Montana
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.
Porting a number you already use in Montana 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 in Montana?
645 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 2,740 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most insurance agencies and brokerages?
Billings, MT, with 114 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person insurance agency?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Montana 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.