CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR
Computer systems design services firms in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area: 80 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 80CBP 2023
- Employees
- 664mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.4U.S. 17.1
- Rank
- 94th of 577areas by count
Computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 80 establishments classified as Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area. They employed 664 people in mid-March and paid $57.1 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 94th out of 577 areas with published figures for computer systems design services firms.
Measured against its 769,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 10.4 computer systems design services firms per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 17.1, so Little Rock, AR is 39.1% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 8.3 employees, compared with 13.2 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $86,062, 29.6% below the national $122,171.
| Measure | Little Rock, AR | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 80 | 244 | 58,113 |
| Mid-March employees | 664 | 1,933 | 766,160 |
| Annual payroll | $57,145,000 | $144,969,000 | $93,602,442,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.3 | 7.9 | 13.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $86,062 | $74,997 | $122,171 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.4 | 7.9 | 17.1 |
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 computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR are
Of the computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR that had employees in March 2023, 76.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 74.5%). 89.5% 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 | 58 | 76.3% | 74.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 10 | 13.2% | 9.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 6.6% | 6.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 3.9% | 5.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 4.4% |
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 computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR
Managed IT and systems integration firms field support calls that range from a forgotten password to a server outage. Clients judge them by how quickly someone answers when something breaks. That holds for computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR:
- A user calls to reset a password.
- The firm calls a client to schedule maintenance.
- A client calls because email is down for the whole office.
What computer systems design services firms text about
IT firms text maintenance windows and ticket updates.
Texts sent from a local business number in Little Rock, AR 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.
What a phone system costs an IT services firm in Little Rock, AR
The average IT services firm in Little Rock, AR has 8.3 employees, so an 8-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, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for an IT services firm in Little Rock, AR 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 | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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 Little Rock, AR
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 501 has the most, with 386 of 395 exchanges (98%). A local number lets clients in Little Rock, AR call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 386 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 870 | 9 | Central | 1997 | 327 |
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.
What computer systems design services firms in Little Rock, AR get with Callata
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.
Porting a number you already use in Little Rock, AR 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many computer systems design services firms are there in Little Rock, AR?
Census County Business Patterns counted 80 computer systems design services firms in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area in 2023. They employed 664 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person IT services firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should an IT services firm in Little Rock, AR use?
Area code 501 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 870. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an IT services firm?
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.