CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for surveying and mapping services firms in Charleston, SC
Surveying and mapping services firms in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 26 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 9-person team.
- Establishments
- 26CBP 2023
- Employees
- 235mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.0U.S. 2.1
- Rank
- 56th of 442areas by count
How many surveying and mapping services firms are in Charleston, SC?
There were 26 surveying and mapping services firms in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541370, Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services). They employed 235 people in mid-March and paid $14.8 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 56th out of 442 areas with published figures for surveying and mapping services firms.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 3.0 surveying and mapping services firms per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 2.1, so Charleston, SC is 39.5% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 9.0 employees, compared with 8.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $63,140, 14.8% below the national $74,108.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 26 | 161 | 7,288 |
| Mid-March employees | 235 | 980 | 58,087 |
| Annual payroll | $14,838,000 | $55,386,000 | $4,304,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.0 | 6.1 | 8.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $63,140 | $56,516 | $74,108 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
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 surveying and mapping services firms in Charleston, SC are
Of the surveying and mapping services firms in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 50.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 58.3%). 61.5% 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 | 13 | 50.0% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 11.5% | 21.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 12.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 19.2% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% |
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 a surveying firm in Charleston, SC has to catch
Surveyors spend their days in the field, and calls about boundary surveys, closings and construction staking come from homeowners, title companies and builders. A line that rings field crews' phones keeps work from waiting. That holds for surveying and mapping services firms in Charleston, SC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to surveying and mapping services firms in Charleston, SC:
- A title company calls for a survey before closing.
- A homeowner calls about a fence-line dispute.
- A neighbor calls about survey markers.
What surveying and mapping services firms text about
Surveyors text arrival windows and completion notices.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for a 9-person surveying firm
The average surveying firm in Charleston, SC has 9.0 employees, so a 9-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 9 users would run $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $179.00 a month for 9 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,092 less than RingCentral for a surveying firm in Charleston, SC 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 | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
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 Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets clients in Charleston, SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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 surveying and mapping services firms
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 Charleston, SC 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 surveying and mapping services firms are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 26 surveying and mapping services firms in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 235 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 9-person surveying firm?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 9 users cost $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $179.00.
What area code should a surveying firm in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a surveying 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.