CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for surveying and mapping services firms in Michigan
144 surveying and mapping services firms operated in Michigan in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 144CBP 2023
- Employees
- 920mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.4U.S. 2.1
- State rank
- 17th of 51by count
Surveying and mapping services firms in Michigan by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 144 establishments in Michigan classified as Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (NAICS 541370) for 2023. They employed 920 people in mid-March and reported $69.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 17th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Surveying and mapping services firms make up 0.06% of the 229,564 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Michigan has 1.4 surveying and mapping services firms, 33.7% below the national rate of 2.1. The average establishment has 6.4 employees against 8.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $75,008, in line with the U.S. figure of $74,108.
| Measure | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 144 | 7,288 |
| Mid-March employees | 920 | 58,087 |
| Annual payroll | $69,007,000 | $4,304,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.4 | 8.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $75,008 | $74,108 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.4 | 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.
Michigan's largest markets for surveying and mapping services firms
Census published surveying firm counts for 14 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Michigan. The largest is Detroit, MI, with 37 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 62% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 37 | 268 | 0.8 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 17 | 117 | 1.4 |
| Traverse City, MI | 9 | — | 5.7 |
| South Bend, IN-MI | 7 | 71 | 2.2 |
| Lansing, MI | 4 | — | 0.8 |
| Flint, MI | 4 | — | 1.0 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 3 | — | 0.8 |
| Jackson, MI | 3 | 7 | 1.9 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 3 | 11 | 2.2 |
| Marinette, WI-MI | 3 | — | 4.6 |
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 3 | — | 4.6 |
| Big Rapids, MI | 3 | 4 | 7.2 |
| Houghton, MI | 3 | — | 7.5 |
| Iron Mountain, MI-WI | 3 | — | 9.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at surveying and mapping services firms in Michigan
65.7% of Michigan's surveying and mapping services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 58.3% nationally. 88.8% 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 | 94 | 65.7% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 33 | 23.1% | 21.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 8 | 5.6% | 12.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 3.5% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 2.1% | 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 Michigan 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 Michigan as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to surveying and mapping services firms in Michigan:
- A neighbor calls about survey markers.
- A homeowner calls about a fence-line dispute.
- A builder calls to schedule staking.
Business texting for surveying and mapping services firms
Surveyors text arrival windows and completion notices.
Texting from a local number in Michigan requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a surveying firm in Michigan
Surveying and mapping services firms in Michigan average 6.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 6-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $149.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $180.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $119.00 a month for 6 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $732 less than RingCentral for a surveying firm in Michigan 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 | $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.
Area codes in Michigan
Michigan has 13 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a surveying firm can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 248 | 784 | Eastern | 1997 | 947 |
| 313 | 769 | Eastern | 1947 | 679 |
| 989 | 724 | Eastern | 2001 | none |
| 734 | 701 | Eastern | 1997 | 679 |
| 517 | 616 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 231 | 572 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 586 | 546 | Eastern | 2001 | none |
| 269 | 545 | Eastern | 2002 | none |
| 616 | 545 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 810 | 509 | Eastern | 1993 | none |
| 906 | 360 | Eastern and Central | 1961 | none |
| 947 | 211 | Eastern | 2002 | 248 |
| 679 | 0 | Eastern | 2025 | 313 |
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 in Michigan
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 Michigan 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 in Michigan?
144 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 920 people in mid-March.
Which Michigan metro area has the most surveying and mapping services firms?
Detroit, MI, with 37 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 6-person surveying firm?
$180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $119.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Michigan 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.