CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for surveying and mapping services firms in Montana
67 surveying and mapping services firms operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 67CBP 2023
- Employees
- 264mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.9U.S. 2.1
- State rank
- 34th of 51by count
The surveying firm industry in Montana
County Business Patterns counts 67 establishments in Montana classified as Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (NAICS 541370) for 2023. They employed 264 people in mid-March and reported $16.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 34th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Surveying and mapping services firms make up 0.16% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 5.9 surveying and mapping services firms, 174.9% above the national rate of 2.1. The average establishment has 3.9 employees against 8.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $61,417, 17.1% below the U.S. figure of $74,108.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 67 | 7,288 |
| Mid-March employees | 264 (moderate noise) | 58,087 |
| Annual payroll | $16,214,000 | $4,304,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.9 | 8.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $61,417 | $74,108 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.9 | 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.
Montana's largest markets for surveying and mapping services firms
Census published surveying firm counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Kalispell, MT, with 10 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 63% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell, MT | 10 | 29 | 8.7 |
| Billings, MT | 8 | 70 | 4.2 |
| Missoula, MT | 8 | 31 | 6.3 |
| Bozeman, MT | 8 | — | 6.3 |
| Helena, MT | 5 | 22 | 5.2 |
| Great Falls, MT | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at surveying and mapping services firms in Montana
80.0% of Montana's surveying and mapping services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 58.3% nationally. 93.8% 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 | 52 | 80.0% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 13.8% | 21.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 6.2% | 12.3% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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.
What surveying and mapping services firms in Montana use the phone for
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.
Calls a surveying firm in Montana might handle in a typical week include:
- A neighbor calls about survey markers.
- A builder calls to schedule staking.
- The firm calls a client with a quote.
Texting clients
Surveyors text arrival windows and completion notices.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for surveying and mapping services firms in Montana
Surveying and mapping services firms in Montana average 3.9 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 a surveying firm 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 a surveying firm 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 surveying and mapping services firms in Montana
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 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many surveying and mapping services firms are in Montana?
67 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 264 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most surveying and mapping services firms?
Kalispell, MT, with 10 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person surveying firm?
$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.