CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for landscaping services in Hickory, NC
Landscaping services in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area: 134 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 5-person team.
- Establishments
- 134CBP 2023
- Employees
- 603mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 35.9U.S. 34.7
- Rank
- 153rd of 892areas by count
The landscaping company market in Hickory, NC
There were 134 landscaping services in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 561730, Landscaping Services). Together they reported 603 mid-March employees and $22.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 153rd of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 373,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 35.9 landscaping services per 100,000 people, 3.6% above the national rate of 34.7. Establishments average 4.5 employees, 33.9% below the U.S. average of 6.8. Payroll per employee comes to $37,524, 26.8% below the national $51,286.
| Measure | Hickory, NC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 134 | 4,361 | 117,969 |
| Mid-March employees | 603 | 31,542 | 802,899 |
| Annual payroll | $22,627,000 | $1,408,954,000 | $41,177,464,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.5 | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $37,524 | $44,669 | $51,286 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 35.9 | 39.5 | 34.7 |
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.
Establishment size: landscaping services in Hickory, NC
Of the landscaping services in Hickory, NC that had employees in March 2023, 65.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 70.6%). 91.0% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 88 | 65.7% | 70.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 34 | 25.4% | 14.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 5.2% | 8.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 3.7% | 4.9% |
| 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 landscaping services in Hickory, NC use the phone for
Landscapers are outdoors all day and take calls about new service, schedule changes and seasonal work. A missed call in spring can be a lost season-long customer.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for landscaping services in Hickory, NC:
- A customer calls about spring cleanup.
- A property manager calls about a commercial contract.
- A customer calls to skip a visit because of an event.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are mostly new-service requests.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a landscaping company in Hickory, NC
The average landscaping company in Hickory, NC has 4.5 employees, so a 5-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, 5 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $150.00 a month and 5 on Ooma Office Pro cost $124.75. On Callata the same 5 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $612. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| 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 | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Hickory, NC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 828 has the most, with 204 of 207 exchanges (99%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 828 | 204 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 704 | 2 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 980 | 1 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
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 landscaping services
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.
If you already have a number in Hickory, NC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many landscaping services are there in Hickory, NC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 134 landscaping services in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area in 2023. They employed 603 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 5-person landscaping company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users cost $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a landscaping company in Hickory, NC use?
Area code 828 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 704 and 980. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a landscaping company?
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.