CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island
75 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 75CBP 2023
- Employees
- 311mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.7U.S. 3.2
- State rank
- 29th of 51by count
The laundromat industry in Rhode Island
County Business Patterns counts 75 establishments in Rhode Island classified as Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners (NAICS 812310) for 2023. They employed 311 people in mid-March and reported $7,628,000 in annual payroll. That is the 29th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners make up 0.25% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 6.7 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners, 110.6% above the national rate of 3.2. The average establishment has 4.1 employees against 3.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $24,527, 6.9% below the U.S. figure of $26,359.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 75 | 10,890 |
| Mid-March employees | 311 | 41,351 |
| Annual payroll | $7,628,000 | $1,089,970,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,527 | $26,359 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.7 | 3.2 |
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.
Rhode Island's largest markets for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners
Census published laundromat counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 115 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 115 | 526 | 6.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island
65.3% of Rhode Island's coin-operated laundries and drycleaners with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 75.4% nationally. 92.0% 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 | 49 | 65.3% | 75.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 20 | 26.7% | 18.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 8.0% | 4.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 1.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
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 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island
Laundromats take calls about hours, machine availability and wash-and-fold service. Wash-and-fold and pickup services rely on phone and text.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island:
- A business calls about laundry service.
- The laundromat calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A customer calls about hours.
Business texting for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners
Laundromats text order-ready notices.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a laundromat in Rhode Island
Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island average 4.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $120.00 a month and 4 on Ooma Office Pro cost $99.80. 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 laundromat in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a laundromat can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 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 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island 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 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners are in Rhode Island?
75 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 311 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most coin-operated laundries and drycleaners?
Providence, RI-MA, with 115 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person laundromat?
$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 Rhode Island 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.