CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia
205 beer, wine and liquor stores operated in District of Columbia in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 205CBP 2023
- Employees
- 729mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 29.2U.S. 10.7
- State rank
- 34th of 51by count
The liquor store industry in District of Columbia
County Business Patterns counts 205 establishments in District of Columbia classified as Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores (NAICS 445310) for 2023. They employed 729 people in mid-March and reported $31.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 34th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Beer, wine and liquor stores make up 0.86% of the 23,801 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) District of Columbia has 29.2 beer, wine and liquor stores, 172.5% above the national rate of 10.7. The average establishment has 3.6 employees against 5.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $42,525, 51.1% above the U.S. figure of $28,143.
| Measure | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 205 | 36,433 |
| Mid-March employees | 729 | 193,533 |
| Annual payroll | $31,001,000 | $5,446,519,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.6 | 5.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $42,525 | $28,143 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 29.2 | 10.7 |
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.
Beer, wine and liquor stores by metro area in District of Columbia
Census published liquor store counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of District of Columbia. The largest is Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 803 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 803 | 4,563 | 12.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia
78.4% of District of Columbia's beer, wine and liquor stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 61.7% nationally. 95.1% 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 | 160 | 78.4% | 61.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 34 | 16.7% | 24.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 3.4% | 10.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 1.5% | 2.9% |
| 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.
Calls a liquor store in District of Columbia has to catch
Liquor stores field calls about stock, special orders and event quantities. Calls from event planners and restaurants are often time-sensitive. That holds for beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia:
- A customer calls about a special order.
- A customer calls to check whether a wine is in stock.
- A customer calls about hours.
Texting customers
Stores text special-order notices.
Texting from a local number in District of Columbia requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a liquor store in District of Columbia
Beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia average 3.6 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 liquor store in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
District of Columbia has 2 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a liquor store can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 771 |
| 771 | 71 | Eastern | 2021 | 202 |
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 beer, wine and liquor stores in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia 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 beer, wine and liquor stores are in District of Columbia?
205 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 729 people in mid-March.
Which District of Columbia metro area has the most beer, wine and liquor stores?
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 803 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person liquor store?
$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 District of Columbia 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.