CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for marinas in Charleston, SC
Marinas in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 14 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 23-person team.
- Establishments
- 14CBP 2023
- Employees
- 327mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.6U.S. 1.1
- Rank
- 50th of 189areas by count
The marina market in Charleston, SC
County Business Patterns counts 14 marinas (NAICS 713930, Marinas) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area for 2023. Together they reported 327 mid-March employees and $14.3 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 50th of the 189 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 1.6 marinas per 100,000 people, 46.4% above the national rate of 1.1. Establishments average 23.4 employees, 168.3% above the U.S. average of 8.7. Payroll per employee comes to $43,752, 14.6% below the national $51,257.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 14 | 54 | 3,739 |
| Mid-March employees | 327 | 644 | 32,549 |
| Annual payroll | $14,307,000 | $25,031,000 | $1,668,362,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 23.4 | 11.9 | 8.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $43,752 | $38,868 | $51,257 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
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.
How big marinas in Charleston, SC are
Of the marinas in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 55.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 54.5%). 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 | 5 | 55.6% | 54.5% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 22.7% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 14.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 44.4% | 6.6% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.2% |
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 marina in Charleston, SC has to catch
Marinas take calls about slips, fuel, service and storage, often from boaters on the water. Staff are frequently on the docks.
Calls a marina in Charleston, SC might handle in a typical week include:
- A boater calls about a transient slip.
- A boater calls about fuel dock hours.
- A customer calls about winter storage.
After-hours calls
Boaters call evenings and weekends.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 23-person marina
The average marina in Charleston, SC has 23.4 employees, so a 23-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $573.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $690.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 23 people cost $459.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,772. 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 | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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 Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your boaters recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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.
What marinas in Charleston, SC get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Charleston, SC, 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 marinas are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 14 marinas in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 327 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 23-person marina?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 23 users cost $690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $459.00.
What area code should a marina in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a marina?
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.