CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for marketing consulting firms in Montana
185 marketing consulting firms operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 185CBP 2023
- Employees
- 453mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 16.3U.S. 15.4
- State rank
- 40th of 51by count
Marketing consulting firms in Montana by the numbers
Montana had 185 marketing consulting firms in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541613, Marketing Consulting Services). They employed 453 people in mid-March and reported $23.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 40th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Marketing consulting firms make up 0.43% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 16.3 marketing consulting firms, 5.9% above the national rate of 15.4. The average establishment has 2.4 employees against 6.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $51,475, 38.0% below the U.S. figure of $83,009.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 185 | 52,258 |
| Mid-March employees | 453 | 315,229 |
| Annual payroll | $23,318,000 | $26,166,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.4 | 6.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,475 | $83,009 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 16.3 | 15.4 |
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.
Where marketing consulting firms in Montana are concentrated
Census published marketing consultancy counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 55 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 79% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 55 | 198 | 43.3 |
| Missoula, MT | 29 | — | 22.7 |
| Kalispell, MT | 28 | 32 | 24.4 |
| Billings, MT | 26 | — | 13.5 |
| Helena, MT | 9 | 14 | 9.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at marketing consulting firms in Montana
88.1% of Montana's marketing consulting firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 83.6% nationally. 95.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 163 | 88.1% | 83.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 13 | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 2.7% | 4.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 2.2% | 3.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% |
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 marketing consultancy in Montana has to catch
Marketing consultants answer to many clients at once, and prospective clients call after seeing campaigns or referrals. A shared line with routing to account owners keeps calls from bouncing. That holds for marketing consulting firms in Montana as much as anywhere.
Calls a marketing consultancy in Montana might handle in a typical week include:
- A client calls about a report.
- A client calls to approve creative.
- A media vendor calls about a placement.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are usually not urgent and can be handled the next day.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a marketing consultancy in Montana
Marketing consulting firms in Montana average 2.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 2-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $60.00 a month and 2 on Ooma Office Pro cost $49.90. Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| 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 | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
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. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| 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 marketing consulting firms in Montana
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 Montana, 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 marketing consulting firms are in Montana?
185 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 453 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most marketing consulting firms?
Bozeman, MT, with 55 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 2-person marketing consultancy?
$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 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.