Business phone system for marketing consulting firms in Ohio
1,058 marketing consulting firms operated in Ohio in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,058CBP 2023
- Employees
- 10,536mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.9U.S. 15.4
- State rank
- 15th of 51by count
The marketing consultancy industry in Ohio
County Business Patterns counts 1,058 establishments in Ohio classified as Marketing Consulting Services (NAICS 541613) for 2023. They employed 10,536 people in mid-March and reported $740.6 million in annual payroll. That is the 15th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Marketing consulting firms make up 0.41% of the 255,049 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Ohio has 8.9 marketing consulting firms, 42.1% below the national rate of 15.4. The average establishment has 10.0 employees against 6.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $70,292, 15.3% below the U.S. figure of $83,009.
| Measure | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,058 | 52,258 |
| Mid-March employees | 10,536 | 315,229 |
| Annual payroll | $740,594,000 | $26,166,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 10.0 | 6.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $70,292 | $83,009 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.9 | 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.
Ohio's largest markets for marketing consulting firms
Census published marketing consultancy counts for 20 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Ohio. The largest is Cleveland, OH, with 273 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 74% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 273 | 3,516 | 12.6 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 272 | 1,457 | 11.8 |
| Columbus, OH | 237 | 3,719 | 10.6 |
| Akron, OH | 90 | 494 | 12.8 |
| Dayton, OH | 49 | 348 | 6.0 |
| Toledo, OH | 41 | 204 | 6.8 |
| Canton, OH | 27 | 108 | 6.7 |
| Youngstown, OH | 22 | 121 | 5.2 |
| Huntington, WV-KY-OH | 11 | 35 | 3.0 |
| Ashland, OH | 8 | 52 | 15.3 |
| Springfield, OH | 7 | — | 5.2 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 6 | — | 4.4 |
| Sandusky, OH | 6 | — | 5.3 |
| Weirton, WV-OH | 5 | 26 | 4.4 |
| Mansfield, OH | 4 | 19 | 3.2 |
| Wooster, OH | 4 | — | 3.4 |
| Lima, OH | 4 | — | 4.0 |
| New Philadelphia, OH | 4 | — | 4.3 |
| Zanesville, OH | 4 | 48 | 4.6 |
| Marietta, OH | 3 | — | 5.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at marketing consulting firms in Ohio
78.3% of Ohio's marketing consulting firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 83.6% nationally. 86.4% 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 | 826 | 78.3% | 83.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 85 | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 74 | 7.0% | 4.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 51 | 4.8% | 3.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 19 | 1.8% | 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.
Why the phone matters for marketing consulting firms in Ohio
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for marketing consulting firms in Ohio:
- A client calls about a report.
- The consultant calls a client to review results.
- A media vendor calls about a placement.
Business texting for marketing consulting firms
Consultants text approvals and quick check-ins with clients.
Texting from a local number in Ohio requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 10-person marketing consultancy
Marketing consulting firms in Ohio average 10.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 10-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $249.50 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $300.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $199.00 a month for 10 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,212 less than RingCentral for a marketing consultancy in Ohio 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 | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
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 Ohio
Ohio has 15 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a marketing consultancy can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | 787 | Eastern | 1996 | 234 |
| 740 | 786 | Eastern | 1997 | 220 |
| 513 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 283 |
| 419 | 783 | Eastern | 1947 | 567 |
| 937 | 780 | Eastern | 1996 | 326 |
| 614 | 777 | Eastern | 1947 | 380 |
| 440 | 757 | Eastern | 1997 | 436 |
| 216 | 612 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 567 | 421 | Eastern | 2002 | 419 |
| 234 | 398 | Eastern | 2000 | 330 |
| 220 | 142 | Eastern | 2015 | 740 |
| 380 | 138 | Eastern | 2016 | 614 |
| 326 | 88 | Eastern | 2020 | 937 |
| 283 | 48 | Eastern | 2023 | 513 |
| 436 | 0 | Eastern | 2024 | 440 |
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 Ohio
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Ohio 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 marketing consulting firms are in Ohio?
1,058 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 10,536 people in mid-March.
Which Ohio metro area has the most marketing consulting firms?
Cleveland, OH, with 273 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 10-person marketing consultancy?
$300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $199.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Ohio 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.