CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 25 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 4-person team.
- Establishments
- 25CBP 2023
- Employees
- 98mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.9U.S. 2.9
- Rank
- 59th of 242areas by count
The mortgage brokerage market in Charleston, SC
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 25 establishments classified as Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (NAICS 522310) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. Together they reported 98 mid-March employees and $11.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 59th of the 242 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 870,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.9 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers per 100,000 people, in line with the national rate of 2.9. Establishments average 3.9 employees, 30.1% below the U.S. average of 5.6. Payroll per employee comes to $118,163, 32.2% above the national $89,382.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 25 | 104 | 9,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 98 (moderate noise) | 751 (high noise) | 54,952 |
| Annual payroll | $11,580,000 (moderate noise) | $61,173,000 (moderate noise) | $4,911,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.9 | — | 5.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $118,163 | — | $89,382 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.9 | 2.9 |
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 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC are
Of the mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 100.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 81.5%). 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 | 21 | 100.0% | 81.5% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 10.6% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 4.5% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.2% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
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.
What mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC use the phone for
Loan brokers live on responsiveness: borrowers call while house hunting, and agents call to check on approvals before offers. Calls missed during a rate-sensitive moment can cost a deal.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC:
- An appraiser calls to schedule access to a property.
- The broker calls a borrower for missing documents.
- A real estate agent calls to verify a buyer's approval status.
When nobody can pick up
Buyers and agents often call in the evening while preparing offers, so prompt callbacks matter.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a mortgage brokerage in Charleston, SC
The average mortgage brokerage in Charleston, SC has 3.9 employees, so a 4-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 4 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $252. 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 | $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.
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 borrowers 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 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Charleston, SC get with Callata
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.
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.
Marketing calls and texts require consent, and financial details should not be sent by text.
Frequently asked questions
How many mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 25 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 98 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 4-person mortgage brokerage?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 4 users cost $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a mortgage brokerage 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 mortgage brokerage?
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. Marketing calls and texts require consent, and financial details should not be sent by text.