CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana
22 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 22CBP 2023
- Employees
- 69mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.9U.S. 2.9
- State rank
- 39th of 51by count
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 22 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 522310). They employed 69 people in mid-March and reported $6,687,000 in annual payroll. That is the 39th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers make up 0.05% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 1.9 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers, 32.8% below the national rate of 2.9. The average establishment has 3.1 employees against 5.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $96,913, 8.4% above the U.S. figure of $89,382.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 22 | 9,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 69 (moderate noise) | 54,952 |
| Annual payroll | $6,687,000 | $4,911,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.1 | 5.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $96,913 | $89,382 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 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.
Where mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana are concentrated
Census published mortgage brokerage counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Missoula, MT, with 8 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 82% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT | 8 | — | 6.3 |
| Kalispell, MT | 7 | 20 | 6.1 |
| Billings, MT | 3 | 11 | 1.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana
81.0% of Montana's mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 81.5% nationally. 100.0% 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 | 17 | 81.0% | 81.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 4 | 19.0% | 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.
Why the phone matters for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana
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.
A few of the calls that come in to mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana:
- The broker calls a borrower for missing documents.
- A real estate agent calls to verify a buyer's approval status.
- A borrower calls to ask about locking a rate.
When nobody can pick up
Buyers and agents often call in the evening while preparing offers, so prompt callbacks matter.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana average 3.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 3-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $90.00 a month and 3 on Ooma Office Pro cost $74.85. Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 3 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 | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
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 borrowers 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 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in Montana
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.
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.
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 in Montana?
22 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 69 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers?
Missoula, MT, with 8 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person mortgage brokerage?
$90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $74.85 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.