CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in South Carolina
104 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers operated in South Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 104CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.9U.S. 2.9
- State rank
- 22nd of 51by count
Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in South Carolina by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 104 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in South Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 522310). That is the 22nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers make up 0.08% of the 122,958 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Carolina has 1.9 mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers, 34.1% below the national rate of 2.9.
| Measure | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 104 | 9,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 751 (high noise) | 54,952 |
| Annual payroll | $61,173,000 (moderate noise) | $4,911,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 5.6 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $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.
South Carolina's largest markets for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers
Census published mortgage brokerage counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 80 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 83% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 80 | 1,305 | 2.8 |
| Charleston, SC | 25 | 98 | 2.9 |
| Greenville, SC | 23 | 136 | 2.3 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 15 | 31 | 3.6 |
| Columbia, SC | 14 | — | 1.6 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 5 | — | 2.1 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 4 | — | 0.6 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 4 | — | 1.0 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers in South Carolina
76.7% of South Carolina's mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 81.5% nationally. 91.3% 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 | 79 | 76.7% | 81.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 15 | 14.6% | 10.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 3.9% | 4.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 4.9% | 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 South Carolina 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.
Calls a mortgage brokerage in South Carolina might handle in a typical week include:
- An appraiser calls to schedule access to a property.
- A borrower calls to ask about pre-approval.
- A borrower calls to ask about locking a rate.
Business texting for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers
Brokers text document checklists and status updates to borrowers and agents.
Texting from a local number in South Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 6-person mortgage brokerage
The comparison uses a 6-person team, the rounded U.S. average for mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $149.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $180.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $119.00 a month for 6 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $732 less than RingCentral for a mortgage brokerage in South Carolina 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 | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
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 South Carolina
South Carolina has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a mortgage brokerage can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 864 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 839 | 190 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 854 | 182 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
| 821 | 42 | Eastern | 2024 | 864 |
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 South Carolina
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 South Carolina 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.
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 South Carolina?
104 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which South Carolina metro area has the most mortgage and nonmortgage loan brokers?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 80 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 6-person mortgage brokerage?
$180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $119.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a South Carolina 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.