Business phone system for new car dealers in Arkansas

The new car dealership industry in Arkansas

Arkansas had 252 new car dealers in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 441110, New Car Dealers). They employed 9,852 people in mid-March and reported $691.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 32nd highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. New car dealers make up 0.36% of the 70,452 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Arkansas has 8.2 new car dealers, 26.7% above the national rate of 6.4. The average establishment has 39.1 employees against 51.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $70,187, 11.5% below the U.S. figure of $79,300.

Arkansas's largest markets for new car dealers

Census published new car dealership counts for 15 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Arkansas. The largest is Little Rock, AR, with 67 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 73% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at new car dealers in Arkansas

10.7% of Arkansas's new car dealers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 14.1% nationally. 17.9% 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.

Why the phone matters for new car dealers in Arkansas

Dealerships route calls between sales, service and parts, and each department has different peak times. Fast follow-up on sales inquiries is critical. That holds for new car dealers in Arkansas as much as anywhere.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for new car dealers in Arkansas:

• A service customer calls to book maintenance.
• Sales calls a shopper back after an online lead.
• A customer calls about a recall.

What new car dealers text about

Dealers text service updates and appointment reminders.

Texting from a local number in Arkansas requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

Phone system pricing for a 39-person new car dealership

New car dealers in Arkansas average 39.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 39-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $973.05 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $1,170.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $779.00 a month for 39 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $4,692 less than RingCentral for a new car dealership in Arkansas of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Arkansas

Arkansas has 4 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a new car dealership can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for new car dealers in Arkansas

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 Arkansas 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.

Sales calls and texts to leads require appropriate consent under telemarketing rules.