CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina
330 automotive oil change and lubrication shops operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 330CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,250mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.0U.S. 2.7
- State rank
- 7th of 50by count
How many automotive oil change and lubrication shops operate in North Carolina
County Business Patterns counts 330 establishments in North Carolina classified as Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops (NAICS 811191) for 2023. They employed 3,250 people in mid-March and reported $104.4 million in annual payroll. That is the 7th highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. Automotive oil change and lubrication shops make up 0.13% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 3.0 automotive oil change and lubrication shops, 11.8% above the national rate of 2.7. The average establishment has 9.8 employees against 8.5 nationally. Payroll per employee is $32,119, 9.2% below the U.S. figure of $35,384.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 330 | 9,085 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,250 (moderate noise) | 77,250 |
| Annual payroll | $104,387,000 | $2,733,449,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.8 | 8.5 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,119 | $35,384 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.0 | 2.7 |
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 automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina are concentrated
Census published oil change shop counts for 22 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 90 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 68% 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 | 90 | 1,043 | 3.1 |
| Raleigh, NC | 55 | 748 | 3.5 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 42 | 457 | 2.3 |
| Winston, NC | 33 | — | 4.7 |
| Greensboro, NC | 23 | — | 2.9 |
| Asheville, NC | 20 | 154 | 4.7 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 13 | — | 3.3 |
| Durham, NC | 11 | — | 1.8 |
| Wilmington, NC | 9 | 73 | 1.9 |
| Burlington, NC | 8 | 81 | 4.4 |
| Hickory, NC | 7 | 29 | 1.9 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 5 | — | 2.3 |
| New Bern, NC | 5 | — | 4.0 |
| Shelby, NC | 5 | — | 4.9 |
| Wilson, NC | 5 | 37 | 6.3 |
| Waynesville, NC | 5 | 2 | 7.9 |
| Greenville, NC | 4 | — | 2.2 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 4 | 51 | 3.3 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 4 | 43 | 5.6 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 3 | 8 | 2.1 |
| Sanford, NC | 3 | — | 4.4 |
| Forest City, NC | 3 | 30 | 4.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina
31.0% of North Carolina's automotive oil change and lubrication shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 28.9% nationally. 61.7% 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 | 102 | 31.0% | 28.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 101 | 30.7% | 36.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 76 | 23.1% | 30.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 50 | 15.2% | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
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 automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina
Quick-lube shops rely on walk-ins but still take calls about hours, wait times and services. Answering quickly brings customers in. That holds for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina:
- A customer calls about a fluid leak.
- A driver calls to ask about current wait time.
- The shop calls a customer about a reminder.
Business texting for automotive oil change and lubrication shops
Shops text service reminders.
Texting from a local number in North Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina
Automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina average 9.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 10-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 10 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $300.00 a month and 10 on Ooma Office Pro cost $249.50. 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 an oil change shop in North 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 | $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 North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an oil change shop can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
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 automotive oil change and lubrication shops in North Carolina
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.
Porting a number you already use in North 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many automotive oil change and lubrication shops are in North Carolina?
330 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 3,250 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most automotive oil change and lubrication shops?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 90 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 10-person oil change shop?
$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 North 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.