CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for optometry practices in Asheville, NC
Optometry practices in the Asheville, NC metro area: 29 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 29CBP 2023
- Employees
- 208mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.9U.S. 6.6
- Rank
- 115th of 734areas by count
How many optometry practices are in Asheville, NC?
County Business Patterns counts 29 optometry practices (NAICS 621320, Offices of Optometrists) in the Asheville, NC metro area for 2023. They employed 208 people in mid-March and paid $9,543,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 115th out of 734 areas with published figures for optometry practices.
Measured against its 422,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 6.9 optometry practices per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 6.6, so Asheville, NC is 3.8% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 7.2 employees, compared with 6.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $45,880, 6.2% below the national $48,910.
| Measure | Asheville, NC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 29 | 661 | 22,501 |
| Mid-March employees | 208 | 5,554 | 147,931 |
| Annual payroll | $9,543,000 | $289,266,000 | $7,235,361,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.2 | 8.4 | 6.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $45,880 | $52,082 | $48,910 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.9 | 6.0 | 6.6 |
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 optometry practices in Asheville, NC are
Of the optometry practices in Asheville, NC that had employees in March 2023, 41.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 47.9%). 79.3% had fewer than ten. 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 | 12 | 41.4% | 47.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 11 | 37.9% | 32.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 10.3% | 15.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 10.3% | 4.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
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.
Calls an optometry practice in Asheville, NC has to catch
Eye-care offices combine exam scheduling with eyewear and contact-lens orders, so callers want both appointments and order status. Calls about broken glasses or eye irritation also need to reach someone quickly.
A few of the calls that come in to optometry practices in Asheville, NC:
- A patient calls to check whether new glasses are ready for pickup.
- A parent calls to book a child's eye exam before the school year.
- A patient calls to reorder contact lenses.
Texting patients
Optometry offices text patients when an eyewear or contact lens order is ready for pickup, along with appointment reminders.
Texts sent from a local business number in Asheville, NC have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
What a phone system costs an optometry practice in Asheville, NC
The average optometry practice in Asheville, NC has 7.2 employees, so a 7-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $174.65 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $210.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for an optometry practice in Asheville, NC 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 | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
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.
Local area codes for optometry practices in Asheville, NC
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 828 (162 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets patients in Asheville, NC call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 828 | 162 | Eastern | 1998 | 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.
What optometry practices in Asheville, NC 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.
Porting a number you already use in Asheville, NC 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.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many optometry practices are there in Asheville, NC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 29 optometry practices in the Asheville, NC metro area in 2023. They employed 208 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 7-person optometry practice?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users cost $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $139.00.
What area code should an optometry practice in Asheville, NC use?
Area code 828 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an optometry practice?
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. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.