CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for optometry practices in Augusta, GA-SC
Optometry practices in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area: 31 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 5-person team.
- Establishments
- 31CBP 2023
- Employees
- 160mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 4.9U.S. 6.6
- Rank
- 111th of 734areas by count
How many optometry practices are in Augusta, GA-SC?
County Business Patterns counts 31 optometry practices (NAICS 621320, Offices of Optometrists) in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area for 2023. They employed 160 people in mid-March and paid $9,424,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 111th out of 734 areas with published figures for optometry practices.
Measured against its 637,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 4.9 optometry practices per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 6.6, so Augusta, GA-SC is 26.4% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 5.2 employees, compared with 6.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $58,900, 20.4% above the national $48,910.
| Measure | Augusta, GA-SC | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 31 | 700 | 22,501 |
| Mid-March employees | 160 (moderate noise) | 4,195 | 147,931 |
| Annual payroll | $9,424,000 | $210,224,000 | $7,235,361,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $58,900 | $50,113 | $48,910 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 4.9 | 6.3 | 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 Augusta, GA-SC are
Of the optometry practices in Augusta, GA-SC that had employees in March 2023, 53.3% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 47.9%). 83.3% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 16 | 53.3% | 47.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 30.0% | 32.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 16.7% | 15.5% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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 Augusta, GA-SC 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. That holds for optometry practices in Augusta, GA-SC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to optometry practices in Augusta, GA-SC:
- The office calls patients when an order arrives.
- A patient calls to check whether new glasses are ready for pickup.
- Someone calls about sudden eye irritation and asks whether to come in.
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 Augusta, GA-SC 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.
Phone system pricing for a 5-person optometry practice
The average optometry practice in Augusta, GA-SC has 5.2 employees, so a 5-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $150.00 a month and 5 on Ooma Office Pro cost $124.75. Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for an optometry practice in Augusta, GA-SC 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Augusta, GA-SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 803 has the most, with 52 of 117 exchanges (44%). A local number lets patients in Augusta, GA-SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 52 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 706 | 23 | Eastern | 1992 | 762 |
| 762 | 20 | Eastern | 2006 | 706 |
| 839 | 17 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 478 | 5 | Eastern | 2000 | 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 optometry practices
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 Augusta, GA-SC 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 Augusta, GA-SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 31 optometry practices in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area in 2023. They employed 160 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 5-person optometry practice?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 5 users cost $150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should an optometry practice in Augusta, GA-SC use?
Area code 803 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 706 and 762. 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.