CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for optometry practices in Charlotte, NC-SC
Optometry practices in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area: 184 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 184CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,311mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.4U.S. 6.6
- Rank
- 27th of 734areas by count
Optometry practices in Charlotte, NC-SC by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 184 optometry practices (NAICS 621320, Offices of Optometrists) in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area for 2023. Together they reported 1,311 mid-March employees and $70.0 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 27th of the 734 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.9 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.4 optometry practices per 100,000 people, 3.5% below the national rate of 6.6. Establishments average 7.1 employees, 8.4% above the U.S. average of 6.6. Payroll per employee comes to $53,371, 9.1% above the national $48,910.
| Measure | Charlotte, NC-SC | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 184 | 661 | 22,501 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,311 | 5,554 | 147,931 |
| Annual payroll | $69,969,000 | $289,266,000 | $7,235,361,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.1 | 8.4 | 6.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $53,371 | $52,082 | $48,910 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.4 | 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 Charlotte, NC-SC are
Of the optometry practices in Charlotte, NC-SC that had employees in March 2023, 42.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 47.9%). 75.5% 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 | 79 | 42.9% | 47.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 60 | 32.6% | 32.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 36 | 19.6% | 15.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 9 | 4.9% | 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.
Why the phone matters for optometry practices in Charlotte, NC-SC
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 Charlotte, NC-SC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to optometry practices in Charlotte, NC-SC:
- A patient calls to check whether new glasses are ready for pickup.
- A patient calls to reorder contact lenses.
- A parent calls to book a child's eye exam before the school year.
Calls after closing time
After-hours messages are typically order questions or appointment requests that can be returned the next business day.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs an optometry practice in Charlotte, NC-SC
The average optometry practice in Charlotte, NC-SC has 7.1 employees, so a 7-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 7 users would run $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 7 people cost $139.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $852. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| 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.
Which area code to use in Charlotte, NC-SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 5 area codes. 704 has the most, with 690 of 1,239 exchanges (56%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your patients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 704 | 690 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 980 | 394 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 803 | 114 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 839 | 35 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 828 | 6 | 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.
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.
If you already have a number in Charlotte, NC-SC, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 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 Charlotte, NC-SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 184 optometry practices in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area in 2023. They employed 1,311 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 Charlotte, NC-SC use?
Area code 704 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 980 and 803. 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.