CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for optometry practices in Fargo, ND-MN
Optometry practices in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs an 8-person team.
- Establishments
- 19CBP 2023
- Employees
- 144mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.1U.S. 6.6
- Rank
- 163rd of 734areas by count
Optometry practices in Fargo, ND-MN by the numbers
There were 19 optometry practices in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621320, Offices of Optometrists). Together they reported 144 mid-March employees and $8,120,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 163rd of the 734 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 268,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.1 optometry practices per 100,000 people, 7.2% above the national rate of 6.6. Establishments average 7.6 employees, 15.3% above the U.S. average of 6.6. Payroll per employee comes to $56,389, 15.3% above the national $48,910.
| Measure | Fargo, ND-MN | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19 | 67 | 22,501 |
| Mid-March employees | 144 | 522 | 147,931 |
| Annual payroll | $8,120,000 | $27,815,000 | $7,235,361,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.6 | 7.8 | 6.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $56,389 | $53,285 | $48,910 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.1 | 8.4 | 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 Fargo, ND-MN are
Of the optometry practices in Fargo, ND-MN that had employees in March 2023, 44.4% 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 | 8 | 44.4% | 47.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 7 | 38.9% | 32.2% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 15.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 16.7% | 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 Fargo, ND-MN
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 Fargo, ND-MN:
- A parent calls to book a child's eye exam before the school year.
- A patient calls to reorder contact lenses.
- The office calls patients when an order arrives.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours messages are typically order questions or appointment requests that can be returned the next business day.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for optometry practices in Fargo, ND-MN
The average optometry practice in Fargo, ND-MN has 7.6 employees, so an 8-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, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. On Callata the same 8 people cost $159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $972. 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 | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
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 Fargo, ND-MN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 701 has the most, with 108 of 147 exchanges (73%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701 | 108 | Central and Mountain | 1947 | none |
| 218 | 39 | Central | 1947 | 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 Fargo, ND-MN 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.
If you already have a number in Fargo, ND-MN, 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 Fargo, ND-MN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19 optometry practices in the Fargo, ND-MN metro area in 2023. They employed 144 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for an 8-person optometry practice?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users cost $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $159.00.
What area code should an optometry practice in Fargo, ND-MN use?
Area code 701 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 218. 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.