CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for optometry practices in Vermont
46 optometry practices operated in Vermont in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 46CBP 2023
- Employees
- 356mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.1U.S. 6.6
- State rank
- 50th of 51by count
Optometry practices in Vermont by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 46 establishments in Vermont classified as Offices of Optometrists (NAICS 621320) for 2023. They employed 356 people in mid-March and reported $20.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 50th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Optometry practices make up 0.22% of the 20,841 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Vermont has 7.1 optometry practices, 7.2% above the national rate of 6.6. The average establishment has 7.7 employees against 6.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $57,096, 16.7% above the U.S. figure of $48,910.
| Measure | Vermont | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 46 | 22,501 |
| Mid-March employees | 356 | 147,931 |
| Annual payroll | $20,326,000 | $7,235,361,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 7.7 | 6.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $57,096 | $48,910 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.1 | 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.
Where optometry practices in Vermont are concentrated
Census published optometry practice counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Vermont. The largest is Burlington, VT, with 20 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 72% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VT | 20 | 130 | 8.7 |
| Lebanon, NH-VT | 17 | — | 7.6 |
| Barre, VT | 6 | 42 | 10.0 |
| Brattleboro, VT | 4 | — | 8.8 |
| Rutland, VT | 3 | 16 | 5.0 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at optometry practices in Vermont
39.1% of Vermont's optometry practices with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 47.9% nationally. 65.2% 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 | 18 | 39.1% | 47.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 12 | 26.1% | 32.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 13 | 28.3% | 15.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 6.5% | 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 Vermont
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for optometry practices in Vermont:
- A patient calls to check whether new glasses are ready for pickup.
- Someone calls about sudden eye irritation and asks whether to come in.
- 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.
Texting from a local number in Vermont requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs an optometry practice in Vermont
Optometry practices in Vermont average 7.7 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $199.60 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $240.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for an optometry practice in Vermont 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 | $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.
Area codes in Vermont
Vermont has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an optometry practice can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 802 | 571 | Eastern | 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.
How Callata works for optometry practices in Vermont
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Vermont 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 in Vermont?
46 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 356 people in mid-March.
Which Vermont metro area has the most optometry practices?
Burlington, VT, with 20 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 8-person optometry practice?
$240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $159.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Vermont 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.