CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for painting and wall covering contractors in Charleston, SC
Painting and wall covering contractors in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area: 103 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 3-person team.
- Establishments
- 103CBP 2023
- Employees
- 290mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.8U.S. 11.3
- Rank
- 74th of 660areas by count
How many painting and wall covering contractors are in Charleston, SC?
County Business Patterns counts 103 painting and wall covering contractors (NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors) in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area for 2023. They employed 290 people in mid-March and paid $16.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 74th out of 660 areas with published figures for painting and wall covering contractors.
Measured against its 870,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 11.8 painting and wall covering contractors per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 11.3, so Charleston, SC is 5.2% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 2.8 employees, compared with 5.4 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $58,386, 5.8% above the national $55,165.
| Measure | Charleston, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 103 | 443 | 38,280 |
| Mid-March employees | 290 | 1,657 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $16,932,000 | $78,061,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.8 | 3.7 | 5.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $58,386 | $47,110 | $55,165 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.8 | 8.1 | 11.3 |
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 painting and wall covering contractors in Charleston, SC are
Of the painting and wall covering contractors in Charleston, SC that had employees in March 2023, 83.2% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.1%). 96.0% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 84 | 83.2% | 75.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 13 | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 4.0% | 6.6% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 3.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
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 painting and wall covering contractors in Charleston, SC
Painting contractors book work through estimate calls, and crews are often on ladders when the phone rings. Fast callbacks help win estimates before a competitor does.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for painting and wall covering contractors in Charleston, SC:
- A builder calls about a new-construction schedule.
- A homeowner calls for an exterior painting estimate.
- A property manager calls about repainting a vacant unit.
Business texting for painting and wall covering contractors
Painters text estimate confirmations, start dates and color approvals.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
What a phone system costs a painting contractor in Charleston, SC
The average painting contractor in Charleston, SC has 2.8 employees, so a 3-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $74.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $90.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| 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 | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
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 Charleston, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 267 of 330 exchanges (81%). A local number lets customers in Charleston, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 267 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 63 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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 painting and wall covering contractors
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Charleston, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many painting and wall covering contractors are there in Charleston, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 103 painting and wall covering contractors in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 290 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 3-person painting contractor?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users cost $90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $74.85 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 a painting contractor in Charleston, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a painting contractor?
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.