CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for painting and wall covering contractors in Des Moines, IA
Painting and wall covering contractors in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area: 85 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 85CBP 2023
- Employees
- 578mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.3U.S. 11.3
- Rank
- 83rd of 660areas by count
How many painting and wall covering contractors are in Des Moines, IA?
There were 85 painting and wall covering contractors in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors). Together they reported 578 mid-March employees and $30.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 83rd of the 660 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 754,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 11.3 painting and wall covering contractors per 100,000 people, in line with the national rate of 11.3. Establishments average 6.8 employees, 25.0% above the U.S. average of 5.4. Payroll per employee comes to $52,910, 4.1% below the national $55,165.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 85 | 292 | 38,280 |
| Mid-March employees | 578 | 1,678 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $30,582,000 | $89,691,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $52,910 | $53,451 | $55,165 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.3 | 9.0 | 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.
Team sizes at painting and wall covering contractors in Des Moines, IA
Of the painting and wall covering contractors in Des Moines, IA that had employees in March 2023, 81.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.1%). 91.4% 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 | 66 | 81.5% | 75.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 9.9% | 13.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 8.6% | 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.
Calls a painting contractor in Des Moines, IA has to catch
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.
Calls a painting contractor in Des Moines, IA might handle in a typical week include:
- A builder calls about a new-construction schedule.
- A property manager calls about repainting a vacant unit.
- The contractor calls a customer to confirm the start date.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly estimate requests.
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.
What a phone system costs a painting contractor in Des Moines, IA
The average painting contractor in Des Moines, IA has 6.8 employees, so a 7-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, 7 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $210.00 a month and 7 on Ooma Office Pro cost $174.65. 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.
Local area codes for painting and wall covering contractors in Des Moines, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 515 has the most, with 342 of 395 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 342 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 52 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 712 | 1 | 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 painting and wall covering contractors in Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines, IA, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many painting and wall covering contractors are there in Des Moines, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 85 painting and wall covering contractors in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 578 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 7-person painting contractor?
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 a painting contractor in Des Moines, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641 and 712. 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.