CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for painting and wall covering contractors in Houston, TX
Painting and wall covering contractors in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area: 283 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 25-person team.
- Establishments
- 283CBP 2023
- Employees
- 7,101mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.6U.S. 11.3
- Rank
- 26th of 660areas by count
How many painting and wall covering contractors are in Houston, TX?
There were 283 painting and wall covering contractors in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors). Together they reported 7,101 mid-March employees and $428.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 26th of the 660 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 7.8 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 3.6 painting and wall covering contractors per 100,000 people, 67.7% below the national rate of 11.3. Establishments average 25.1 employees, 361.3% above the U.S. average of 5.4. Payroll per employee comes to $60,387, 9.5% above the national $55,165.
| Measure | Houston, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 283 | 1,468 | 38,280 |
| Mid-March employees | 7,101 | 23,652 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $428,810,000 | $1,299,284,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 25.1 | 16.1 | 5.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $60,387 | $54,933 | $55,165 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.6 | 4.7 | 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 Houston, TX
Of the painting and wall covering contractors in Houston, TX that had employees in March 2023, 62.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.1%). 79.3% 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 | 175 | 62.5% | 75.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 47 | 16.8% | 13.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 20 | 7.1% | 6.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 26 | 9.3% | 3.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 12 | 4.3% | 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.
What painting and wall covering contractors in Houston, TX use the phone for
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 Houston, TX:
- A customer calls to change colors.
- A property manager calls about repainting a vacant unit.
- A builder calls about a new-construction schedule.
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.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for painting and wall covering contractors in Houston, TX
The average painting contractor in Houston, TX has 25.1 employees, so a 25-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 25 users would run $750.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $623.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 25 people cost $499.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,012. 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 | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $475.00 | $5,700.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $575.00 | $6,900.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $623.75 | $7,485.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $675.00 | $8,100.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $750.00 | $9,000.00 |
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 Houston, TX
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 713 has the most, with 747 of 2,385 exchanges (31%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 713 | 747 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 832 | 547 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 281 | 393 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 346 | 382 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 936 | 144 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 979 | 100 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 409 | 71 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 806 | 1 | Central | 1957 | 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 Houston, TX 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 Houston, TX, 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 Houston, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 283 painting and wall covering contractors in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 7,101 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 25-person painting contractor?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 25 users cost $750.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $623.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $499.00.
What area code should a painting contractor in Houston, TX use?
Area code 713 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 832 and 281. 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.