CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina
1,083 painting and wall covering contractors operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,083CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,062mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 9.8U.S. 11.3
- State rank
- 9th of 51by count
Painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 1,083 painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 238320). They employed 4,062 people in mid-March and reported $205.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 9th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Painting and wall covering contractors make up 0.42% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 9.8 painting and wall covering contractors, 12.9% below the national rate of 11.3. The average establishment has 3.8 employees against 5.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $50,647, 8.2% below the U.S. figure of $55,165.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,083 | 38,280 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,062 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $205,729,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.8 | 5.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $50,647 | $55,165 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 9.8 | 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.
Painting and wall covering contractors by metro area in North Carolina
Census published painting contractor counts for 32 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 311 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 67% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 311 | 1,016 | 10.8 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 222 | 1,495 | 12.4 |
| Raleigh, NC | 176 | 653 | 11.3 |
| Greensboro, NC | 94 | 317 | 11.7 |
| Durham, NC | 72 | 229 | 11.6 |
| Winston, NC | 60 | 255 | 8.5 |
| Wilmington, NC | 60 | 383 | 12.5 |
| Asheville, NC | 57 | 164 | 13.5 |
| Hickory, NC | 29 | 96 | 7.8 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 15 | 101 | 3.8 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 14 | 92 | 6.6 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 13 | 41 | 8.9 |
| Greenville, NC | 12 | 113 | 6.6 |
| Kinston, NC | 12 | 65 | 21.7 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 10 | 52 | 8.3 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 10 | — | 9.2 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 10 | 45 | 26.2 |
| Morehead City, NC | 9 | 26 | 12.8 |
| Burlington, NC | 8 | — | 4.4 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 8 | — | 5.4 |
| Boone, NC | 8 | 13 | 14.5 |
| Wilson, NC | 7 | 43 | 8.8 |
| Waynesville, NC | 7 | — | 11.1 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 6 | — | 8.4 |
| New Bern, NC | 5 | — | 4.0 |
Top 25 of 32 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina
79.4% of North Carolina's painting and wall covering contractors with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 75.1% nationally. 91.4% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 860 | 79.4% | 75.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 130 | 12.0% | 13.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 62 | 5.7% | 6.6% |
| 20–49 employees | 28 | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 0.3% | 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina:
- A homeowner calls for an exterior painting estimate.
- A builder calls about a new-construction schedule.
- A property manager calls about repainting a vacant unit.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are mostly estimate requests.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina
Painting and wall covering contractors in North Carolina average 3.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 4 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $252. 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 | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
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 North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
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 in North Carolina
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.
If you already have a number in North Carolina, 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 in North Carolina?
1,083 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,062 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most painting and wall covering contractors?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 311 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person painting contractor?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Carolina 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.