CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for general rental centers in Idaho
36 general rental centers operated in Idaho in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 36CBP 2023
- Employees
- 289mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.8U.S. 0.8
- State rank
- 27th of 51by count
General rental centers in Idaho by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 36 establishments in Idaho classified as General Rental Centers (NAICS 532310) for 2023. They employed 289 people in mid-March and reported $16.9 million in annual payroll. That is the 27th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. General rental centers make up 0.06% of the 58,100 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Idaho has 1.8 general rental centers, 124.5% above the national rate of 0.8. The average establishment has 8.0 employees against 7.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $58,595, in line with the U.S. figure of $59,025.
| Measure | Idaho | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 36 | 2,725 |
| Mid-March employees | 289 (moderate noise) | 19,738 |
| Annual payroll | $16,934,000 (moderate noise) | $1,165,027,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.0 | 7.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $58,595 | $59,025 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.8 | 0.8 |
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.
General rental centers by metro area in Idaho
Census published general rental center counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Idaho. The largest is Boise City, ID, with 12 establishments. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 12 | — | 1.4 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 6 | 37 | 3.2 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 3 | 10 | 1.8 |
| Logan, UT-ID | 3 | 31 | 1.9 |
| Hailey, ID | 3 | 11 | 9.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at general rental centers in Idaho
34.3% of Idaho's general rental centers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 50.8% nationally. 68.6% 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 | 12 | 34.3% | 50.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 12 | 34.3% | 26.8% |
| 10–19 employees | 11 | 31.4% | 15.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 6.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% |
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 general rental centers in Idaho
General rental centers rent tools, party equipment and more, and customers call about availability and delivery. Weekend events drive call peaks. That holds for general rental centers in Idaho as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to general rental centers in Idaho:
- A customer calls to extend a rental.
- An event planner calls about a tent.
- A customer calls about renting tables and chairs for a party.
When nobody can pick up
Event-related calls often come in the evening.
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 general rental centers in Idaho
General rental centers in Idaho average 8.0 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. On Callata the same 8 people cost $159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $972. 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 | $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 Idaho
Idaho has 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 785 | Mountain and Pacific | 1947 | 986 |
| 986 | 187 | Pacific | 2017 | 208 |
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 general rental centers in Idaho
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.
If you already have a number in Idaho, 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 general rental centers are in Idaho?
36 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 289 people in mid-March.
Which Idaho metro area has the most general rental centers?
Boise City, ID, with 12 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 8-person general rental center?
$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 Idaho 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.